Some Money Matters

1927

It is now time to fill in a few facts that bear on the story that is unfolding. Martin, Melchizedek's father, remained more than aloof after he turned his infant child over to the Andersons. The Andersons were diligent but equally aloof, entrusting the child to the care of surrogates paid for with a portion of the funds Martin sent every month. Martin's money was scrupulously managed and when Adam went to Exeter and then to Harvard, the Andersons paid out tuitions and living allowances that enabled Melchizedek to consider himself well cared for.

What he did not know was that the Andersons, who never visited Melchizedek over the years, would lavish upon the the young man full control of Martin's dole, which they forwarded. They also gave him a lump sum which they had saved over the years when expenses did not reach the amounts that arrived from Cleveland's Union Trust.

This windfall was more than enough to enable Melchizedek to acquire a pre-owned 1926 Packard touring car, a top of the line vehicle and completely consonant with Mildred's insistence upon quality before everything else in all purchases. The car looked immense and outclassed most everything else on the iffy roadways of the time. And, under the tutelage of the seemingly omnicompetent Froggy, Melchizedek became a competent, if somewhat methodical and rather tense, driver.

The destination on that momentous wedding evening was the auspicious Hotel Viking in Newport, Rhode Island. Their route to New York was simple, US 1 all the way. But Newport seemed a doable leg for the couple and it had in fact been selected by Mildred as an appropriate place to inaugurate a new stage in their four year relationship.

There is but one more detail to be added relating to money. Mildred too received a gift from her absent father, Tom Oxlie. Oxlie had, out of his family's wealth, given Millicent enough to live comfortably in Cambridge. Now there came a note with the promise of a $1000 a month stipend. The missive, postmarked Jackson, Wyoming, said the money would "keep you out of trouble".

It was signed, "Love, Tom".

This was the first communication Mildred had ever received from him. She wrote him a quite fulsome thank you, and signed it. "Love, Mildred".

It would not be irrelevant to add that Tom had gotten rather serious over the years, purchasing almost 100,000 acres of what would eventually become Grand Teton National Park. He sold this choice land to the principal backer of the national park during the early 1930s for what was then, even in hard times, a tidy sum.

All told, the money side of things, while nothing like the prosperity envisioned by Mildred, was was promising. The same cannot be said regarding the transition we are about to recount.

Some Money Matters.