Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-07-27
The Method Of an
Ex-Socie1y Belle
[oririnaL.l

to the city to 60 into business was
warned by his father against false
step In marriage, Mr.. Woods, ST., con
Guiding: "If you marry a girl with
less than $1,000 in her own right III
disown you. If the girl You marry has
that amount | will give You 100000
Notwithstanding this warning Cuth
poor girl The first thing ne knew OF
what was happening after meeting
Lucy Briggs was that he. bad been Ia
thralled. Lucy was girl who could
win hearts to throw away IL she liked,
but, as hex 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
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 extravaganza
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
down and mourn over 1t, nor did she
do what some women would have done,
charge her husband with being the
cause Of 1t. 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.
II need rest. This doing homework
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
Ill have no homework to do"
Certainly, my dear, and the quicker
you go the better"
Meanwhile Mr.. Wnslow 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 materiaize ON nc
count Of his sons folly. Mr. wlnslow
Woods was but fifty. and he would have
married again, but he lived in quiet
place among quiet. prosaic women. not
one of whom was In the slightest de
gree tempting to him. Bat when. one
morning. a 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 II
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
- has h..< .lo <>o11<><g ~ o<x~-<x~~~ -
the fact that he knew nothing about
her and would not consent till he had
made inquiries. When he told her Of
bis son she declared that she would
never marry the father without the
sons consent This broke on negotia-
lions for few days, but Mr.. Wood
had set his heart on Miss Aylesworth
and finally consented as preliminary
move to send for his son and patch up
q reconciliation.
One day Cuthbert Woods, who was
toiling III the city, while his wife and
babies were in the country, received
letter from his father to come to him.
Cuthbert hopefully wrote bis wife OF
the Invitation and took the first train.
'Cuthbert," said Mr.. Woods, Sr., BY
your folly have been prevented. as /
always hoped, from having you and
your wife with me III my old age.
Fortune has given me an opportunity
- break my loneliness. A young wom-
en-rathcr young FOR me. admit lis
willing to marry me. At her request
am going 10 be reconclIed to you.