The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-11
DRIVEN TO MARRIAGE


Greenville.
He was young, handsome and well sdu-
Gated; then, Just as he was preparing to
fight his way to fame with poverty ar
rayed against him, he had suddenly been
made the sole heir to the fine old estate OF
his eccentric aunt, Miss Betsy Colewood,
recently deceased.
What more was necessary to the happi-
ness of q gay young fellow like Hugh
Colewoodf Nothing, 1t seemed to the
envious bachelors.
However, there were conditions, or one,
at least, in his aunt's will which caused
him no little uneasiness. He must love
and marry the girl Of her choice, one
whom he had never even seen.
Huge Colewood caught up his aunt's
last letter to him and read Il again and
again, hoping to find some little loophole
OF escape from the CALLING condition.
But IL was there In merciless black and
white. This Is the part that worried him:
"If you cannot comply with my wishes
for you to meet Ethel Wayne and love
and marry her you forfeit your heirship
to my estate. Ethel's mother was my
dearest friend, and II you marry her
daughter It will be fulfilling my fondest
desires. You cannot help loving her.
at could not rest in my tomb peaceful
ly and know that Ethel was not mistress
of my estates, and you, dear boy, the
master. My lawyer, Mr.. Cranston will
arrange for you to meet Ethel, as he Is
one of her guardians. You know how
thoroughly despise old bachelors, there
fore give you warning that will not
allow you to inhabit my houses and lands
as one of that disagreeable, crusty order"
ka atota nd
could not bear to think of giving them
up. Now, II the will had not specified
whom he must marry, but left the selec-
tion of q wife entirely to himself, Hugh
believed that he would have enjoyed the
romance of hunting for bride.
He 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, Colewoodi Have q seat" said
the lawyer, scrutinizing the flushed face
and nervous manner of the visitor. He
was Just wondering to himself II the un-
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.. Grams
tonf'
Light at once dawned upon the lawyer
and there was twinkle in his eyes.
However, he asked indiffeYently:
"To what peculiar feature do you refer,
Mr.. Colewoodf'
"The one that absurdly commands me
to marry girl that have never seen."
"Oh, thatI" returned Mr.. Cranston.
"You are Q lucky fellow, Colewood.
That's the best part Of the fortune"
"Its the most exasperating part"
Hugh cried desperately. "How can o
fellow love and wed to orderf"
"Well, it's a deal of time and bother
saved to the wooer," remarked the lawyer,
pufing. "Tve no doubt Ethel Wayne
will suit you better than any selection
you are capable Of making"
Hugh Colewood flushed warmly at the
lawyers cool observation and he spoke
hotiy.
"I'm sure she won't suit me, sir. The
estates can 60 to charity for all I care. /
don't love any woman and ! love my
freedom too well to marry yet awhile. /
don't want to be thrust upon any woman
for the sake of fortune, and don't sup
pose Miss Wayne cares two straws about
the absurd condition In my aunt's will"
"Hold on, Colewood. Let's drop nom
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 1t will be proved
that you are neither OF you opposed to
fulfilling the condition.
cat least, you must meet. will ar
range that. Ethel will pass the summer
tatA IT, kA ~tvvv
manage it for you to pass few weeks
with them. You can very soon tell
whether the condition IL obnoxious or
not. What do you say?"
al will do as you advise; thank you,
sir" replied Hugh, who had now cooled
on, and was trying to take business
view of the strange situation.
Four weeks later Hugh Colewood was
speeding away from Greenville on the
morning express, bound for little town
among the blue hills of Virginia.
When he stepped from the train he was
disappointed to find no one waiting to
convey him to the country home of Mr..
Cranston's sister, q distance Of eight
miles.
He was IN the act Of asking the way to
the best hotel when buggy came rapidly
M to the station and halted.
The station agent hurried forward to
meet the driver, who was a slender young
girl, with bright, dark eyes and hair as
golden az the June sunbeams touching
those hills.
els Mr.. Colewood, OF Greenville, watt
inQ here TO ride out to Mrs. Thurston'sf"
inquired the fair driver in a sweet voice,
which won Hugh's interest at once.
AZ am here and waiting, thank you,"
returned Hugh for himself, smiling
pleasaptly.
al came to drive you to Mrs. Thurs
TOMS" she answered simply.
"shall I take the reins?" he asked as
they started away.
"No, thank you; like to driver" she
answered.
ait was too bad for you to take SO long
q drive for a stranger, he remarked as he
stole side glance OF admiration at the
airlish form In dainty blue.
"Oh, didn't mind the distance at all;
besides, rather had to come" she re-