The Misfortunes of a Pretty Widow.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 27 August 1903, Page 7

The Misfortunes of a Pretty Widow.

time ago there wasi a young English, widow living in Puis <BSK worth was" exquisitely--pretty, P vivacious- ia spite oJ|. her aha* only twenty-five years old. She was not averse to re-marrying; yet, strange as it may seemt no one would venture to take her for better or for worse. ■ J : See reason (say 3 the «British Fireside') why pretty Mrs Grey could not find a husband was that she had already, buried • five. She was, it appears, not quite Eixteen when she contract3d her first mar-riags-a run-away mateh. Her hußband, a young ■ Frenchman, 'had a rival, and within two hours after the wedding, found the couple and demanded satisfaction from the husband. They fought that same day, and the young wife became a widow. She spurned the man who had killtd her husband, and returned to her home. She now s abmitted to her parents' wishes, and married a gentleman of mature years who possessed a large fortune. A few months after her second marriage her husband had to croaß the Channel on business. Tha vessel was wrecked, and the lady oncß more became a widow. Tae third husband selected-was a young and showy youth, fond of gambling, etc, and it waa not long before he bad spent his entire fortune and that of his wife, Having done this, he shot himself. The widow was now penniless, and she was compelled to look out for a fourth husband in order to find support. Heaven, as if to recompense her for her trials. Eent her a husband of the first clasß —a young rich, and handsome baronet, well knowH on the turf. He had no passion for cards j but, on the other hand, be gave himself up with unrestrained ardour to horse-racing, and was himself a famous steeplechase rider. Fortune had not thus far effected his finances—-his profits and losses were nearly balanced ; but he was less successful as a , rider than he was with his bets. His "family and friends hoped that marriage would make him a little more prudent; and for a short time he abstained from appearing on the turf, in order to devote himself entirely to his wife. But as soon as he got used to this peaceful felicity his former passion returned, and he thought he could unite the pleasures or Hymen and the racecourse. In his very first race he was thrown, and had his neck broken. Toe unfortunate sportsman, had

at pointed hiß wife Lole heiress of all his property $ bat his will contained certain" errors of form which made it of doubtful effect. One of the relations of the deceased disputed the will. The case *as brought before the tribunals, and, being ably managed against her, was threatening Mrs Grew with new ruin, when her adversary himself proposed to stop the--1 suit, and unite their interests by marriage. This was the most prudent course * %Ihe Jtovely widow adopted it, and, changing her name for the fifth time, became the wife of a rich landed proprietor, who was also one of the best sportsmen in England. Within six months after his marriage, he was out Bhooting, when he stumbled and fell, his gem accidentally exploding, and discharging shej entire contents of one barrel in bis breast. Thus Mrs Grey became a widow for the fifth time. Her anxiety to marry apain can be readily understood. In tbe first place, having in each instance been married so short a time, ehe had knowledge only of tbe bright day b of marriage—the honeymoon, arid had seen only the bright side. She had never seen the reverse side of the medal; she bad never experienced the disappointments of destroyed illusions; her husbancs never caused her disappointment, except by their death; even the gambler himself was so amiable and kind that, in spite of all his faults, he was bitterly regretted. And then, as people became confused bythe many different names which Mrs Grey bad borne, they nicknamed her Mrs Bluebeard,-in cruel reference to her cosjagal misfortunes.