The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-03-14
MARRIAGE ON
COMPULS ON
forIEinall

\ n the west. She was q une, nphlSeu
an and had hosts Of friends and ad.
pircrs, especially among the young
men, most OF whom were in love With
A9e and all Of whom would have gone
anywhere under her leadership. Allen
Truman, who owned ranch, saw her
At bali. fell In love with her and. be-
ing an impulsive man, offered himself
to her before the evenings revelry was
finished. The next morning. or. rather,
the next afternoon, he awoke with
heada che from the wine he had drunk
and with q very uncomfortable remem.
brance that he had acted hastily. He
brooied over the natter for week,
then wrote the girl manly. letter.
telling her that he had made thepledge
under the influence OF her attractions
which 1t would not be wise for either
TO make good.
Nancy had been caught by the hand.
some ranchman. She was shocked to
receive Truman's note, but .swas too
proud TO show her feelings She dis.
daIned to make any reply. Later she
heard that party OF Truman's friends
from the east were spending the sum.
mer with him and then that he had
become engaged to one of them.
One night in September after the de-
parture Of his friends, including his
aancee. Truman heard horses hoofs
without and. going to his window. saw
a number Of cowboys surrounding his
house. At the same time there was
loud knock. Going into the hall, he
opened the door. and who should enter
but Nancy Pollard! She then and there
informed him that he should either
marry her or her friends would run
him OFF and make way with him. Iru.
man declined at first but when Nancy
called her supporters he saw by their
looks that they would do even more
than their idol might have wished. he
Yielded. A parson who had been
brought with the party was called, and
the marriage took place. The bride,
after assuring the groom that she had
no further claim upon him. rode away
at the head of her cowboys.
When Truman cane TO explain tine
matter 10 his fancce. she decided to
break with him. He at once went
abroad. Being sensitive man, he
could not shake of the melancholy OF
his situation. He soon forgot the girl
who was TO have been his wife, but
| Nancy Pollard he could not forget
| There was something I'm her lawless
ways, her dash, her pluck, that Kept
her continually in his mind. IL she
| had claimed him or the support she
was entitled to by law as his wife. he
would have hated her. As 1t was. ne
felt that gnawing at the heart a man
may feel at being scorned by woman.
One morning he received letter
bearing an Oklahoma postmnrk and
the name of legal firm printed in the
corner. Opening 1t, he read that Mrs.
| Truman desired the firm TO write him
that she regretted her past action with
1 regard to him and II lie desired d.
| yorce she would oppose no obstacle in
the way of obtaining 1t.
Truman Mt once surmised that his
wife desired n divorce in order to mar.
4 ry again The pain the suspicion
brought startled him, Then it occurred
10 him TO turn the tables on her. lie
returned TO America and 10 his ranch,
where he learned that she was recety-
ing attention from young lawyer one
OF the firm who had written him Mt her
request. On the afternoon Of his ar
rival he sent note 10 her, saying that
If she would visit him that evening 1T
his ranch Ire thought the matter OF
their separation might be adjusted
Then he paced the yo'a;lda TIL the hour
appointed. when Nancy came gallop-
ing down the road. When she had dis
mounted. he led her into the hall where
she had forced him to marry her. then
turned and said:
You wish this divorce in order to
marry William Pierce OF the law firm
of Pierce & Ward. Why did you put
the matter as you did,"
"Mr. Pierce wrote you. don't know
what he said"
HE said that IL wanted a divorce
you would not oppose 1t. When You
wanted to marry me. you compelled
me. Now
II have always regretted doing So"
she interrupted.
Now you wish to be free to marry
some one else. not only propose that
you shall not do 80, but''-he drew
revolver-"if you will not agree to live
in this house with me, to endure the
sight OF me every day, will Kill you"
"Is this for reyenge?"
mo"
Then give me your reason"
Because love you"
Nancy began to sway. Truman
caught her, and she fell into his arms.
Nancy. give up this marriage. Be
my wife in fact as well MS in law"
II have no idea Of marriage" she
said.
"Then what does this meanT
'llr. Pierce has been trying to per
suade me to marry him and has acted
on his own responsibility"
and you love me Notwithstanding
my treatment OF your
"Yes. But how can you ever love a
woman who has put such an indignity
upon you?"
"Let us forget all that. It was my
fault that led TO yours. Here, 10 a
home already prepared for US. and we
have only to take possession of It
You are my wife. Do not leave me"
1 = FL - . - fssaN