The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-06-03

the sole heir to the
fine old estate of his
eccentric aunt, Miss Betsy Colewood, re-
Gently deceased.
What more was necessary to the hap
piness of u gay young fellow like Hugh
Colewood7 Nothing, it seemed to the
cnyious 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 choce, ono
whom he had never even seen.
Hugh CoIewood caught up his aunt's
last letter to him and read it again and
again, hoping to find some little ioophole
of escape from the CALLING condition.
But it was there in mercilcss black
and white. This is tho part that worried
him:
eff 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 il you marry her
daughter it will be fulfilling my fondest
desires You cannot help loving her.
al could not rest il my tomb peace
fully aud know that Ethel was not mis-
trcss of my estates, and you, dear boy,
the master. My lawyer, Mr.. Cranston,
will arrange for you to meet Ethel, as he
is Que of her guardians. You know how
thoroughly despisc old bachelors there
fore, give YOU warning that | will not
allow you to iuhnbit my houses aud
lands as one of that disagrccablc, crusty
order"
h,,l In nt "a.
Hugh nibbled the ends of his mustaGhc
impaticntly rs he poudcrcd ON the con
ditions 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 sclcc
tion of a wife entirely to himself, liugl
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 hotcl where
Mr.. Cranston was stopping, while Inc
'--- -.S'l~, "'eNs> .'osi,"o" .!r"ttw' suit
said the lawyer, scrutinizing the tlushc,
lace and nervous manner Of the visitor
He was just wondering to himself if tn,
unexpected good fortune had turnet
young C"lcwood's head, when his visitor
remarked
"lou are aware of that one peculiar
feature IN my late aunt : VIII, Mr.. Grams,
ton2'
Light at once dawmcd upon the lawyer
and there was u twinkle in his ayes.
However, he asked mdillcrcntly:
"Tn what peculiar feature do you refer
Mr.. Colcw"od?"
ne an, hat nj, Al a.,
to marry " gnl that have never seen"
"Oh, that" returned Mr.. Cranston
"iou are lucky fellow, Colcwood
That's the best part of the fortune"
ole" the mos, cAnspcrn,ing rart,
Hugh cried desperately. "HoT can
fellow love and wed to order2"
"Wcll, it's Il deal Of time aud bottle
saved to the wuoer, remarked the law
yer, pulling. 81 have no doubt Ethc
Wayne will suit you better than an,
selection You are capable of making"
Hugh Colcwood flushed warmly at th
lawyers cool observation and he spok,
hotly.
"Im sure she won't suit me, sir. Tn,
estate can 30 to charity for all care.
cont love any woman and love my free
dom too well to marry yet awhile.
Ion want to be thrust on any woma,
ior the sake OF fortune, anh 7 don :
suppose Mis- Wayne cares two straw,
about the absurd conditions i'm INV aunt
will"
''lt Is very likely. although Ethel In.
The greatest respect for the late Mis-
Colcwood, aud was very careful to bumo,
All her Va Iarics," returned Craustop
much amused over young Colewood's ex
''em"nt. "lIowever, hardly feel able
10 state whether the girl would accent
niss Colewood's last great vagary in the
shape OF her impulsive nephew or not"
81 shall not give her the opportunity, "
SAID Hugh, nettlcd at the lawyers words.
"iiold on, Colewood. Lets drop
nonscnsc and come to business. You
iNe your aunts estates, but YOU cannot
ictain them without complying with her
wishes. You have never met the cir
whom your aunt has chosen Perhars i,
VIII be proved that you are neither OF
YOU opposed to fulfilling the condition.
"At least, you must meet. | will ar.
range that. Ethel will pass the summer
with my sister in the country, and III
manage 1T for you to spend few weeks
with them. You can very soon tel
whether the condition is wholly obnox.
!oue or not. What do you say2"
81 will do as you advise thank you,
sir, replied Hugh, who had now coole !
on and was trying to take business.
view oi the strange situation.
four weeks later Hugh Colewood was
- -'-'"'' '-...., I'-,,- Ill, o., a.
'"orhing express, bound for little town
nong the blue hills of Virginia.
when nc stepped from the train he
vas disappointed to find no one wa;,in,
10 convey him to the country homo ~,
Hr Cranston's sister, distance of eiyht
niles.
lie was IN the act Of asking the wav
me oest hotel when n buggy came
'apldiy uD t" the station and halted
The station agent hurric forward t,,
meet the driver, who was slender
Dung girl, with bright dark eyes and
"'lr as golden AS the June suubeams
touching those hills.