Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-05
DAILY SHORT STORY
A STROKE OF GENIUS.

4 very unfortunate III ner marriage. Ibis
had made her bitter against matrimo
ny, and she became possessed with the
idea Of preventing my ever taking 8
husband. Before L had lived with hel
six months a written agreement had
| been made between us that 1 was To
inherit all her property on condition
OF always remaining unmarried. 9th
| erwise II would go TO her brothers and
sisters.
Till / met Oscar Merriam / thought
little OF my agreement. Oscar was just
the fellow to win a girls heart. A
cheerful, reckless disposition, a deli
cious smile, hopeful. impractical ma
ture-these were his traits, and they
were just the traits to make me love
him beyond measure
My love affair nearly drove me wild.
My infatuation for Oscar did not rem
der me blind 10 the fact that he was
visionary and impractical. On the one
hand was every comfort without him !;
on the other every privation with him.
His influence over me was sufficient to
induce me TO consent TO a secret mar
riage. / was not dishonest enough to
accept my aunt's fortune, failing TO full
ill my part OF the contract; indeed, by
marriage 1 gave up my rights. 1 hoped
for some occurrence to change the con-
ditions. but the conditions grew more
and more stringent My aunt, who had
received a nervous shock at the time
of her husbands death. fell into mon
Omania on the subject of opposition to
marriage and never ceased to remind
Inc of my agreement. At last she be-
came so demented that her physicians
sent her to n sanitarium.
After a few months medical treat
ment her mental condition was much
improved. but she died suddenly of
pneumonia.
1 was in great perplexity. for my
agreement with her still stood, and 1
had broken it, When the will was
opened. what was my surprise to learn
that my aunt had left me her fortune
on condition that marry within eight
cen months after her dea tn, When she
had recovered a better mental condi-
ton she was Mortified to think OF my
being unprotected and that she had
fostered what she now dreaded. I con-
suited lawyers, who agreed that the
terms OF the will required me to be
married within a specified time after
my aunt's death. A marriage before
or after this period would not fulfill
the conditions. l wrote Oscar, who
was at the time in Washington endeay-
oring to secure a patent.
i heard nothing from him for several
days. Then he wrote me, frankly con-
Foe, l.at hx.
heiress and had no use for me poor.
For several days after this shock /
was frantic. Then / was buoyed up
by anger. Upon consultation with my
lawyer he advised me to begin divorce
at once. and If 1T could be
secured within the period designated
In the will / might marry again before
the time stipulated in the will should
expire and secure the property. L was
still so infatuated with my husband,
loved him so dearly, that l hesitMted.
Then my anger prevailed i would be
rich. and he should see me living In
luxury while he was buried I'm poverty
and his patent rights. Proceedings
were commenced at once, and / was
not surprised when Oscar failed TO
make any .1swer TO my charge, which
was deseriion. My attorney worked
hard to expedite matters. but despite
his energy the laws delay did not ad-
NIT OF my securing my decree with
permission to- marry till a few days
before the expiration OF the limit Of
time.
The great burden that rested upon
me was the matter Of a husband. In |
fy,xaG rcf vxIa n ctll IL. hoo =
foolish enough to love the man who |
had so basely deserted me. The adage.
Hell hath no fury like a woman
did not apply to me. Mar
rage with another was SO Hepulsive to |
me that I seriously considered, after |
Ill, giving up the fortune and living /
without the matrimonial yoke. But |
no One-especiaIly a woman--likes to I
yive up fortune and live alone at the |
same time. When my lawyer remind |
ID me that before noon on the follow
ne day I must be welded or my rights
would be forfeited had no preference
whatever for any man. In despair /
old my attorney to suggest some one.
He promised to produce a friend who,
lie said, had known me and been my
over for a long while. I did not care
or any except one mans love. but !
this an advantage and con-
ented to the Introduction.
Though the time was short my at
orney did not hurry, and it was 8
o'clock on the evening before the ex-
,iration of the time limit when tho
loorbell rang and I knew 1 was to
inspect the candidate. So disagree
bile was the matter to me that when
he two men came into the drawing
DOM / could not refrain from turning
ny back. There was a quick step be-
lind me, and a pair Of arms clasped
ne. l turned. indignant, and there
vas Oscar looking down on me with
hat same old enhancing smile
Then it came out that the whole at
air was a ruse Of his to fulfill the
onditiCns Of the will.
We were married the same evening,