Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-12-06
Miss Fanshaw's Husband.

George for d husband"
"No; but this scheme TO get rid of
| it,
Indeed I assure you, it is quite
admirable. No such word as fail for
me my plan shall succeed to-mor-
row | return to New York, and shall
put it in immediate execution"
This conversation took place in a
charming little sitting parlor Of an ele-
giant house in Baltimore. The speak
ers were Mrs Bellamy, the young
mistress of the house, and Miss Kate
Fanshaw, q biue.eyed beauty Of New
York. Kate was q beauty, and ire
sistibly charming, and what wonder
her cousin George Ellison wanted to
marry her. "George is well enough,
but to marry him, o, dear no he has
not all my style she sad; "*nd 4
very nice way to settle the matter is to
declare that | am secretly married
altogether the thing will be SO roman
tie. 1t is horrible to tell such tib,
but, you know, to distress uncle and
aunt by saying, ! cannot marry George,
their favorite son, would be ten times
worse, so have planned it all out: |
will say when I was at school at st.
Mary's | became acquainted with q
young officer, and that a few months
ago | was married to him secretly !;
you know like things out Of the Or
dinary run"
$50 do |; but, then, in this there
might be scandal"
"a fig for scandal! AIS well that
ends well"
"And the officer 2"
"Why, Of course, it will be neces-
sary to place him somewhere and
then, you see, after month or two, |
must get letter informing me that
he went to fight the Indians, and got
killed, or else he tell in a duel-that
would perhaps be more elegant F.; yes,
now | think OF it that's just the
thing"
my gracious :! but who would the
letter come from p
"Why, you could send it; disguise
your handwriting, and sign it with a
centlcman's name. A brother officer,
you know. Say it was your sad duty
to convey the dreadful tidings, and
all that. You would understand ii
exactly. And then you see, | should
be widow. Oh, my so delight
tul !"
"Mercy, Kate, what scheme ! 1t
scares me to think of it,
'It don't me it will work beauti-
fully. And then, you see, | can have
George for a good cousin, without the
bother of being married to him"
cat least till you are widow"
"Ycs, for a while, at least and |
shall be charming window, and
wear mourning and jet ornaments so
lovely"
Kate was an orphan, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Ellison had for years taken care
Of her as their only child, recently
cherishing the wish that She would
become the wife Of their only son
George. This plan had never been
suggested to Kate till just before her
visit to her friend Mrs. Bellamy but
when she did perceive it, she felt all
the opposition of wilful nature, and
at the came time a deep sense Of re-
gret at thwarting the wish of those
who had been .he kindest Of parents
to her.
"No. Therese Bellamy," she said
II shall not marry George. But
come, dear, 1 must 60 home to NOR
row, and you want that photograph
: of me we had better go at once anc
/ have it taken"
An hour after Mrs. Bellamy anG
| Kate entered the gallery ard a beau
= tiful picture of Kate was taken ther
for saunter through the rooms.
: "Oh, Therese, see this splendid fel
$ low !" and Kate pointed to picture
on an easel "ISnt he elegant Who
T. can he be 2
: "He is handsome let's find on
D his name"
, "Well, Therese, what do you thinl
, | mean to do? You know when !
announce my marriage, it will b'
necessary TO show picture of my
husband, and I am going to buy thi
: one"
: Miss Bellamy laughed, 'let's asl
who he is"