The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-17
GAVE Wife TO
HIS LAWYER.
Mr.. Lockwood Found Steele and
Mrs. Lockwset Loved.
he BOWED TO CUPlD'S DECREE
Nov Lives Under Same Roof With His Fer
ms Wife and Her New Husband.
A Strange Episode.
He BOWED TO CUplO'S DECREE

Des Moines, Ia, March 17.-Mr. Abra-
ham l.. Steele, Republican candidate for
county attorney subject 10 the primaries
TO be held tonight, has a romance In his
life which for novelty equals those OF
John Rusldn and Sir John +. Millais.
both OF whom he admired, bat neither OF
whom he copied In his romance.
1t is only since MIR Steele has become "A
candidate and his life and record are
being held up TO public gaze that the
romance OF his career has become pub
lie property.
ceptible and was building himself up In
his chosen profession he was called in as
counsellor for Mr. Lockwood.
From advising Mr.. Lockwood on busi-
ness matters during office hours, Steele
soon grew into the position OF "a good
friend and companion and became fire.
quent visitor at the Lockwood home,
which was presided over by Mr.. Lock-
woods wife. woman of splendid man
ners and charms Of hospitality
Steele and Mrs. Lockwood soon became
fast friends, and the duo became trio.
FROM counsellor and adviser on to per-
sonsl friend and frequent visitor Mr..
Steele, the lawyer developed and evolved
until he became a fast friend and ardent
FRIENDSHIP BECOMES LOVE.
The friendship for Mrs. Lockwood grew
and grew, despite all that the young law
yer could do TO stem the increasing liking.
and finally IL blossomed into passionate
love for the little wife.
To his great delight, and at the same
time TO his horror. he found that the af-
fection was mutual, and that Mrs. Lock-
wood had learned TO love him much
as he had grown TO love Mrs. Lockwood.
What 10 do they did not know, but, after
a mutual confession and much worrying
and doubt. they DECIDED frankly TO state
the condition OF affairs TO the husband
and take his advice.
When the truth was told him Mr. Lock
wood was stunned for time; the ad-
mired and respected Steele and consid-
cred him a remarkably bright lawyer and
a good friend but the notion that he
was sheltering a rival for his own wife $
affections had never entered his head
before.
He did not know what 20 do. His wife
| frankly confessed that she loved Steele
| better than she loved lockwood.
| Steele stated that he loved Mrs Lock
wood even better than he loved life.
| Finally after many conferences, tears,
! prayers meditation and much discussion,
| Lockwood agreed TO play the part OF the
Self-sacrihcing husband ana feihpulsh MS
wife 60 his friend Steele.
IL cost him many a pang 10 do this, but
he did IL, with one proviso. that when
Mr. Steele and Mrs. Lockwood were mar
ried they should allow him a room In
their home, allow him TO live I'm the same
house with his former wife and his frierd.
The plan was a novel one, but the wife
and her friend agreed.
Mrs. Lockwood went to South Dakota
and the re ga silv and prOmptly obtained a
divorce from her husband. Returning to
Iowa she and Mr.. Steele lost no time I'm
marrying and establishing a new home
In East Des Moines. There they live to-
day. with Mr.. Lockwood occupying a
room in the same house.