Amador ledger., 1905-07-28
The Method of an
Ex-Sociefy Belle
TOriginal.1

step in marriage, Mr.. Woods. Sr., con
Guiding: "If you marry a girl with
less than $4,000 in her own right I'll
I 1isown you. If the girl you marry has
that amount l will give you $4,000"
/ Notwithstanding this warning, Cutn-
bert walked right into a match with
apoor girl. The first thing be knew of
what was happening after meeting
Lucy Briggs was that he had been in
thralled. Lucy was a girl who could
win hearts to throw away if she liked.
but, as her intentions with regard to
Cuthbert were honorable, she turned
the matrimonial key.
One morning the elder Woods receiv-
ed letter from his son announcing his
marriage with Miss Lucy Briggs. The
father made no reply to the letter, but,
after giving himself time to cool, wrote
a friend in the city to make inquiries
as to his sons wife and report The
friend wrote that Miss Briggs had been
social belle, but, her father having
died insolvent, she had previous to her
marriage been preparing to earn her
own living. On receipt of this letter
Mr.. Woods wrote his son reminding
him Of the warning given and stated
that the boy could in the future shift
for himself, supporting an extravagant-
ly brought up wife as best he could.
Now, young Mrs. Woods did not feel
satisfied to have brought this trouble
on her husband, but she did not sit
4 ,L1
do what some women would have done,
charge her husband with being the
cause of it. She went so far as to as
sumo the whole blame herself, declar-
Ing that no girl had any right to make
trouble between parents and children
by marriage which was not even an
nounced to take place.
"Cuthbert," she said one spring morn
ing few years after their marriage.
Il need rest. This doing housework
and taking care of two children is
breaking me down. I think I'd better
go to Aunt Deborah's this summer for
visit. She will be delighted to re-
lieve me Of all care of the children, and
I'll have no housework to do"
Certainly, my dear. and the quicker
you go the better
Meanwhile Mr.. Winslow Woods was
finding life tedious Being a widower
with no child save Cuthbert. he had al
ways looked forward to his son and
her sons family living with him. This
dream had failed to materialize on ac-
count of his sons folly Mr.. WinsIow
Woods was but fifty, and he would have
married again, but he lived in q quiet
place among quiet, prosaic women, not
one of whom was In the slightest de-
gree tempting to him. But when, one
morning. stranger, Miss Aylesworth,
called on him and after announcing
her intention to open a school in the
place asked him to countenance the
project he saw something different.
Miss Aylesworth did not seem fitted
for schoolma' am, but the moment
Mr.. Woods looked into her pretty face
and noticed her engaging manners it
occurred to him that she would be Just
the person to take the place he had
intended for his sons wife. He kept
her chatting over her proposed school
for an hour, promising to support the
enterprise not only with influence, but
with money, and invited her to call ev-
cry day till her plans were matured.
At the end of two weeks he proposed
to her, but she called his attention to
the fact that he knew nothing about
her and would not consent till he had
made inquiries When he told her of
his son she declared that she would
never marry the father without the
sons consent. This broke off negotia-
tiOns for few days, but Mr. Wood
had set his heart on Miss Aylesworth
and finally consented as a preliminary
move to send for his son and patch I'D
a reconciliation.
One day Cuthbert Woods, who was
toiling in the city, while his wife and
babies were in the country, received a
letter from his father to come to him.
Cuthbert hopefully wrote his wife of
the invitation and took the first train.
"Cuthbert," said Mr.. Woods, Sr., by
your folly 1 have been prevented, as !
always hoped, from having you and
your wife with me in my old age.
Fortune has given me an opportunity
to break my loneliness. A young wom-
an-rather young for me, I admits
willing to marry me. At her request
| am going to be reconciled to you.
She has made no such request as to
your wife, whom still do not care to
meet. 1 will, however, from the day
of my marriage allow you $1,000 q
year."
Half loaf is better than none, and
Cuthbert, for the sake of his wornout
wife yielded a dissatisfied consent
"And now," said his father, II wish
you to meet the noble lady who has
effected this reconciliation" He open
ed door and announced, "Miss Ayles-
worth, my intended wifer'
To his surprise, his son stood for a
moment struck dumb with astonish-
ment, then took his fathers intended
wife to his arms. Then to his father
he announced in his turn, 'My wifer'
Mr.. Woods, Sr., having logical mind.
concluded that if Miss Aylesworth"
was good enough to run his house as
his wife she was good enough to run
it as his sons wife. The lady had not
spoken in the town of her matrimonial
project, and her mouth was sealed by
$4,000 check. 1t was arranged that
Mr.. Woods, ST., should live with his
sons family ir winter in the city, and
his sons family should live with him
in summer in the country.
All of which goes to show that an
education as society belle may not