The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-07-13
DRIVEN TO MARRIAGE.

UNI LI " vi MAIOl61A VI He
Every body declared that Hugh Cole
wood ought to be the happiest man in
Greenville.
He was young, handsome and well
educated; then, just as he was pre-
pairing 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, recently de-
ceased.
What more was necessary to the hap
piness of gay young fellow like Hugh
CoIewood? Nothing, it seemed to the
envious bachelors.
However, there were conditions, or
one at least, in this 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 up his aunt's
last letter to him and read it again and
again, hoping to find some little loop
hole of escape from the CALLING condi-
ton.
But it was there in merciless black
and white. This is the part which
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. Ethers
mother was my dearest friend. and if
you marry her daughter it will be full
filling my fondest desires. You can
not help loving her.
Il could not rest in nv tomb peace
fully and know that Ethel was not
mistress of my estate, 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 l de-
spise old bachelors, therefore l give
you warning that l will not allow you
to inhabit my houses and lands as one
of that disagreeable, crusty order"
So had written the eccentric SPINS
ter Hugh nibbled the ends of his
mustache impatiently as he pondered
on the conditions which the will inn
posed.
Hugh loved the Colewood estates,
and could not bear to thing 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.
Hepicked 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. Colewood! Have seat"
said the lawyer, scrutinizing the flush
ed face and nervous manner of the WIS.,
itor. He was just wondering to HIM
self if the unexpected good fortune had
turned young Colewood's head, when
his visitor remarked:
"You are aware of that peculiar
feature in my late aunt's will, Mr..
Cranston?"
Light at once dawned upon the law
yer and there was a twinkle in his
eyes. However, he asked Indifferent
ly.
"To what peculiar feature do you re-
fer, Mr.. Colewood?"
"The one that absurdly commands
me to marry a girl that I have never
SEEN"
"Oh, that!" returned Mr.. Cranston.
"You are lucky fellow Colewood.
That's the best part of the fortune?'
"It's the most exasperating part,
Hugh cried desperately. "How can a
fellow love and we'd to orderP"
well, it's deal of time and bother
saved to the wooer," remarked the
lawyer, putting. Give no doubt Ethel
Wayne will suit you better than any
selection you are capable of making.
Hugh Colewood flushed warmly al
the lawyers cool observation and he
spoke hotly.
I'm sure she won't suit me, sir. The
estates can go to charity for all l 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 suppose Miss Wayne cares two
straws about the absurd condition il
my aunt's will.
"It's very likely, although Ethel had
the greatest respect for the late Mis-
Colewood and was very careful to hu
NOR all her vagaries," returned Grams
ton, much amused over young Cole
woods excitement. "However, | hard
ly feel able to state whether the cir
would accept Miss Colewood's las
great vagary in the shape of her i'm
pulsive nephew or not"
Il shall not give her the opportuni
ty," said Hugh, nettled at the lawyer
words.
"Hold on, Colewood. Let's drop non
sese and come to business. You lik
your aunt's estates, but you cannot re
tain them without complying with he
wishes. You have never met the gin
whom your aunt has chosen. Perhap
it will be proved that you are. neithe
of you opposed to fulfilling the condi
ton.
cat least, you must meet, | will al
mer with my sister in the country an
I'll manage it for you to spend fe'
weeks with them. You can very 500
tell whether the condition is who'll
obnoxious or not. What do you say?
81 will do as you advise, thank yor
sir; replied Hugh, who had now coole
off and was trying to take bushes
view of the strange situation.
Four weeks later Hugh Colewoo
was speeding away from Greenville o
the morning express, bound for hit
town among the blue hills of Virgini;
When he stepped from the train b
was disappointed to find no one wal
ing to convey him to the country hon
of Mr.. Cranston's sister, a distance
eight miles.
He was in the act of asking the wa
to the best hotel when buggy cam
rapidly up to the station and halted.
The station agent hurried forward
meet the driver, who was slend'
young girl, with bright, dark eyes an
hair as golden as the June sunbeam
touching those hills.
"Is Mr. Colewood. of Greenvill
\ waiting here to ride to Mrs. Thur
; ton'sP" inquired the fair driver in
sweet voice which won Hugh's inte
est at once.
81 am here and waiting, thank you
returned Hugh for himself, smiliI
pleasantly as he came forward on Il
station platform.
"Shali take the reins?" he asked
they started away.
"No, thank you; l like to drive, C 81
= answered.
at was too bad for you to take
long drive for stranger, he I
marked as he stole side glance of a
miration at the girlish form in dain
blue.