Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-07-01
DRIVEN TO MARRIAGE.

everybody opinion.
He was young and handsome and
we'll educated 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, recently
deceased.
What more was necessary to the
happiness of a gay young fellow like
Hugh Colewood? ? Nothing, it seemed
to the envious bachelors.
However, there were conditions, or
one, at least, in his aunts 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 loop
hole of escape from the CALLING condi-
ton.
But it was there in merciless black
and white. This is the part that wor-
ried 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 my tomb peace
fully 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 l despise
old bachelors. therefore, | give you
warning that | will not allow YOU to
inhabit my houses and lands as one
OF that disagreeable, crusty order"
SO had written the eccentric spin
ster. Hugh nibbled the ends of his
mustache imna tiantlv os he nord"-'i
on the conditions which the will i'm
posed.
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 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 mat
ters with Hugh.
Hello, Colewood Have a seat, "
said the lawyer, scrutinizing the
flushed face and nervous manner ot
the visitor. He was just wondering
to himself if the unexpected good for
tune had turned young Colewood's
head, when his visitor remarked:
"You are aware of that one 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
refer, Mr.. Colewood p
"The one that absurdly commands
me to marry girl that / have never
seen"
"Oh, that - returned Mr.. Cranston.
You are lucky fellow, Colewood.
That's the best part of the fortune.
ITS the most exasperating part, "
Hugh cried, desperately. How can
a fellow love and wed TO order?"
well, it's deal Of time and both
er saved to the wooer,n remarked the
lawyer. putting. II have no doubt
Ethel Wayne will suit you better than
any selection you are capable Of max
ing
Hugh Colewood flushed warmly at
the lawyers cool observation and he
spoke hotly.
I'm sure she won't suit me, sir.
The estate can go to charity for all l
care. l don't love any woman and 1
love my freedom too well to marry
vet awhile. | don't want TO be thrust
on any woman for the sake of for
tune, and l don't suppose Miss Wayne
cares two straws about the absurd
conditions in my aunt's will"
1T is very likely, although Ethel
had the greatest respect for the late
Miss Colewood, and was very careful
to humor all her vagaries. returned
Cranston, much amused over young
Colewood's excitement. However,
hardly feel able to state whether the
girl would accept Miss Colewood' last
great vagary in the shape of her i'm
pulsive nephew or not"
Il shall not give her the opportu-
nity," said Hugh, nettled at the law
yer's words.
Hold on, Colewood. Let's drop
nonsense and come TO business. You
like your aunt's estates, but you can
not retain them without complying
with her wishes. You have never
met the girl whom your aunt has
chosen. Perhaps it will he proved
that you are neither of YOU opposed
to fulfilling the condition.
AT least, you must meet. l will ar
range that. Ethel will pass the sum
mer with my sister in the country
and I'll manage it for you to spend
] few weeks with them. You can very