The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-16
When Fortune Comes He Does
Not Forget Old Sweetheart.
SON OF CONGRESSMAN PIPER.
Latter Left Estate Valued al $1,000, 600.
After Contest Vas Begun Young Man Was
Given Over S200,000 by Compromise

San Francisco. Oct ls.-Never love-
lier bride stood under the marriage bell.
Never a manlier. handsomer bridegroom
stood beside her claiming the inestimable
prize of a good womans heart and hand
Never q happier climax TO a tale OF true
love which money could not spoil.
Frederick William Piper. true in pros
perity to the lass he loved and wooed
when poor. and faithful TO the mother
who had borne much of shame and sor-
row for him, was married in ST. lgnatius'
church to Miss Gertrude Aiken, OF No.
Co Geary street, and the happy couple
are dreaming the sweet dreams OF the
honeymoon among the palms and roses
OF lovely Del Monte.
The story of their union and of the for
tune which will make life bright for
them, is we'll worth telling.
Congressman Piper was a millionaire
twice or three times over. All his life
he had posed as bachelor. lie lived and
died and no one knew, outside OF one or
two OF his most intimate friends that
long back he had loved woman-loved
ana secretly married her, IL is said, only
TO discover, too late, that she was claimed
by another marriage
IL is not necessary to diate on this
tragedy. A son was born to William A.
Piper and Mrs. Baldwin. who was
brought up as Frederick William Bald
win, but who was really the son OF the
secret marriage.
The boy was brought up I'm poverty. lie
knew nothing of the secret OF his parent
age. Ills father made no effort TO claim
him. He drew will leaving all his
splendid fortune TO eastern relatives.
But his heart yearned for the boy. His
conscience gave him no rest until he drew
up second will remembering his son.
But he left nothing to the woman who
not go so far that even though no
knew she did IL for love of him.
Down In Santa Clara County "a lovely,
dark-haired girl was growing up to
womanhood. She was Miss Gertrude Ak
en-.
Her efeie,- who Hives at ~rigfrts; rs the
stepfather of young Piper, having mar
yied his mother in recent years.
Kissed by the summer suns OF Santa
Barbara Valley, Miss Aiken developed
early into lovely woman. She is still
in her teens, but her rich, ripe beauty Is
Of the kind which compels admiration.
She Is a brunette with a splendid figure
large brown eyes and a wealth of dark
brown tresses. 1t seemed 10 Piper as II
he had always loved her. They talked OF
marriage when they were still children.
But they were all poor. desperately so.
Congressman Piper died His earlier
will was found and was well on the road
TO probation when the second will recog-
nizing the son was found.
The eastern relatives ragged and de-
clared that the son should not have a
penny. But Former Judge Sanderson OF
the Supreme Court. an old friend OF Con-
gresham Piper and cognizant Of the hio-
den romance I'm his life. took up the young
mans cause and began contest whicn
would have been celebrated one.
But the relatives compromised, and un-
der the compromise young Piper received
Sc69,0o0.
II took see 900 OF this TO pay the law
yers' fees and other expenses of the sulr,
leaving a round balance of $500 900. But
with his mother. and the papers have
been drawn and signed giving her $780,
OO0
Then, with his mind serene and his con-
science clear. Frederick William Piper
Baldwin no longer. went to his sweet
heart
Gertrude" he said, when was poor
with a life of poverty before me. you
promised 20 share my lot. Now that 1
am rich, will you abide by that prom
ise?"
Her answer was recorded I'm the mar
rioge book which good Father Bell, OF
ST. Ignatius, keeps