Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-30
DRIVEN TO MARRIAGE.

VI BEuYIllE.
He was young, handsome and we'll edu-
Gated; then, just as he was preparing TO
fight his way to fame with poverty array
ell aga dst him, he had suddenly been
made the sole heir to the fine old estate CT
bis eccentric aunt, Miss Betsy Colewood,
recently deceased.
What more was necessary to the happi
ne 5 Of a gay young fellow like Hugh Cole
wood? Nothing, il seemed to the enyious
bachelors
Howev r, there were conditions, or one
at least, in his aun will which caused
him no little uneasiuess. He must love and
marry the girl of her choice, one whom he
had never even seen
Hugh COIewo0d caught up his aunt
last letter to him and read it again and
again, hoping to fad some little loophole
Of escape from the CALLING condition
But it was there IN merciless black and
white. This is the p4rt that worried
him:
''If you cannot comply with my wishes
for you to meet Elhel Wayne and love and
marry her you forfeit your heirship to my
estate. hel'5 mother was my dearest
friend, and if you marry her daughter it
will be fulfilling my fondest desires. You
cannot help LOVING her.
81 could not res, in my tomb peacefully
and know that Ethel was not mistress Of
my estatt and you dear y, the master
My lawyer, Mr.. Cranston, will arrange
for you 10 meet Ethel, as he is one of her
guardians. You know how thoroughly [
despise old bachelors, therefore | give you
warning that | will not allow you to in
habit my houses and lands as one of that
disag. eeabe, crusty order"
So had written The eccentric spinster.
Hnoh nibled the ends of his mustache
imp ltiently as he pondered on the con-
dlt1ons which the will imposed.
Hugh loved the Cole wood estates, and
could not bear to think of giving them
up. NV, if the will Lad not specified
whom he must marry, bu, left the seec-
ton of wife entirely to himself, Hugh
believed that he would have enjoyed the
romance of hunting for bride.
H picked up his hat and rushed from
his room, going up to the hotel where Mr.
Cranston was stopping, while he arranged
some business matters with hugh.
Hello, Coiewood! Have seat" said
the lawyer, scrutinizlng the flushed face
and nervous manner of the visitor He
was just wondering to himself if the uu-
expected good fortune had turned young
Colewood, s head, when his visitor re-
marked:
You are aware of that one peculiar
feature in my late aunt's will, Mr.. Craas-
ton?"
Light at once dawned upon the lawyer
and there was a twinkle in his eyes.
However, he asked indiferently:
40 what peculiar feature do you refer,
Mr. CoIewood?'
'Toe one that absurdly commands me
to marry girl that | have never seen"
Oh, that returned Mr.. Cranston,
"You are lucky fellow, CoIewood. That S
the best part of the fortune"
''It's the most exasperating part, -
Hugh cried desperately. Glow can a fell
Low love and wed to order. "
'Well it's a deal of time and bother
saved to the wooer," remarked the lawyer,
putfi1g. eve no doubt Ethel Wayne
viii suit you better than any selection you
are capable of making"
Hugh CDlewood flushed warmly az the
lawyers cool observation and he spoke
hotly.
"pm sure she won't suit me, sir. The
e7tates con go to charity for all care. |
don't love any woman, and | love my free
dom too well to mary yet awhile. I don t
want to be thrust upon any woman for
the sake of fortune and | don't suppose
Miss Wayne cares two straws about the
absurd condition in my aunt's will"
at is very likely, although Ethel had
the creates respect for the late Miss Cole
wood and was very careful to humor all
her vagaries." returned Cranston, much
amused over young Cole woods excite
ment. However, | hardly feel able to
state whether the girl would accept Miss
Colewood's last great augary in the shape
of her impulsive nephew or not"
81 shall not give her the opportunity, "
said Hugh, nettled at the lawyer S
words
Hold on, CoIewood. Let's drop non
sense and come to business. You like
your aunt's estates, but you cannot retain
them without complying with her wishes
You have never met the girl whom your
aunt has chosen. Perhaps it will be proved
that you are neither IF you opposed to full
filing the condition.
At least, you must meet. | will arrange
that. Ethel will pass the summer with my
sister in the country and I'll manage il
for you 10 spend few weeks with them
You can soon tell whether the condition
is WHOLLY obnoxious or not. What do yor
say?'
twill do as you advise, thank you. sir,
replied Hugh, who had now cooled off anC
was trying 10 take business view of tn;
strange situation.
Four weeks later Hugh CoIewood was
speeding away from Greenville on the
morning express, bound for little tow
among the blue hills of Virginia.
When he stepped from the train ht
was disappointed TO find 10 one waiting
to convey him 10 the country home o.
Mr.. Cranston's sister, a distance of eight
miles.
He was in the act of asking the way to the
best hotel when buggy came rapidly up tc
the station and halted.
TIE station agent hurried forward tc
meet the driver, who was slender young
girl, with bright, dark eyes aud hair a.
golden as the June suubelms touching
these hills.
rs Mr. CoIewood, of Greenville, wait
ing here 10 ride out to M. Thurston's? O.
inquired the fair driver in swee
voice which won Hugh's interest a
once.
Il &m hare aud waiting, thank YOU. y
returned Hugh for himself. smiths
pleasantly as he came forward on TIE sta
tion Platform.
Il come to drive you to Mrs. Thu.
ston S, she answered simply.