The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-07
DRIVEN TOMARRIAGE

He was young, handsome and we'll edu-
Gated; 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, re-
Gently deceased
| What more was necessary to the happi-
ness of gay young fellow like Hugh Cole
woodS Nothing, it seemed to the envious
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 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 loophole
of escape from the CALLING condition.
| But it was there in merciless black and
white. This is the 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
estates Ethels mother was my dearest
friend, and if you marry her daughter it
will be fulfilling my fondest desires. You
cannot help loving her.
II could not rest in my tomb peacefully
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
despise old bachelors, therefore give you
warning that will not allow you to in
habit my houses and lands as one of that
disagreeable, crusty order"
Go had yvrittpn tho appnntric enfDctar
Hugh nibbled the ends of his mustache
impatiently as he pondered on the condi-
tions 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 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 matters with Hugh.
Hello Colewoodl Have a seat" said
the lawyer, scrutinizing the flushed face
and nervous manner of his visitor. He
was just wondering to himself if the uneX-
pected good fortune had turned young
Colewood's head, when his visitor re-
marked:
"You are aware of that one peculiar fea-
ture in my late aunt's will, Mr.. Gran
ston?"
Light at once dawned upon the lawyer,
and there was twinkle in his eyes. How
ever, he asked indifferently:
ITO what peculiar feature do you refer,
Mr.. ColewoodP"
"The one that absurdly commands me to
marry girl that have never SEEM"
ooh, thatp returned Mr.. Cranston.
you are lucky fellow, Colewood. That's
the best part of the fortune"
cts the most exasperating part" Hugh
cried desperately. "How can a fellow love
and wed to order"
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 at the
lawyers cool observation and he spoke
holly.
"Im sure she won't suit me, sir. The
estates can go to charity for all care.
don't love any woman, and l love my free
y
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 in my aunt's will"
''It is very likely although Ethel had
the greatest respect for the late Miss Cole
wood, and was very careful to humor all
her vagaries," returned Cranston, much
amused over young Colewood's excite
ment. However, 1 hardly feel able to
state whether the girl would accept Miss
Colewood's last great vagary in the shape
of her impulsive nephew, or not"
II shall not give her the opportunity"
said Hugh, nettled at the lawyers words.
Hold on, Colewood. Let's drop nom
sense and come to business. You like your
aunt's estates, but you cannot retain them
without complying with her wishes. You
have never met the girl whom your aunt
has chosen. Perhaps it will be proven
that you are neither of you opposed to full
filling the condition.
"At least, you must meet. 1 will ar
range that. Ethel will pass the summer
with my sister in the country and I'll man
age it for you to spend few weeks with
them. You can very soon tell whether the
condition is wholly obnoxious or not What
do you say9"
81 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.
Four weeks later Hugh Colewood was
speeding away from Greenville on the
morning express, bound for a little town
among the blue hills of Virginia.
When he stepped from the train he was
disappointed to find no one waiting to con-
vey him to the country home of Mr.. Gran
ston's sister, a distance of eight miles,
He was in the act of asking the way to
the best hotel when buggy came rapidly
up to the station and halted.
The station agent hurried forward to
meet the driver, who was "a slender young
girl, with bright, dark eyes and hair as
golden as the June sunbeams touching;
those hills.
SIS Mr.. Colewood, of Greenville, waiting
here to ride out to Mrs. Thurston's?" in
quired the fair driver in a sweet voice
which won Highs interest at once.
II am here and waiting, thank you" re-
turned Hugh for himself, smiling pleas
antly as he came forward on the station
platform.
II came todriye YOU to Mrs ThurSton,s -