The Washburn leader., 1916-01-28
TRIUMPH THAT
LACKED zEST
Story Of a Woman Who Pre-
ferred Wealth to Love.

when poverty comes In at the door.
Tom, love flies out Of the window"
"It shouldn't, Molly"
"But it does. If you had plenty Of
money I'd love you as did when I
married you. But now, shaving as !
do
ut isn't SO much that, Molly; it's
seeing other women enjoying the splen-
dor of wealth"
"No matter what's the cause, my
minds made up.''
Tom Beverly made no reply. He
knew that "a willful woman must have
her own way" One day few months
after this interview he came home to
find her gone. She left note saying
that she had no fault to find with him,
except that his poverty made life a
burden to them both. He wrote her
that he regretted her inability to take
comfort with him in homely way;
that he was not ''dog in a manger,"
and If she found an opportunity to
marry a fortune he would not stand
in the way.
Mrs. Beverly was an attractive w0m-
an and soon found just such an oppor-
tunity as her husband had referred to.
She wrote Beverly asking If he would
stand by his word and help her get
divorce. Beverly, who had vainly
hoped his course would bring her back
to him, was much disappointed, but he
kept his promise and signed paper
confessing to a number Of shortcom-
lngs. any one of which would turn his
wife against him. Mrs. Beverly got her
divorce and became Mrs. Willard. She
had married Beverly for love: Willard
she married for money.
The first time Beverly saw his for
mer wife after their separation he was
trudging along on foot from business.
She was riding with her second hus-
band in glittering equippage with
both coachman and fOotman. The
sight gave the deserted man shock.
His philosophy was all gone out of
him. Still he was too generous to
grudge the couple their wealth. But
he was human enough, to wish to sur
pass them in their own luxurles. He
then and there made resolve that he
would one day drive by the couple in a
more resplendent carriage and horses
than they possessed.
Beverly was still young man. He
had been laying the foundation for his
business, drawing a niggardly sum for
living expenses. often making nothing,
and when he made anything above ex-
penses leaving it in his business for
capital It was this that had tired out
his wife. The first year after she left
him he made fine unexpected profit.
This put him on his feet, and, follow
ing his resolve. he expanded his bust
ness and made money rapidly. In five
years he was rich man, and In five
years more he was more than a mil
lionaire.
Meanwhile Willard, who was dar-
ing speculator, was getting on the
wrong side of the cotton market, and
his fortune was melting away. Bev-
erly had been too poor to move in the
same set with him and his wife and
consequently had not kept track Of
them. By the time Beverly had accu-
mulated sufficient means to live as they,
did Willard had lost everything and
retired with his wife to a dingy cottage
in the suburbs. Consequently Beverly
did not even hear of their altered cir
cumstances.
One day Beverly was trying a new
pair of horses he had purchased. They
were high steppers, their harness was
gold mounted. and on the rear seat of
the sparkling drag behind them sat
two liveried lackeys with folded arms.
Beverly came upon the last carriage Of
a funeral procession. He was Obliged
| to check his restive horses for awhile:
but, coming to point where the road
widened, he pushed on beside the train.
Passing the mourners' carriage. wom-
an in Widows weeds sat looking out Of
the half drawn curtain. Beverly glanc-
ed aside and in the melancholy face
saw the features of his former wife.
For ten years he had struggled to be
able to pass her and the man who had
supplanted him with finer equipage
| than theirs. Alas for human triumphs!
When they come they wither. The
woman he had desired to excel was
| riding in common cab, her husband
in a hearse.
Beverly drove on to the city. where
he learned all the late happenings to
his rival and the woman who could not
wait for fortune to come by slow proc
ess, If indeed It would ever come.
When the widow returned to her shah
by home she found note there ad-
dressed In a well known hand
| She opened II, and out huttered a
check. It was for $1,000 and was sign.
ed Thomas Beverly" The note read:
/. For ten years have struggled to pos
sess the means to outdo you and the man
who took my place. This was TO be my
revenge. Death and misfortune have do
| prived me Of It, I wish for no revenge.
but II you can find 1t in your heart to use
the check inclose you will give me COM
fort.
The next day the check was return
| ed, with note:
/ would gladly give you comfort, Tom.
and am not too proud to accept your
kind offer. II 10 simply q crushing sense
Of my unworthiness and your superiority.
ma mao n 1,A hon.