Oxford Democrat., 1916-12-19
Legal
Matrirn0ny
II Was Found Essential
to a Fortune.

+i-ts::isss-s+s-s-4-s-s-s-s-si-s-s-aasss
Either you shall marry Helen Gray
or I will leave the property TO your
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, ! viii destroy the
will leaving all to you. On your wed
ding day l viii destroy the one leaving
the estate to Edgar, making you sole
beneficiary"
Thus spoke Martin Travers to his
son, Walter. The elder Travers was q
man Of strong will. and his son had
inherited 1t from him. The fortune
had been accumulated by the father
and his partner. William Gray, largely
by Travers' dOgged perseverance.
Gray was a milder man, and Trayers
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 eOuld-in
his own way-by uniting the property
after his death in his son, Water
Travers, and Gray's daughter and
only child. Helen.
"How DO you know that the girl will
have meT asked Walter.
81 don't. but 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, 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 a dangerous posi-
ton. Walter had fallen under the in
fiuence Of q woman ten years older
than himself. his inferior socially, In
tellectually-indeed, in every way. Un-
known to the son, the father had tried
to buy her of. 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 a proposition he
had in mind.
It was not q very pleasant statement
to make, but Travers had prepared
himself for 1t 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 q look Of disappointment came
over her face.
"And now" he said, having prepared
the way for his proposition, II sug'
gest that we be legally and only legally
married mean to accede to my
fathers stipulation. BY such a mar
riage We will obtain fortune. which
we must forego without it."
There was O long silence between
the two, which was at last broken by
Miss Gray.
81 honor you. Mr., Travers," she
said, "for your frankness, and you are
acting with common honesty in not
LAYING a plan to obtain a fortune un-
der false pretenses. ! will take what
you have said under. consideration. l
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 both
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 ac-
cepted. Mr.. Travers asked If the mar
rage would be bona fide, and Walter
Informed him that 1t would be legal.
Travers after some thought said that
If the parties would agree not to have
the marriage annulled or get divorce
within five years he would be sahs-
fed. Walter assented, stating that 1t
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 u 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
10 his inamorata about his coming
marriage. The wedding took place
privately Of an afternoon. and the
bride and groom went to live In a
house provided by Mr.. Travers, ST..
with a comfortable income besides.
The two dined together in friendly
way In their new home, and after
dinner Walter went out. He was go
Ing to announce his marriage to the
woman he loved. to tell her that II
was the best arrangement he could
make for himself and for her and It
was understood that he was free to
love her so long as he lived.
But Walter got no further than .
BEGINNING. He began with the words
NJ have been married." whereupon
the lady poured upon him such a tor
rent of abuse that he stood like one
transfxed.
"And 80 that old heather has kept
you under his thumb, after all" she
said in a rasping voice that he had
never heard come from her before. u
always considered you milksop. and
now am sure Of 1t. Tell the woman
you'ye married that she hasn't got
L.