Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-02-25
DRIVEN TOMARRIAGE

Every body declared UnaJ fiugn LOCKWOOD
ought to be the happiest man in Greenvile.
lie was young, handsome and well edu |
Gated; then, just as he was preparing to
fight his way to fame with poverty arrayed
against him, he had suddenly been made
the sole heir to the fine old estate of his
eccentric aunt, Miss Betsy Colewood, re.
Gently deceased.
What more was necessary to the happi-
ness Of gay young fellow like Hugh Cole
wood2 Nothing, it 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.
Hugh Colewood caught mp his aunts
last letter to him and read 1t again and
again, hoping to find some little loophole
OF escape from the CALLING condition.
But it was there in meroiless 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
estates Ethels mother was my dearest
friend. and il you marry her daughter 1T
will he fulfilling my fondest desires. You
cannot help loving her.
II could not rest in my tomb peacefully
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, therefore give you
warning that l will not allow you to in
habit my houses and lands as one of that
disagreeable, crusty order"
So had written the eccentric spinster.
Hugh nibbled the ends of his mustache
impatiently as he pondered. on the condi-
tions which the will imposed.
Hugh loved the Colewood estates, and
could not bear to think of giving them up.
Now, if the will had not specified whom he
must marry, but left the selection of a
wife entirely to himself, Hugh believed
that he would have enjoyed the romance
of hunting for a 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, Colewoodl Have a seat" said
the lawyer, scrutinizing the flushed face
and nervous manner of his visitor. He
was Just wondering to himself if the unex-
pected good fortune had turned young
Colewood's head, when his visitor re-
marked
"You are aware of that one peculiar fea-
ture in my late aunt's will, Mr. Gran
stons"
Light at once dawned upon the lawyer,
and there was twinkle in his eyes. How
ever, he asked indifferently:
TO what peculiar feature do you refer,
Mr.. ColewoodT"
"The one that absurdly commands me to
marry girl that have never Seen"
oh that" returned Mr. Cranston
''You are a lucky fellow, Colewood. That's
tie best part of the fortune"
It's the most exasperating part" Hugh
cried desperately. How can a fellow love
and wed to ORDER"
We'll, it's Il deal Of time and bother
saved to the wooer," remarked the lawyer,
putting 1--WE 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
holly
I'm sure she won't suit NE, sir TIL,
estates cHn 60 to charity for all l care.
don't love any woman, and love my free
dom too well to marry yet awhile. dom
want to be thrust upon any woman for The
sake of a fortune, and don't suppose Mis-
WAYNE cares two straws about the absurC
condition in my aunt's will"
''it is very likely, although Ethel haC
the greatest respect for the late Miss Cole
wood, and was very careful to humor al
her vagaries," returned Cranston, mucl
amused over young Colewoods excite
meut. However, | hardly feel able t.
state whether the girl would accept Mis-
Colewood's last great vagary in the shap'
of her impulsiye nephew, or not"
81 shall not give her the opportunity,
said Hugh, nettled at the lawyers words
Hold on, Colewood Let's drop non
sense and come to business. You like you
nunt's estates, but you cannot retain then
without complying with her wishes. Eol
have never met the girl whom your aun
has chosen. Perhaps it will be prove
that you are neither Of you opposed to full
filing the condition.
at lcast you must meet. will al
range that. Ethel will pass the summe
with my sister in the country and I'll man
eye it for you to spend few weeks wit
them. You can very soon tell whether tn
condition is wholly obnoxious or not. VIVA
do you sayS"
Il will do as you advise, thank you, sir,
replied Hugh, who had now cooled off an
was trying to take a business view Of tn
strange situation.
-Four weeks later Hugh Colewood wa
Speeding away from Greenyille on tn
morning express, bound for a little tow
among the blue bills OF Virginia.
When he stepped from the train he wa
disappointed to find no one waiting to col
Cey him to the country home of Mr.. Graz
eton's sister, a distance Of eight miles.
He was in the act Of asking the way I
the best hotel when buggy came rapid
up to the station and halted.
The station agent hurried forward I
meet the driver, who was a slender youn
girl with bright, dark eyes and hair
golden as the June sunbeams touchin
those hills
as MIR. Colewood, of Greenville, waitin
here to ride out TO Mrs. Tburston'sf" IL
CURED the fair driver in a sweet yoiC
which won Hugh's interest at once.
~ am here and waiting, thank you," r
turned Hugh for himself, smiling plea
antly as he came forward on the static
platform.
II came to drive you to Mrs. Thurston's
ihe answered simply.
Shall take the reins2" he asked as tn,