The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-06-16

DRIN En- 10 VI ARRIAGE.
yerybody 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.
w hat more was necessary to the hap
piness Of gay young fellow like Hugh
ColeW9od? Nothing, it seemed to the
envious bachelors.
However, there We're 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. Ethel's
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 estate, and you, dear
boy, the master. My lawyer, Mr.
Cranstoa, willarrange for you to meet
Ethel. rs he is one of her guardians.
You know how thoroughly | de-
spisc 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 spins
ter. Hugh nibbed the ends Of his
mustache impaticntly as he pondered
on the conditions which the will i'm
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 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. Colewood, Have a seat"
said the lawyer, scrutiniZing the flush
ed face and nervous manner of the vis-
itor He vas just wondering TO him.
self 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 III his
eyes. However, he asked Indifferent
ly.
ITO what peculiar feature do you re-
fer, Mr.. ColewOOd"
The one that absLrdlv commands
me to marry a glrl tha5 | have never
seen"
"Oh, that" returned Mr.. Cranston.
You are a lucky fellow Colewood.
That's the best part of the fortune?"
Its the most eNasperating part" ;"
Hugh cried desperately. How can a
fellow love and we'd to order?"
We'll, it's a deal of time and bother
saved to the wooer," remarked the
lawyer. pulling. I've 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 hotly.
I'm sure she won't suit me, sir. The
estates can 90 to charity for all | care.
| don't love any woman and | love my
freedom too well to marry yet awhile.
l don't want to be thrust upon any
woman for the sake of a fortune and
| don't suppose Miss Wayne cares two
straws about the absurd condition in
my aunt'S will.
Its very likely, although Ethel had
the greatest respect for the late Miss
Colewood and was very careful to hu-
NOR all her yararies." returned Grams
ton, much amused over young Cole
| woods excitement. However, | hard
| ly feel able TO state whether the girl
would accept Miss Colewood's last
great vagary in the shape Of her i'm
pulsiye nephew or not"
Il shall not give her the opportuni-
ty," said Hugh, ncttled at the lawyers
words.
Hold on. Colewood. Let's drop non
sese and come TO business. You like
/ your aunt's estates. but you cannot re.
tain them without complying with heT
/ wishes. You have never met the girl
whom your aunt has chosen, Perhaps
/ it VIII be proved that YOU are neither
OF you opposed to fulfilling the condi-
! ton.
AT least, you must meet. | 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 soon
| tell whether the condition is wholly
I obnoxious or not. What do you say?7
Il will do as you advise, thank you,
sir; replied Hugh, who had now cooled
off and was trying to take business
view of the strange situation.