The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-30

! the acquaintance OF rlch and Deautl-
full widow, the daughter of a lumber mil
lionaire 1 was then twenty-five years
old and in the best of spirits and felt
that l could meet any emergency in life
! She had been divorced from her hus-
band, a doctor, and was not allowed TO
marry in New York. We chartered q
/ car and went to Canada for the cere-
mony There were forty guests with
/ champagne and much gsyety. We were
married at st. Catharine's. thence going
to California on our bridal trip. stopping
at the principal points enroute.
! Il thought l was in clover for the
widow had a private income of $1,000
! year but 1 did not realize that her
property was tied us by a wise provision.
so that not one cent of it could be squan-
dered. In ST. Paul l LOST several thou
sand dollars gambling, and reached San
Francisco again a bankrupt.
However. the pretty young widow now
my wife. was cheerful, and I proceeded
to manufacture, by the aid Of a litho
grapher. exchange drafts, which were
made out in proper form. 1 secure
money on these drafts to the amount of
about four thousand six hundred dollars.
Result-We were arrested-she as my &C
complice-and thrown into jail Her
father came 10 the rescue and we finally
got free. That was a tough experience
for a newly married man on his wed
ding tour, but the jail feaure did not
please my wife. She secured a divorce.
That was in 1895. From California /
went to Europe by way of Vera Cruz
and Havana, Venice and other cities and
finally turned up in Berlin, where | met
Mr.. Louis Langerman, representing an
American corporation and now United
States consul to Morocco. He was des-
tined to play an important part in nv
life. 1t came about in this way: He in
vited me to visit him at Vienna. We
lived at the Hotel Imperial and patronized
the races.
An event occurred that proved my
undoing. One evening at a grand minia-
ture Venice spectacle. FIVE times larger
than the Madison Square Ggrden. and
one of the sights of the city, took
ride on the artificial canal. The boat
was genuinely italian. Only two or three
persons besides myself were in the gon-
dola when a lady Of unusual beauty en-
tered. She was Countess accompanied
by her husband in full Austrian regimen.
tails.
Il had recently been in Venice and
knew the Italian custom OF rising when
lady enters a gondoIa. I did so and
observed that the lady seemed attracted
by the act, as none of the others arose.
Il did not then know that she was a
hx-h irth for lot ch
saw me riding on the Proda behind
team of Russian racing horses. 1 was
with Langerman, whom the Countess
knew and she recognized me as the man
OF the gondola. Langerman was invited
to present me, and l met the Countess
To say that I was charmed with her
witchery, beauty and chic but family
expresses the impression she made. It
was the beginning of a long romance.
The presentation launched me at once
into the exclusive social world of Vienna.
Our acquaintance ripened. and she in
troduced me 10 some of the first families
of Europe. Invitations TO functions AMI
entertainments followed. and I had to
make returns which rapidly reduced my
funds
a divorce from her husband. keeping one
of the children. Then we were openly
together Like all Europeans of a Ger
tain class. even in the highest circles,
the lady in the case wanted money and
believed the American purse inexhausti-
BILE had spent my funds giving her
handsome presents. in entertainments
and. in fact. in conveying the impression
that / was Of bonanza wealth. so she
could not be blamed for anticipating end
less fortune and luxury on the part Of a
prodigal foreigner
But my end was In sight. and there
was nothing but to tell her frankly my
circumstances and retire. The truth is.
] was rather glad of a chance TO test
her I said / was bankrupt. She was
astonished. couldn't and wouldn't believe
it until a week had passed and 1 an
nounced 1 would have TO leave her, hav-
ing reached the end of my resources.
Then the Countess showed me that
she was not mercenary woman of the
hour but my friend. She was equal 70
the situation and decided what should
be done. / was travelling under nv own
name She said she had looked ii up
through the embassy and found it lacked
prominence. She added, There is name
well known in Europe allied with a very
great family-the Astors. You take that
mace. Call yourself J. c. DrsytoD and
l will secure you unlimited credit
Being deeply smitten with the Coun-
tess. fond of adventure and short Of cash.
II took me but a moment to decide We
arranged a programme OF action. I or
de~ed cards and stationery engraved J.
Cunningham Drayton. and had the name
put on nv luggage. Then we left for
Baden Baden.
In that city the Countess. who knew
everybody. presented ne right and left.
To each introduction she added in 4
whisper. He is OF the Astors That put
me in exclusive circles. The Baden
Baden papers announced my arrival and
chronicled my daily coaching parades.
which attracted attention Being a fair
whip was at home with horses
1T was said ] was in love with the
Countess and squandering a fortune on
her so everybody was glad 20 see me. L
prepared the way for raising money
The Countess visited the diamond shops
and confirmed the rumor that I was to
make her handsome presents which she
was there TO select
My purchases amounted % 900
marks. The gems were charged 10 nv
account and the merchants were disap-
rointed that l did not buy more. I did
not intend 70 defraui the shopkeepers.
hut use them temporarily. for hid big
ser game in view and made ny purchases