The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-11-27
A STROKE
OF GENIUS
1Orfgina1.1

&A4
had made her bitter against matrimo-
ny, and she became possessed with the
idea of preventing my ever taking a
husband Before I 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 go to her brothers and
sisters.
TIL I met Oscar Merriam I thought
little of my agreement. Oscar was just
the fellow to win a girls heart A
cheerful, reckless disposition, a deli
cious smile, a hopeful, Impractical ma
ture-these were his traits, and they
were just the traits to max me love
him beyond measure.
My owe 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 %prtvation with him.
His influence owe me was sufficient to
Induce me to consent to a secret mar
rage. / was not dishonest enough to
accept my aunt's fortune, failing to full
I'LL my part of the contract; indeed, by
marriage / gave up my rights. / hoped
for some occurrence to change the con-
ditions, b7t 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
me of my agreement. At last b be-
20 fhaA hn~ ~hrCi1fon ~
sent her to a sanitarfum.
After a few months medical treat
ment her mental condition was much
improved, but b died suddenly of
pneumonia.
1 was in great perplexity, for my
agreement with her still stood, and I
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 1 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. I CON
suited lawyers, who agreed that the
terms of the will required me to be
married within q specified time after
ally o0AI "a "A moAAA0SC OUAOAO
OF after his period would not fulfill
the conditions. I wrote Oscar, who
was at the time In Washington endeav-
oring to secure a patent.
/ heard nothing from him for several
days. hen ne 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 /
-~- @-A Th~- -~->| ~-
by anger. Upon consultation with my
lawyer he advised me to begin divorce
proceedings at once, and If it could be
secured within The period designated
I'm will I might marry again before
the time stipulated In the will should
expire and secure b property. I was
still SO infatuated with my husband,
him so dearly, that I hes1tated.
my prevailed. / would be
rich, and he should see me living in
while he was buried in poverty
and his patent rights. Proceedings
were commenced at once, and l was
mot surprised when Oscar failed to
make any answer to my charge, which
desertion. 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 q husband. In
the first place, I was still I'm my heart
foolish enough to love the man who
had so basely deserted me. The adage.
hath no fury like a woman
scorned," did not apply to me. Mar
rage with another was SO repulsive to
me that I seriously considered, after
all, giving UP the fortune and living
without the matrimonial yoke. But
no oneeespecia1ly a woman-likes to
give up a fortune and live alone at the
same time. When my lawyer remind
ed me hat before noon on the follow
ing day I must be welded or my rights
would be forfeited I had no preference
Cor any man. In despair /
told my attorney to suggest some one
He promised to produce a friend who,
he said, had known me and been my
lover for q long while. I did not care
for any except one mans love, but I
considered this an advantage and con-
scented TO thc Introduction
Though the time was short my at
torney did not hurry, and It wa 8
O'Clock ON b evening before the
piratton OF the time limit when the
doorben rang and / n I was to
inspect the candidate So disagree
able was the matter to me that when
the two men came into the drawing
room / could not refrain from turning
my back. There was a quick step be
hind me, and a pair Of arms clasped
me. I turned, indignant, and there
was Oscar looking down on me with