The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-03
Legal
Matrifnony
It Was Found Essential
to q Fortune.
By F. A. Mitchell


Cousin Edgar. Here are two wills,
one in your favor, the other in favor Of
Edgar. If within one month you are
not welded to Helen, will destroy the
will leaving all to you. On your wed
ding day will destroy the one leaving
the estate to Edgar, making you sole
beneficiary"
Thus spoke Martin Travers to his
son, Walter. The elder Travers was
man of strong will. and his son had
inherited it from him. The fortune
had been accumulated by the father
and his partner. William Gray. largely
by Travers' logged perseverance
Gray was milder man, and Travers
in time came to regard him as super
numerary to the business. Travers
had then forced him out. Gray had
died in poverty. and Travers' con-
science smote him He proposed now
to make what restoration he could-in
his own way-by uniting the property
after his death in his son, Walter
Travers. and Gray's daughter and
only child, Helen.
How do you know that the girl will
have me?" asked Walter
Il don't, but l have little doubt the
match can be arranged. She will not
be likely to throw a half interest in
100000 over her shoulder, especially
since she is obliged to earn her own
living"
Every well, father. l will think the
matter over and let you know my de-
| cision."
| Mr.. Travers had another reason for
his action in this matter. He knew
! that his son was in dangerous posi-
| ton. Walter had fallen under the in
fluence of woman ten years older
than himself. his inferior socially, in
tellectually-indeed, in every way. Tn
known to the son, the father had tried
to buy her off, but was not willing to
pay her price, she believing that she
could get the boy and the fortune as
well, for she held him enthralled.
| Walter was of that dangerous age
when a man is liable to become infat-
uated with any woman, good or bad.
| Nevertheless there were in him the
germs of good sense. Instead Of going
to the woman who had fascinated him
to pour their mutual trouble in her ear
and ask her advice, he concluded to
60 to Helen Gray, tell her the whole
story and make her proposition he
had in mind.
It was not very pleasant statement
to make, but Travers had prepared
himself for it and got on better than
might have been expected. He lin
gered longer than necessary on the pre-
liminary statement In order to get up
his courage for the main announce
ment.
Miss Gray listened to him attentive
ly and without any especial expression
Of word or countenance until he told
her of his love for another woman.
Then a look of disappointment came
lover her face.
"And now" he said, having prepared
the way for his proposition, II sug-
gest that we be legally and only legally
married. I mean to accede to my
fathers stipulation. BY such mar
rage We will obtain fortune, which
we must forego without it."
There was long silence between
the two, which was at last broken by
Miss Gray.
II honor you. Mr.. Travers," she
said, 'for your frankness, and you are
acting with common honesty ia not
laying a plan to obtain a fortune un-
der false pretenses. l will take what
you have said under consideration.
have the advantage of you in this
am fancy free"
In due time Miss Gray wrote Mr.
Travers that she had decided TO ac'
cept his proposition. "a statement of
my reasons for doing So" she wrote
"would be very hard to make. Be
sides. they have not been called for
Under the circumstances what you
propose is the only alternative botE
for you and for me between fortune
and poverty"
Upon receipt of this note Walter in
formed his father that he had pro
posed to Miss Gray and had been &C
cepted. Mr.. Travers asked If the mar
rage would be bona fde, and Walter
Informed him that it would be legal
Travers after some thought said that
il the parties would agree not to have
the marriage annullcd or get divorce
within five years he would be salts
| fed. Walter assented, stating that II
was not his intention TO get either an
annullment or a divorce at any time
But he confessed that he reserved the
right to love any woman other than
his wife. There was q suspicion Of a
smile on his fathers face as he as
sented to this provision.
Walter Travers and Helen Gray were
married without his saying anything
to his inamorata about his coming
marriage The wedding took place
privately of an afternoon, and the
bride and groom went to 1.-Two in q