The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-01-02
"A STROKE
or GENIUS
loriginal.l

90 A4at III AC1 mdIII62G. 4QlS
had made her bitter against matrimo-
ny. and she became possessed with the
idea Of preventing my eyer taking a
husband Before / had lived with her
six months a written had
been made between us that 1 was to
inherit all her property on condition
Of always remaining unmarried. 9th
erwise it would go to her brothers and
sisters.
Till / met Oscar Merriam 1 thought
little Of my agreement. Oscar was Just
he fellow to win a girls heart A
cheerful. reckless disposition, a deli
cious smile, a hopeful, Impractical na
ture-these were his traits, and they
were just the traits to make me love
dim 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 n
hand was every comfort without him;
on the other every privation with him.
His influence yer me was sufficient to
Induce me to consent to a secret mar
riage. l was not dishonest enough to
accept my aunt's fortune, failing to full
ill my part of the contract; indeed, by
marriage l gave up my rights. | hoped
for some occurrence to change the con-
ditions. bit the conditions grew more
and more stringent. My aunt, who had
received a nervous shock at the time
of her husbands death, fell into a mon
omania on the subject of opposition to
marriage and never ceased to remind
~ of ,n- -
came SO demented that her physicians
e her to a sanitarium.
After a few months medical treat
ment her mental condition was much
improved, but she died suddenly of
pneumonia.
/ was in great perplexity, for my
agreement with her still stood, and l
had broken it. When the will was
opened, what was my surprise to learn
that my aunt had left me her fortune
ON condition hat I marry within eight.
cen months after her death! 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. l con-
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
after bis period would o fulfill
the conditions. / wrote Oscar, who
was at the time In Washington endeav-
oring to secure a patent.
I heard nothing from him for several
days. Then he wrote me, frankly con-
Tossing that he only married me as an
heiress and had no use for me poor.
For several days after this shock !
was frantic. Then I was buoyed up
by anger. Upon consultation with my
he advised me to begin divorce
proceedings at once. and If it could be
within the period designated
in the will I might marry again before
the time stipulated in the will should
and secure the property. l was
still SO infatuated with my husband.
loved him so dearly. that l hesitated.
Then my anger prevailed. I 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 1 was
not surprised when Oscar failed to
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-
of my securing my decree with
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
the first place, l was still In my heart
enough to love the man whs
had so basely deserted me. The adage.
hath no fury like a woman
scorned," did not apply to me. Mar
with another was SO repulsive to
me that ] seriously considered, after
all, giving up the fortune and living
the matrimonial yoke. But
40 one-especially a woman-likes to
give up a fortune Inc live lon at the
same time. When my lawyer remind
ed me that before noon OF the follow
day / must be welded or my rights
be forfeited l had no preference
cor any man. In despair l
told my attorney to suggest some one.
promised to produce a friend who,
be said, had known me and been my
for a long while. l did not care
FOR any except n mans love. but I
this ar advantage and con-
to the Introduction.
Though the time was short my at
did not hurry, and it was 81
on the evening before the x-
of the time limit when the
rang and I knew / was to
the candidate So disagree
abIe was tbs matter to me that when
the two men came into the drawing
I could not refrain from turning
my back. There was a quick step be
hind me, and a pair of arms clasped
] turned. indignant. and there
was Oscar looking down on me with |
hat same old enhancing smile
Than n cunn orf that tho Uholo az |