Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-27
A SIKC1S-
OF GENIUS
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My aunt. with whom I went to live
rpon the death OF my father, had been
very unfortunate in her marriage. This
had made her bitter against mntrimo-
ny, and she became possessed with the
idea of preventing my ever taking n
husband. Before ! had lived with her
six months a written agreement had
been made between us that I was to
| inherit all her property on condition
| of always remaining unmarried. 9th
erwise it would so to her brothers and
sisters
Till | met Oscar Merriam I thought
little Of my agreement. Oscar was just
the fellow to win girls heart A
| cheerful, reckless disposition. a deli
cious smile. a hopeful, impractical ma
| ture-these were his traits. and they
| We're 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 to 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 secret mar
riage ] was not dishonest enough to
I accept my aunts fortune. failing to full
| fill my part of the contract: indeed. by
marriage ! gave up my rights. ] 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 n mon
omania OH the subject Of opposition 10
marriage and never ceased to remind
me of my agreement. At last she be-
anne 81 dementcd that her physicians
sent her to a sanitarium.
| After few months medical treat
| ncnt her mental condition was much
improved. but she died suddenly of
pneumonia.
| was in great perplexity. for my
| agreement with her still stood. and |
bad 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 death. When she
had recovered better mental condi-
ton she was Mortified to think Of my
being unprotected and that she had
fostered what she now dreaded. con-
suited lawyers. who agreed that the
terms Of the will required me to be
married within specified time after
my aunts death. A marriage before
or after this period would not fulfll
the conditions, I wrote Oscar. who
was at the time in Washington endeav-
oring to secure patent.
! heard nothing from him for several
days Then he wrote me- frankly con-
Tossing that he only married me an an
heiress and had no use for me poor.
For several days after this shock !
was frantic. Then | was buOyed up
ny anger. Upon. consultation with my
lawyer he advised me to begin divorce
proceedings at once, and II 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. ! was
still 30 infatuated with my husband.
loved him SO dearly, that l hesitated.
Then my anger prevailed. would be
rich. and he should see me living In
luxury while he was buried In poverty
and 'his patent rights. Proceedings
were commenced at once. and l was
not surprised when Oscar failed to
make any answer to my charge. which
was desertion. My attorney worked
hard to expedite matters, but despite
bis energy the laws delay did not ad-
NIT OF my securing my decree with
permission to marry till q few days
before the expiration Of the limit OF
time.
The great burden that rested upon
me was the matter Of a husband. In
J the drst place. was still In nv heart