The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-04-16
,ain"-hcro tho widow blushcl charm.


inely-"l would elope.p 3Es
"And SO you shalt" replied Eric,
eagerly. eve will fly together this very
night"
but Edith laid her golden head OH his
shoulder and murmured, softly:
mot tonight, Eric; there Is no need
for such haste" jr
Tomorrow night, thon. I love you
so dearly that every night seems IN
eternity until ] can claim you as my
wife" y.s
DWELL, then, tomorrow night lot II
be. And Eric, We must have a carriage
and four horses and a host Of our friends
to welcome us ut our journeys end. II
60 at all must 60 In style, DEAR.
OF course, Captain Thorne consented
to all her capricious whims. Then tho
widow kissed him and begged him to
keep tho affair secret until they
started. t4-,,
Tho next night at tho appointed hour
-1Q o'clock--Capt. Thorn0 awaited his
lady.lovo, who was rather tardy -Four
handsome bay horses champed their
bits and paved the ground, impatient
to start. At last no saw her approach.
ing. The tall, stately figure was envel-
opcd in dark cloak, her head shroudcd
In monstrous hood and veil.
He went forward TO meet her. and
pcrcciyingthat she was violently agita.
ted, whispered words OF encouragement
as he assisted her into tho carriage, but
although ahe gently pressed the hand
that held her own, he could not induce
her to speak word during tho drive.
"Ilere VIC arc" he exclaimed, as tho
carriage finally stopped. an u few
minutes you will DO my own" ''Ss
Then with n caress-tho last, OK.
planned, that he should ever give to
Edith Grcshaln-he led hor into tho
brilliantly lighted drawing room, where
tho ceremony was 10 tako place.
Abouta dozenof their choicest friends.
including Miss Beautord, were there to
meet them. al
Capt. Thorne started when he saw
Nell, and changed color. Then, rs
though with an effort, he turned to his
bride.elect. Esa1l.lEn
But as the lady removed her hood and
veil she disclosed to tho gazc OF the as
tonished assembly the features OF Nora
McGrath, his Irish laundress. .T3
The silence that ensued was broken
by Miss McGrnth: 44pE'z a gtUt
swell, thin, and what are yez waiting
fer? Shure, and atter stating me away
from me home and frinds at this tonne
O. night ,ye'd betthcr be aither marry
me, or I'll be getting n breach Of prom.
ise case out OF ycz in u jiilyp
"But, my good woman, whore did you
come from? How did you get here ?"
demanded the captain IN bewilderment.
"How did get here? Do ye name to
deny yer brung me here yersilf? Oh,
We villin!" al G as1rf,
"But whore is Mrs. Gresham? What
do you mean by this? Explain your
self, woman!"
The laugh at Captain Thornc's morti-
fication was general; little Miss Beau
ford alone did not SMILE
"Msthrcss Gresham, is it? Shure,
and was forgetting entirely tho little
bit OF paper she tould me- to give yez
when We wuz married"
So saying Nora produced note adj
dressed to Captain Thorne, which read
as follows:
My DEAR ERlc:-When you receive this shail
may not be disappointed In our scheme for TO-
night have prevailed on Miss McGrath TO take
my place. trust that she will make you Il good
wife. This little Irritation has been very anus.
Ing 10 me and has made time pass very pleas.
anty for both OF us. Of course you could not
suppose that would eve; consent-in earnest
10 become the,wife OF common fllrt. Yours
for aud lang Syne. EDITH GRESHAM.
For one wild moment Eric Thorne
stood quite dazed. Then tho manhood
within him, which had SO long lain dor.
mant, roso to meet the occasion. Ho
walked straight over TO Miss Bcauford
and took her hand.
"Ncll," he said, 81 have been fool,
and am, rightly punished. But through
all this nonsensical business 1 have
never really forgotten you. In the
presence Of these our friends I ask your
forgiveness. Impose upon me any pen
ance-only say you win eventually be-
como my wife"
Before Nell, overwhelmed by the
situation, could answer, Nora McGrath,
now smiling broadly, broke in:
."And shure l always said ye'd come
to yer senses in tonne, captain. Yer
not such fool as We look, atther ALL.
Now I'll be getting back home, if We
PLACE, and you Scan settle matters wild
the young lady afterwards"
Six months later Mrs. Gresham re-,
ceived letter from Mrs. Thorne once
Helen Beauford, informing her that
Eric was SO changed that he was quite
model usband-in fact, he was all
that she could wish him to DO; but for
some reason he seemed to hate the
name Of Gresham" s:#332ti