Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-02-01
A HAPPY WEDDING.

FIRE and smoke to the fourth story of
the burning hotel, where the excited
host suddenly remembered one who
had not effected timely escape, was
quartered.
A loud cheer greeted Austin Doug
las, as with singed hair, and face and
hands scorched and blistered, he reap
peared, bearing in his arms q closely
wrapped burden. As blanket after
blanket was removed, the spectators
pressed forward, each eager to catch .
glimpse of the beautiful young lady
surely it was for nothing less--for
whom the gallant stranger had risked
his life.
There was mutter Of surprise, if
not Of disappointment, when the re-
moval of the last wrap revealed--not q
fainting beauty looking up gratefully
in her deliverer's face, still handsome
in spite of the traces left upon ii by
the recent fiery ordeal-but the form
of little shrivelled old man, putting
like porpoise to regain his breath.
Before he could do 80 sufficiently to
thank his pressrver, the latter had
disappeared in the crowd.
His uncle, Ansel Bourne, who had
been a father to him since his own
father died, had called him into the
library that morning, and without
much preface signifed his desire that
Austin should accept for wife the
daughter of very old friend of the
uncle's whom he was about to name
when the young man interrupted with
a fat refusal.
Mr. Bourne had been Kind bsns-
factor to Au3tin, whom he had reared
and educated urOpsripg Of expense
and considering ell he had done for the
young man. and the handsome fortune
no would enc day leave him, the old
gentleman, not NATURALLY, felt entitled
to exercise 3 certain degree of Gu
thority, now for the first time disputed.
One word led to another. and to come
bitter accusation of ingratituds added
very distinct threat OF altering his
will in case his nephew persisted in his
disobedience.
At this Austin's temper ross in turn.
81 shall never forget" he replied
my many obligations to you but l
cannot permit them to be Gdded to ii
the payment ezacted l. thu surrender
of my own manhood. From this hour
| leave your home never to return"
1t wac on the night of the same day,
while on his travels to seek his fortune,
that Austin Douglas perilled his lie,
not then particularly precious in his
sight, to save that Of en- unknown
stranger.
We shall not delay to speculate
about the motive that led l.ustin to d.
rect his travels toward C. little country
town, with s visit to which, rev
months before, some warmly cherished
memories were associated. It vas
there he had first seen Constance War.
ing, and that first sight had settled his
fate. In short, he fell desperately in
love; and when he whispered the Sc.
cret to Constance, and asked her to
promise to be his, she had not said
nay.
Constance Waring, her father having
married second time, and she and hel
stepmother not getting on we'll together
had gone to live with a maiden aunt
her deceased mothers sister, in the
town where she and Austin first met,
To pay a parting visit to his sweet
heart, and tell her of his altered pros
poets, he esteemed simple act of jus
tice. When the love-making began hi
was the acknowledged heir-prospectiv,
to his uncle's wealth. Now, he hac
nothing but his own exertions to count
upon, and Constance might be of the
mind that that was . circumstanc,
which materially altered the case. A
any rate, it was but fair to lay tn,
truth before her and leave it to hersel
to decide.
When Austin made his call, he founc
Constance in even greater trouble thar
himself. Her father had come few
days before to apprise her Of an offel
Of marriage made her by an old frienc
of his on behalf of a young kinsmar
of the latter-an offer which Mr.. War
ing had already accepted, counting hi
daughters's inclinations Of as little con
sequence as Ansel Bourne had those O
his nephew.
When Constance tried to expostulat'
against this summary disposal Of her
self-at least to beg brief respite
her fathers imperious temper lost al
bounds. He gave her FIVE minutes tc
decide between his permanent dis
pleasure and yielding to his commands
Surely you would not force me t.
marry man l cannot love-" she plead
ed piteously.
How do you know you can't till