Charles Franks and tehe Online Distributed Proofreading Team. [Illustration: THE WOMAN] THE ROMANCE AND TRAGEDY OF A WIDELY KNOWN BUSINESS MAN OF NEW YORK BY HIMSELF (WILLIAM INGRAHAM RUSSELL) TO MY WIFE Who, after more than forty years of married life, is still my sweetheart TO MY READERS A true story of a life I give you; not in its completion, for it is still unfinished. The romance of youth has lingered through all the later years and the tragedy of these years could not destroy it. In the manuscript tears have fallen on some pages, smiles on others, and still others have been scorched with the fire of indignation. Why is it written? To bear testimony to the love and devotion of a noble woman; to set straight before the world certain matters now misunderstood; to give evidence of the insincerity of friendship that comes to one in prosperity only to vanish in adversity; and also, in the hope that an appreciative public will buy the book. Not all the names used are fictitious, and where they are so, no effort has been made to conceal identity. No spirit of malice has animated the writer. Although his wounds have been deep he knows now no feeling save sorrow and regret that they should have been inflicted by his "_friends_" WILLIAM INGRAHAM RUSSELL. February 1, 1905. AUTHOR'S NOTE TO SECOND EDITION This narrative, first published in an author's autograph edition, limited to one thousand copies, was privately circulated, the entire edition having been sold by the author through correspondence. A second edition is now offered to the public. The original narrative, except for the correction of a few minor errors, is unchanged, and added to it are two chapters disclosing a remarkable sequel and also setting forth a lesson for the younger generation of business men, showing clearly how different would have been the conditions had my wisdom come before my experience. This latter chapter was written at the suggestion of an eminently successful New York business man, president of one of the largest and oldest concerns in the United States. WILLIAM INGRAHAM RUSSELL. "CHESTNUT RIDGE" Jessup, Maryland, February 15th, 1907. AUTHOR'S NOTE TO THIRD EDITION Why is it published? The second Edition--long out of print, still orders that could not be filled were continually received. These have come from nearly every State in the Union and as the book has never been advertised other than by press reviews and the favorable comment of readers, this demand means something. Perhaps if you read the narrative you will discover the answer. WILLIAM INGRAHAM RUSSELL CALVERT BUILDING, Baltimore, Maryland, August 23rd, 1913. CONTENTS CHAPTER