Saturday, May 7, 2011

An interesting Spies tale

An article from the New York Times sent to me by my Mother-in-Law Madeline Spies a story from the SPIES side of the family... enjoy the read

"CHANGED HIS MIND AT THE GATE

"Inventor Peter Spies was to have sought reconciliation with his wife at the hour of noon.

Special to the New York Times
Mount Vernon New York December 6. It was noon by the village clock when Peter Spies, finishes his drink, banging his heavy mug down on the little table in the bar of the Railroad House on Railroad Street and turning to Christopher Ream, the Tavern keeper said:
“At noon you know, Chris my wife is to give me her final decision. I have told her I would call her at that time, and I must be off.”
“Luck to ye”, shouted Ream as Spies buttoned his overcoat and walked out.
Spies turned into Oaks Street and walked slowly up the hill.
In front of No. 61 the home of his wife, into which he was seeking readmission, he stopped and stood thoughtfully for a minute or two. Then he continued his walk up the hill to railroad station and went back to New York.
Since Friday of last week Spies has been calling almost daily, asking his wife to take him back into his home and her affections. She has steadfastly refused to do so, and on Thursday he told her he would call at noon today for the last time, if she did not accept him then.
Mrs. Spies a good-looking German woman and mother of eleven children eight of whom are living, says her husband, after eighteen years of marriage has not been true to her. Spies who is about forty years old is an electrician and an inventor.
Eighteen months ago he went to England to sell a patent arc light he had perfected. He remained there so long Mrs. Spies said yesterday that Mr. Paul Miller an old friend of the family went to England to try and persuade him to return to his wife and children. Spies promised to do so. “I'll take a fast steamer” Mrs. Spies said her husband told Miller and will get to New York before you do.
So Miller came back third-class. Spies was not at home then nor did he come, and a month later, on October 11 the wife leaving Miller in charge of the house and children except the baby sailed to join him. She said she did not find things there to her liking and tried to induce your husband to return with her.
Instead she said he disappeared and she returned you New York. Being without her husband’s support and with winter in front of her she planned to take in a few boarders.
To Paul Miller, a friend who had aided her she gave a suit of her husband's clothes, she having brought his trunks back from Liverpool with her. Miller became one of several boarders. Then a week ago yesterday Spies appeared, and finding the border there with his clothes on accused him of larceny, but Miller was discharged when arraigned in court. For this time Spies had tried to persuade his wife that he desired to return, that he loved her still.
“I told him”, said Mrs. Spies, “that he may have a room of his own in the house if you would provide for the children but he wouldn't room by himself, and I knew he did not love me and, in fact, he loved another and so would not consent
He came day after day but I told him I would not take him back. Then he said he would come for my answer today at noon.
“Yes I was here I told him it would be no use but just the same I did not go out of the house from 10:30 until 2, and he didn't come. My little boy said he saw his papa he was standing at the gate but he didn't come in.
“What would I have told him just what I told him? Just what I told him before I want him to provide for his children he ought to put $10,000 of the $75,000 he got for his invention in the bank for them, so they could have an education. I'm going to keep boarders and Frederick my oldest son who is 16 years old is going to work in a bakery Monday I guess will get along all right.
“Yes I do love him yet,”
Mrs. Spies’ says she does not care for a separation but just wants her husband to provide for the children."

No comments: