Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1886 — MARRIED FOR MONEY. [ARTICLE]

MARRIED FOR MONEY.

She Talks About Her Conquests, and Makes Startling Revelations. My gay dame has fingers sparkling with many jeweled rings. The other moonlight night, as she sat ont upon the balcony, tilting back in one of those grand expose chairs—revealing black satin slippers and nicely turned ankles, encased in pink silk stockings, with no other protection wrap than a couple of yards of white tulle that swept about "'kead and shoulders like a floating cloud, some matrons even congratulating her upon, the possession of so many superior diamonds, she held up her fair, glittering hands. “Yes,” said she, languidly; “theseare all records of my past conquests. I wear seven engagement solitaires, three clusters and a loveknot of ruby, emerald and diamond—the big gold band is my wedding ring, emblem of my bondage. They make a gorgeous sort of chronological reminder of silly, happy, evanescent delights. Sometimes I dissipate ennui by going over them one by one, seeming for the time to gather up pleasant magnetisms of the giddy past, for they were really good fellows and very fond of me.” “ Why, did you never return the ring when you broke the engagement?” asked one astonished listener. “I always did ” “Certainly, as a matter of conscience as well as of good luck, I never dreamed of retaining mine,” declared a matron, with the coolness that might characterize an Apache in counting up the scalps he had taken. “Indeed, you were very foolish,” replied my lady with sang froid. “Of course, some, cheap indifferent things I did send back in my vealy days, for I certainly hope you do not restrict my triumphs to this miserable small number recorded by diamonds; but expensive jewels—never. One is not sure of being treated to such luxuries by a husband—however wealthy. Now, that stone is perfect. A diamond setter from London went all over the city with Charley ltockaway, and selected the purest gem of that size procurable. Do you fancy I was going to give it back to Charley after all his trouble to please me? Surely he didn’t expect it, and I didn’t meditate over it for a moment. See, this one is larger, but slightly off color [turning to Mrs. Happidav'. Dear, it was given to me by your husband. George and I were engaged three months. Perfectly absurd, and I soon saw it. But the dear boy took on awfully; cried—actually cried like a baby. I don’t know how you get on with such a foolishly sensitive temperament. He must worry you terribly; but you are such a good, little, drab mouse. Ah! this one brings to mind a romantic summer at Lake Tahoe, and touches me somewhat, for I really did love Benny Halloway; but he was so pokinglv poor. He paid a month’s salary for this ring. No love in a cottage for me. Wasn’t I quite right? I wasn’t born to love pigs and chickens—not much—save when they are served deliciously on a platter as an appetizing dish. ” “Hush!” exclaimed a dame; “that is Benny’s wife. They just arrived this evening, and she heard all you said.” “Well, I didn’t marry the foolish swains, did I—and wherefore any need 'of entertaining the green-eyed monster?” answered my lady. “I’m sure twenty girls refused to marry my old darling, and I’m very grateful —else would not I be sitting in clover to day. We must look at these little matters philosophically, Now, I presume if I play a game of billiards with "“'Arthur, or waltz with Benny, or encounter any other of the former representatives of these past tokens of affection, Mrs. Grundy and all the wives will stand in a solemn row and gossip and raise his satanic majesty. If I avoid them it will be worse, and I am certainly not going to pack up and go home.” And the stars on her fingers sparkled as she effectively waved her hands in gestures of perplexity. —San Francisco Post.