The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-06
Toriglnal.1

| ty-flve had broken many hearts. But
those whose hearts he broke were more
fortunate than those he married late
in life, for when he was older he would
marry those he wished to possess. and
they were always short lived. His
neighbors who knew Of his Bluebeard
practices called him Baron Manteufel
| Baron DeviD.
BY the loveliest Of his wives the bar
on had son, who as he grew UP de-
yeloped his mothers disposition. lie
was the baron's only child, and, al
though Of an entirely different charac-
ter his father lived with him on fair
ly good terms. When the son, Herman
Oilers, was twenty-five he went to his
father one day and told him that he
had fallen in love and wished TO marry.
Il very much approve OF your deci-
Sion" replied the father. Il only hope
the lady is young and beautiful"
Both And the son gave his father
a glowing description Of her beauty.
VERY well, you may write her that
/ approve Of your marriage with her.
Indeed, | will go and bring her here to
you, and the wedding shall take place
In this house instead of hers. Her fam
fly shall be at no expense"
Young Herman was delighted with
his fathers complaisance in the mat
ter, attributing it to the fact that his
father, who was widower and was
getting old, wished to have the house
lightened up by woman's presence.
The baron a few days later ordered
out his handsomest equipage and ar
raging himself In his finest apparel,
drove away for the bride
Herman passed week impatiently.
during which he heard nothing from
his father or his fancee. Then one
day the two drove up to the house,
and when the lady stepped out Of the
carriage the baron presented her as
his wife. He had dazzled her with
his great wealth, thus obtaining her
consent TO marry him instead Of his
son, who had nothing in his own right
Herman Oilers went to live in a
neighboring city. No one knew what
effect the loss Of his bride had upon
him. Whatever 1t was, he bore it
with outward equanimity. The young
baroness lived two years and then
died, as the baron's other wives had
died. OF III treatment. Her stepson
did not attend her funeral, but about
the time of her death he shut himself
up from his friends, who OWNED the
cause Great was the surprise, how
ever, soon after this seclusion when
he announced that he was to be mar
ried He gave out to a few cronles
that he would not make public the
name Of hts betrothed until immedi-
ately before the wedding for fear his
father would again supplant him.
That be was engaged soon reached
the ears Of his father and one OF Her !
mans friends let out the secret as to
why the name Of the lady was not to
be made known at once. This made
Manteufel furious. BY bribery of
those making preparations for the we'd /
ding be learned the day and the place
ct which 1t was to take place One
morning a spy Of his rode up to bis I
house at q gallop TO inform him that
his son. having heard that his secret
was out was resolved to be married at
once, and If the baron wished to an
ticipate him he had only time to reach /
the church.
Mounting his feetest horse, Manteu-
fel spurred over the country furiously. |
lie relied on bis personal magnetism,
towering viii power and vast wealth
to turn the bride in his favor even at
the last moment All be feared was
that he would not get there in time. 1
on the way he met one Of his servants. +
whom he had sent out to spy. telling
him to make haste, as there was yet
time When he reached point few
leagues from the church be was met
by another, who told him that the
bridal party was driving to the church.
Manteufel spurred on. to find when he
reached the church steps that the brid- /
al couple had entered.
Flinging himself from his horse,
booted and spurred as he was, he
rushed down the aisle to the altar.
where the ceremony was just begin
ming.
Madam, he said to the bride. whose
face was concealed by her veil. Il have 4
come TO save you from marriage
which can only prove your ruin. Ny B
son has no means except what | give
him, and he is so worthless that Il
shall decline to support him. If you
win consent to marry the wealthy
Baron Oilers, | viii give you every
luxury"
without waiting the brides consent,
taking her and the clergyman by
storm. he ordered the latter to 20 on
with the service, taking himself the
place of groom. The order was obeyed,
the bride mechanically repeated the re-
sponses, and the couple We're pro-
man and wife.
Then the bride threw of her veil.
If the word manteufel applied to the
baron, frauteufel was equally applica-
BILE to the bride. She was a verltable
bag. The first words she spoke to her
husband were:
"I've got you, baron. with all your
wealth, and I'll make good use OF it as
long as you live. though I've signed a
contract to relinquish it to your son
when you die"
Baron Oilers from that moment lived
a life Of horror. IN vain he strove to /
master his wife and drive her away
from him. His efforts were furious
bursts Of passion; hers we're persistent
Cunously enough. the