Mrs. Lenora Bigelow:
I was a rather ordinary girl from a small town, swept off my feet by the man who would be my husband. If you believe that...I have some waterfront property in Arizona Territory I'd like to sell you.
My marriage was arranged, a barbaric practice if you ask me, but of course, no one did. He was closer in age to my father than to me, but his business merged with my father's, making more money for them both. I was just thrown in as additional incentive, I suppose.
It wasn't a horrible marriage, by any means. My husband turned out to be a gentle man, respectful, and I believe we might have grown to love one another had he not been so shockingly cut down by a runaway ice wagon. But I grieved more for that lost potential, than for him. When my period of mourning was done, I sold his interests in the business to my father and cut all ties to the family that bartered me like chattel.
I travelled, first to Europe, then Egypt where I developed a fascination for the ancient world. Upon my return, I simply had to explore the Mayan ruins in Mexico and Guatemala. I returned from these and subsequent travels with some few trinkets and eventually found myself curator at a museum in Baltimore.
My life was looking quite well and I had begun a courtship with what I believed would be husband number two. Instead, he revealed himself to be nothing but a thief, stealing a valuable artifact and my trust, both of which I was careless enough to give him access to.
I was shocked to find myself a suspect, and worked in grim determination with the investigating detectives to prove my innocence, return the artifact, and regain some measure of pride.
My marriage was arranged, a barbaric practice if you ask me, but of course, no one did. He was closer in age to my father than to me, but his business merged with my father's, making more money for them both. I was just thrown in as additional incentive, I suppose.
It wasn't a horrible marriage, by any means. My husband turned out to be a gentle man, respectful, and I believe we might have grown to love one another had he not been so shockingly cut down by a runaway ice wagon. But I grieved more for that lost potential, than for him. When my period of mourning was done, I sold his interests in the business to my father and cut all ties to the family that bartered me like chattel.
I travelled, first to Europe, then Egypt where I developed a fascination for the ancient world. Upon my return, I simply had to explore the Mayan ruins in Mexico and Guatemala. I returned from these and subsequent travels with some few trinkets and eventually found myself curator at a museum in Baltimore.
My life was looking quite well and I had begun a courtship with what I believed would be husband number two. Instead, he revealed himself to be nothing but a thief, stealing a valuable artifact and my trust, both of which I was careless enough to give him access to.
I was shocked to find myself a suspect, and worked in grim determination with the investigating detectives to prove my innocence, return the artifact, and regain some measure of pride.
Copyright 2013 Sydney Blackburn