It is next to impossible for him to get any reliable information about his future son-in-law in a country where, as an American, he has few social relations, belongs to no club, and whose idiom is a sealed book to him.Every circumstance conspires to keep the flaws on the article for sale out of sight and place the suitor in an advantageous light.Several weeks' "courting" follows, paterfamilias agrees to part with a handsome share of his earnings, and a marriage is "arranged."In the case where the girl has retained some of her self-respect the suitor is made to come to her country for the ceremony.And, that the contrast between European ways and our simple habits may not be too striking, an establishment is hastily got together, with hired liveries and new-bought carriages, as in a recent case in this state.The sensational papers write up this "international union," and publish "faked" portraits of the bride and her noble spouse.The sovereign of the groom's country (enchanted that some more American money is to be imported into his land) sends an economical present and an autograph letter.The act ends.
Limelight and slow music!
In a few years rumors of dissent and trouble float vaguely back to the girl's family.Finally, either a great scandal occurs, and there is one dishonored home the more in the world, or an expatriated woman, thousands of miles from the friends and relatives who might be of some comfort to her, makes up her mind to accept "anything" for the sake of her children, and attempts to build up some sort of an existence out of the remains of her lost illusions, and the father wakes up from his dream to realize that his wealth has only served to ruin what he loved best in all the world.