Gilpin observer., 1913-08-21
MARRIED FOR MONEI
Then the Woman Fell Desper
ateIy In Love With Her Nom
descript Husband.
BY LILLIAN PETERSON.

brought up as l had been to look for
ward to a wealthy marriage as th'
only fitting elimination to my socia
career. had unhesitatingly accepte'
him when he asked me to be his wife
But would make no false pretension'
of love to gloss over the barter OF IN!
body and soul to the god of mammon
and SO told Leland plainly.
When our engagement was an
nounced was criticised freely. A Va
Cortland with some of the bluest bloct
in the land flowing through my veins
to marry a son of John Lawson. wht
openly declared he had worked as o
common miner before he had struc'
the vein in the silver mine out O
which had come the stacked up mil
lions. However, l was perfectly indif
ferent to the opinion of society in gen
eral. l knew it too well to have
very high estimation of the value OF
its censure. When the millions were
mine | could soon alter all that.
Our wedding was an imposing spec
tacle; very touching and impressive tc
onlookers undoubtedly. but l felt as II
l was the principal performer in an
up-to-date farce. 1t was only after the
ceremony was over and we had driven
away amid a shower of confetti that.
looking over at the commonplace man
sitting beside me l wondered what
my future life would be.
We went over to the Mediterranean
for our honeymoon, going first to Al
giers and gradually working our way
back to Paris. How l did love those
first few months!
A wonderful Frenchy. frilly maid
was the first use l made of my newly
acquired wealth, and only a woman
who has had to go out without the aid
of one of~these wonderful creatures
can realize what joy she was to me
Then Leland was the best of travelling
companions. 1t really was astonish-
ing the amount of general knowledge
he possessed: he was continually sur.
prising me as the day when we arrived
in Rome and heard him talking ItaI
ian to the hotel porter. l had always
thought him absolutely devoid of that
education which comprises a knowl
edge of tongues.
In wierdly beautiful Venice while
gliding along the still, dark canals. u
out in the broader moonlit waters.
almost fell in love with Leland. II lie
had been tall and dark certainly
would have succumbed to the foolish
passion. but he was just my owl
height. five-foot-seven. and monde
script, SO dismissed the idea as alb
surd. But / could not endure his alb
solute Indifference He was always
most considerate and never failed In
any of the small attentions l had been
accustomed to receive from men oi
my own class. but he showed not the
slightest appreciation of my beauty.
l became terribly lonesome; money
was not quite everything. What was
the use Of spending my days in Paris
buying gorgeous frocks and marvel
Gus hats when there was no one tc
care how l looked. BY the time we
had been a month in Paris was des
perate. Why had l married Leland
, ] fancied he actually disliked me. anc
did not wonder. What must a mar
think of a woman who frankly con
fesses she Is marrying him fol
money? II he had been older. it nigh
have been easier. but we were bott
young and l knew he had loved me
once Why had ever been such foo
as to let him know l cared SO mucl
for those wretched millions? o
course he would never believe nov
that loved him. / used to lie awake
at night wishing that odious none.
could be lost or stolen 30 that coul,
prove my devotion. for there was III
doubt about the fact that passionate
ly adored my own husband. At lengtl
one day as we were. motoring alonl
the smooth roads outside Paris Al
idea came to me. and l gave littl
gasp OF delight. It was all SO beautiful
ly simple. A letter to Leland's fathe
explaining everything and asking 70
the help which l knsw the shrewt
kindly old man would never refuse I
give. l wrote as soon as we got bac
to our hotel. A lengthy letter. sayin
exactly what l wanted and why
needed It.
we went Ou u IuOtOI tOuT turOuS
the chateau district. and daily I far
cied Leland regretted more and NOR
his hasty marriage. and / fell more 1
love than ever with the quiet. though
full man whom was hourly discover
ing so vastly different from the con
monplace. nondescript being I ha
imagined I was marrying.
My answer came at last. suddenl
and Unexpectedly. as things eagerl
waited for generally do. We were dir
ing in our private dining room whe
q bellboy entered with a cablegran
Leland took It from him and opene
It carelessly: As he read the typ,
written message q queer. puzzled loo
came into his dark grey eyes He sal
nothing. but handed the pink sli
across to me. read It slowly an
thoughtfully. It was brief and to th
point: