Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-04-03


his proposals to me, but he would not
take no for an answer, and he persisted
in quiet, good-natured devotion thatI
could not resent but which began to
grow irksome, until at last feared that
l should have to marry him in order TO
be free from him was in this half
tormented spirit when we met ono night
at a private house for rehearsal.
HE was always insisting that we
should go over our love scenes again
and again, and the others who under
stood the situation sided with him. At
the end of that evening, having leased
me as much as possible, he suggested
that we carry the story of our play to
it's logical conclusion by rehearsing a
marriage ceremony. Its something
we must all come to- he said, and |
imagine that fellow would feel much
better before the altar If he had learned
how to go through the notions The
others, silly young thingsl were fired
with the idea and without further
thought arranged the furniture so as to
represent an altar, the chancel rail and
all that"
"a very reprchensihle proceeding"
commented Mr. Drane. The young
woman was about to proceed when a
gray-coated officer, one of those guardi-
ans Of public parks ironically known
as sparrow chasers," stepped up and
addressed Mr.. Drano:
"Say, yous, do you think nobody else
don't want to sit down? let YOU sleep
off your jag here, see2 an it's bout time
you moved on. see2"
so they rose, and followed for a mo-
ment by the policeman's curious eyes,
walked along the winding path to an
other bench, where they satdown again.
"0fiicious impudence!" muttered Mr..
Drane.
Never mind. said the young woman,
soothingly. .he has to do something TO
earn his pay Let me see, where was
on the other bench?"
AT the mock chancel rail
"Oh, yes; we'll, leased as | was con
scented 10 the farce, saying that should
be the last OF my lovers nonsense thatI
would endure. We went through an
absurd rigmarole. they made mo say
the young man who played the minister
insisted on kissing the bride. Then my
mock husband insisted, and-ohl dear
melt was very mortifying, and until
that wretched performance was given /
had 10 endure all sorts Of banter and
jest Then came the tragedy A few
days after the performance my mock
husband was thrown from his carriage
and instantly killed OF course | was
shocked, together with his other friends,
but you may imagine my surprise when
his will was unsealed to find that he
had left. after a few minor requests,
all his thirteen millions to me, bis
wife!'
"Whew" exclaimed Mr.. Drane,
softly, and he looked hard at tho
ground TO conceal the incredulity thai
he knew must show itself in his eyes
Il then learned" continued the
young woman, shat the man who per-
formed the mock ceremony was author
lied to do it in real earnest, and that
the presence of witnesses and the
other features of New York law made
the marriage legal. 1t was carried TO
the courts and SO decided. Behold me,
then, widow with great wealth. The
situation was not wholly pleasant, for
people talked and suitors came in
troops. So ! went abroad Yesterday
| arrived In America AGAIN know
nothing of this city, and yielding to
my maid advice | went TO the Adams
Hotel. That was in the early after
noon. My trunks were TO follow me
this morning. Fatgued with the
worry Of landing and the waiting
for customs officers and feeling
the approach Of sick headache,
| retired About six o'clock ] awoke re-
freshed to find that my maid had disap-
pearcd with my clothing, my handbag
gage and all my money. She had left
me what now wear, which was forced
to put on. The clerk of the hotel very
impudently discredited my story; said
that my mistress had paid the bill and
gone, and that ! was to follow her TO the
st. Cloud. lie added, moreover, that
two games Of the kind in one day we're
more than he could stand | was not
clear as TO his meaning, but | under
stood him to refer 70 some man who had
attempted to impose upon the house
earlier in the day with similar story"
Yes that was me, groaned Mr.
Drane, ungrammatically
Ia sheer desperation continued the
hapless widow, u went to tha St.
Cloud, but, OF course. found mo trace of
my maid. Since then | have wandered
about most Of the time in this park,
supperless, sleepless and, until you in
terposed, friendless.
Madam, said Mr.. Drane, when she
had finished, your tale is most in
teresting."
And clever fabrication, supposed"
she added, sadly.
No, madam, | do not say that" he
exclaimed, in confusion, for he was
struggling hard to believe IL. Il an not
widower, and | have not been robbed
by my valet, but otherwise ] am in
situation to trust your account of your