Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-04-16

| young widow went to the bench from
/ which she had been driven, for she was
| fair, notwithstanding sundry evidences
OF sleepless night, and interesting in
spite OF her big cuffs and lace frill.
ITO begin, as a woman must, at
neither end of the story" she began
when they were seated, you must know
that possess immense wealth"
Mr.. Drane rose quickly.
II beg your pardon for the Interrupt
ton" he said, ''but do you happen to
have any of that with you?"
"Alasl no, " she replied, dismally, ''and
that is not the worst of it."
Its as bad as it can be for the mo-
ment," Mr.. Drane insisted, as he re-
sumed his seat ''You see, l would have
been very glad to give you my note for
five hundred If you had it convenient" :"
The young woman looked at him
searchingly.
II should be wicked If ! did not de-
sire to help you, poor man." she said,
gravely, land ] trust the time may come
speedily when ! shall be able to do so. >
Mr.. Drane was stung, but not crushed
"You must understand, he exclaimed
''that should repay it. I've got plenty
of money, that is, there's plenty be-
longing to me, and ! can get it if can
only prove my identity"
The young woman's eyes were dilated
with wonder and doubt,
Stranger she said, slowly, '.for that
is exactly my own case. You shall tell
me your story presently. Listen to
mine. l became an orphan at an early
age, and until little more than year
| ago lived with my guardian, warm
friend of my fathers, in Buffalo. At
the time of which / am about to speak
with some particularity had just at
tanned my majority, so that controlled
what little property had been be-
queathed to me. 1 still lived with my
guardian, however, and had not thought
seriously of the fact that I was at last
absolutely responsible being in the
world. There had been some suitors
for my hand, but to none had I shown
the least favor. That they were all sin
cere / have no doubt, for my fortune
was too slight to be a temptation
Among them was a singular young man
of really immense riches. He was gen
orally credited with being the possessor
of thirteen millions"
"Deuced unluciy figure" interposed
Mr.. Drane.
''You shall see," said the fair mar
raUor. 81 could not bring myself to feel
| towards this young man as I believe a
woman should towards a husband, al
though / had no reason to entertain any
thing but respect for his character. NV
guardian pleaded with me to make a
match so palpably desirable, but could
not consent. ltwas while this matter
was pending that some of my associates
arranged to give an amateur theatrical
performance for the benefit Of a charita-
BILE institution. AS fortune, or perhaps
shrewd design, would have it, this
wealthy young man and were cast for
| opposite parts. l had plainly rejected
his proposals to me, but he would not
take no for an answer, and he persisted
! in quiet, good-natured devotion that
could not resent, but which began to
grow irksome, until at last feared that
should have to marry him in order to
be free from him. ] was in this half
tormented spirit when we met one 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 teased
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. It's 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 motions The
others, silly young thingsl were fred
with the idea and without further
represent an altar, the chancel rail and
all that"
"a very reprehensible 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 ohasers," stepped up and
addressed Mr.. Drane:
"Say, yous, do you think nobody else
don't want to sit down? let you sleep
off your jag here, see? an it's bout time
you moved on, see?"
Mr.. Drane was about to resent tho in
reference when the young woman
whispered:
''Say nothing and obey?"
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 sat down again
"Of1cious impudence" muttered Mr..
Drane.
Never mind" said the young woman,
soothingly, ''he has to do something te
earn his pay. Let me see, where was
on the other bench?"
''At the mock chanceI rail"
''Oh, yes; we'll. teased as was / con-
sented to the farce. saying that it should
be the last of my lovers nonsense that
would endure. We went through an
absurd rigmarole, they made me say
lots of foolish things, and at the end
the young man vho played the minister
insisted on kissing the bride. Then my
mock husband insisted, and-oh! dear
melt was very mortifying, and until
that wretched performance was given /
had to 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 iriendg
but you may imagine my surprise when
his will was unSealed to find that he
had left, after a few minor bequests,
all his thirteen millions to me. his
wifei"
"Nbew.' exclaimed Mr. Drane,
4oftly, ani IL looked hard at the
ground to Conceal the incredulity that
ae knew must sha. itself in his eyes.
Il then learned continued the
young woman. that the man who per-
formed the mock ceremony was author
| lied to do it in real earnest, and that
the DrpSanea of vituocroS and tho