River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-02-19
HIS STRANGE BRIDE.
How Max Rutherford Married,
Lost and Found a Wife.

II was a dinry, scantily furnished
room I'm a sccoud-cla~s boariiug-hou>e,
AMI as Max Rutherford glanced around
a sense of disgust filed HIM
"Wul il o. like this, always2" he
sighed. .-Wll / ever reach the goal?
Here am head over heels in debt
wish =urae r1oJ fellow would advance
ne 4 few pounds until finish this brief.
IF y could only win this case / believe
could see my way clear. However. III
hone for the best And he lit . cigar
and prepared 20 enjoy IT,
Max Rutherford was alone in this
world. as far as near relatives were con-
cerucd, although he could count his
friends by the score
He was educated for the bar. but be-
fore that education was completed his
father died. bcqucathIug his little fort
vue, a few thousands, u Max. As Max
was an uucommoniy generous fellow.
a. his friends were fond Of saying. and
being somewhat eXtravagant "a his
tastes and mode IF living, he did not
find IL at an difficult 10 spend those few
thousands I'm a very short time. And 80,
at the age Of twenty-five. We find him
handsome. honest. good-learted. and
bravcly striving In reach the pedestal of
his ambition. but poor
Now for the club-room. Idon't want
to stay here longer than necessary. and
lie picked up his hat
The l1udlady met him AZ the door
a lady - see you SIR She Is in the
par,or-"
~ lady? All right; I WI 20 down
immc tliately."
At the parIor door. which was wide
opeu. hc suddenly stopped There, sit
ting beside table hack 20 him. was
the slight. bl9rly-robed form of wom-
an Her head was bowed low and
her hands were tightly clasped. She
looked the very picture OF grief and
despair.
A. be crossed the threshold she arose.
and with q quick. Eirli~h grace moved
toward him Then Max saw that she
was heavily vailed. and sine q lde no
movement 10 throw the vail hack.
sYou arc Max Rutherford. are You
not2"
Max started IS the low, musical
tones fen 81 his ear.
4 beg that vou viii pardon me for
this intrusion, but truly and the
voice grew more earnest, III felt Obliged
to come. my trouble Is - great. Nay.
/ was driven 10 It. and no one but YOUR
self can aid me. VIII You listen 70 my
story"
Certainly Pray De- seated
II am Helen Castletou. and m
orphan. and. doubtless a stranger u
you-
You area have never had the
pleasure 81 meeting ven before" he
answered
For ten years have lived with my
uncle. mv mothers brother. lie Is
imme u>ely wealthy ana supposed Il
b. bis brsr.~s- but uly life for the past
three wears h1- been NEST unhappy
am uot af age. and shall not bc for a
Year rs cotla. ami mv uucle : deter
mined to V.r~uaic me O. marry a man
old enough .' De- my father. lie. too. is
worth Ills millions. au,i for thas reason
my uu.Je bids me marry him. This
mar follows mr wherever I go. pro
Tossing e. Iave we. but Those professions
MI nlv son, with disgust and fear I
hate him I'm 6ie before I consent q
wCJ him and her voice tr-mblcd So
that Max i9uyed ~ snatch away that
vail and cas On the po>,,-s-or OF that
pleading srsui voice
Fl -au 1v1y from home two years
ago, sine e.rriuued .-lut my uncle and
the one l.r claim, ~ O., my lower
found auI hr1u- me home Home
ah hraEer what home, All the
home / have hai since was child
yet t Is H.-.o hstter an a prison.
have never hra my girl acquaintance
He v'uiJ re- allow mc 10 see any cne
exetptiu- his own friends. and they
Were os9 fann@y->rc' king men. / ii>-
lilstd taeB an
Tomorrow morning my U-cle SAYS I
muet merrr tais man that shall be
forced ta da i- I can not. oh. I can
mo- Heavsu let me die first And
with Q p5ts9H- movement she held both
hands nut p Max
lie c.s~ped ttSm in his, and as he did
50. a pityin- vearniu-s tenderness filed
hi~ heart fer this vailed stranger
'Es me how ] can help YOU" he
murmureL
You can help me. and YOU only
..Hcu
'NaN rutherford. win you-marrv
me- Then. as If deeply ashamed. She
turned from him, claspsng her hand
over her ewes
As for Max. II a bcmb~hell had eN-
ploded at his feet he could not have
felt more a~trni~hed or lewiliered. but
before he could articulste word She
turned to him again
Listen please. j have seen you day
after day. a. vou passed my uncle's
house Nar looked ~ honest and kind
that somehow felt that You could and
would help ms. I'm I right or wrong2
You are only q s,ru -glinE lawyer
lie smiled bitterly n that
Il have MANY thousands in my own
right. Ny father willed il TO me They
can Rst touch that 1 have drawn it all