The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-08-25
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
His Grandma
Wife
How 4 Nan to Save Fortune
Was OBLIGED to Wed His
Grandmother.
BY BRADFORD c. ALMY
1910. by American Press
Association.

oooooooooooooo
I was in Switzerland and about to
climb the Jungfrau when bundle of
letters and newspapers were handed
me. While waiting for my guides
tore open the wrapper Of the papers
and, scanning one of the journals, no.
ticed a marked item stating that my
grandfather, Sherman Wellesley, aged
eighty-five, had married and died the
same day.
In twinkling was deposed from a
position Of heir expectant to a great
fortune to- did not know what. My
grandfather had bitterly opposed my
propensity to travel and especially to
climb mountains. was his only de-
scendant, and he had long endeavored
to induce me to settle down to the care
Of the millions which he had willed
me. He lived in constant terror lest
should make slip on one of my
climbs, go several thousand feet down
over a precipice and the fortune that
had been accommodating during his life
time would go a-begging. In other
words, it must be left to charity.
His intention in marrying was plain
to me. He could not have an heir
(other than myself, but he could have
wife. He had doubtless lost all pa
tience with me and at the last moment
married some woman who would sup
ply my place as an heir.
hesitated what to do, but, looking
up at the glittering top Of the white
mountain, forgot for the time all about
the fortune had lost, and, my guides
being ready, I started on what proved
my last ascent. On returning to my
starting point, Interlaken, I left for
home. AS soon as landed wrote my
new grandmother asking for Informal
ton as to her husbands disposition of
the property. By return mail 1 receiv-
ed this reply:
Your grandfather, being taken suddenly
Ill, concluded to destroy the will leaving
you his sole heir, not having confidence
that you would settle down and attend to
the property. Having but an hour or two
to live, there was no time to make de-
tailed will. His brain, always quick to
work, solved the problem in this wise:
Having great confidence in me, he mar
ried me on his deathbed and signed a
will comprised in a few words leaving me
all his property. He, however, exacted a
promise from me that if you desired to
marry me I would take you for a hus-
band.
Phew! Marry my grandmother!
Well, all depended upon what kind
of woman she was. A hope sprang
up in my breast that she might be of a
suitable age for me and passably good
looking. I wrote her that would run
up for conference and politely as
sured her that if she was not favora-
bly, impressed with me would release
her from the verbal condition by de-
clining to marry her. This, l fattered
myself, was very foxy way of put,
ting it, my real object being to decline
to take a wife with a fortune if !
didn't like her.
was doomed to a terrible disap-
pointment. I found my grandmother
a veritable grandmother. She was six
ty-6ve years old, fat, bald and not q
tooth in her head that was her own
cursed myself for a fool to have de.
clined to comply with my GRANDPA
theirs wishes during his life, for now
that the blow had fallen I realized my
folly. 1t was evident that to save the
fortune I must marry an old woman,
and even then she would own the
property till her death, and I should
have to ask her for every penny !
spent.
Having taken sufficient time to make
up my mind what course to pursue. l
sounded her as to whether I could
marry her. take an allowance and
spend my time anywhere but with her.
She said she would think it over, and
1 had hope. But the next day l was
Informed that such course would not
be carrying out her late husbands
wishes. He had desired that I should
take care Of the property.
The medium through whom receiv.
ed this answer was Agnes Dorchester
my grandmother's secretary, a young
woman not quite my age. Indeed,
was obliged to transact everything
through this girl, and it was not long
before saw plainly that Mrs. Welles-
ley was completely under her thumb.
This added to my chagrin. Another
had stepped in between me and the
fortune had been brought up to ex-
pect would be mine, and was not
even at liberty to deal directly with
that person.
Having discovered where the power
lay, there was nothing for me to do
but endeavor to gain such points as
wished to make through it's possessor.
invited Miss Dorchester to a confer
ence, in which played my best card
in an attempt to induce her to per
suade her mistress to fulfill her prom
Use, allow me stated income and per-
nit me to live abroad.
''Mrs. Wellesley" she said in reply
to this proposition, "would not have
been intrusted with this matter were
it not that she was to be implicitly
trusted with carrying it out. Your
grandfather's object was to make a
man Of one who was wasting his tai
ents in globe trotting."