The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-05-25

"Well, you know, Eric, when I mar
ried Philip it was such very prosy
wedding, so matter-of-fact and unro-
mantle, that vowed, if l ever married
again"-here Mrs. Gresham blushed
charmingly-"I would elope."
"And SO you shall" replied Eric,
eagerly ave will fly together this
very night"
But Edith laid her golden head on
his shoulder and murmured, softly:
"Not tonight, Eric; there is no need
for such haste"
Tomorrow night, then. I love
you SO dearly that every day seems
an eternity until l can claim you as
my wife"
"Well, then, tomorrow night let 1t
be- And, Eric, we must have car
riage and four horses, and host of
friends to welcome us at our journeys
end. If go at all l must go in style,
DEAR"
OF course Capt. Thorne consented to
all her capricious whims. The widow
kissed him and begged him to keep
the affair secret until they started.
The next night at the appointed hour
10 o'clock-Eric awaited his lady
love, who was rather tardy. Four
handsome bay horses champed their
bits and paved the ground, impatient
to start. At last he saw her approach.
The tall, stately figure was enveloped
in dark cloak, her head shrouded in
monstrous hood and veil.
He went forward to meet her, and
perceiving that she was violently agi-
tated, whispered words of encourage
ment as he assisted her into the car
riage, but although she gently pressed
the hand that held her own, he could
not induce her to speak word during
the drive.
Here we arer he exclaimed, as the
carriage finally stopped. "In a few
minutes you will be my own"
Then with a caress-the last, he ex-
planned, that he should ever give to
Edith Gresham-he led her into the
brilliantly lighted drawing room,
where the ceremony was to take place.
About a dozen of their choicest
friends, including Miss Beauford, were
there to meet them.
Capt Thorne started when he saw
Nell, and changed color. Then, as
though with an effort, he turned to
his bride-elect.
But as the lady removed her hood
and veil she disclosed to the astonished
assembly the features of Nora Nc
Grath, his Irish Iaundress!
The silence that ensued was broken
by Miss McGrath:
"Well, thin, and what are yez wait
ing fer? Shure, and after stailing me
away from me home and frinds at this
- ,1crl, hn off
marrying me, or I'll be getting a
breach of promise case out of yez in
jiffyw
"But, my good woman, where did
you come from? How did you get
wilderment.
"How did I get hereP Do ye name
to deny yer brung me here yersilf?
Oh, ye villain!"
"But where is Mrs. Gresham? What
do you mean by this? Explain your
self, womani"
The laugh at Capt. Thorne's mortif-
cation was general; little Miss Beau
ford alone did not smile.
"Misthress Gresham, is it? Shure,
and I was forgitting entirely the little
bit of paper she tould me to give yez
WnSu we WuZ
So saying Nora produced note ad-
dressed to Capt. Thorne, which read
as follows:
Ny Dear Eric: When you receive this ]
shall be many miles away from Newport, but
that you may not be disappointed in our
scheme for tonight have prevailed upon Miss
McGrath to take my place. l trust that she
ton has been very amusing to me and has
made the time pass very pleasantly for both
of US. Of course you could not suppose thai
would ever conSent-1n earneSt-to become
| the wife of a common firt.
Yours, for auld lang syne,
EDITH GRESHAM.
For one wild moment Eric Thorne
| stood quite dazed. Then the manhood
within him which had so long lain dor
mant rose to meet the occasion. He
walked straight over to Miss Beauford
| and took her hand.
"Nell," he said, I have been a foo
and am rightly punished. But through
all this nonsensical business l have
never really forgotten you. In the
presence of these our friends 1 ask
your forgiveness. Impose upon me
any penance-only say you will event
uaily become my wife"
Before Nell, overwhelmed by the sit
uation could answer, Nora McGrath
now smiling broadly, broke in:
"And shure l said ye'd come tc
yer senses in tonne, captain. Yer mo-
such fool as ye look, afther all. Now
I'll be Citing back home, if ye place
and ye can settle matters wild the
young lady afterward."
Six months later Mrs. Gresham re
ceived letter from Mrs. Thorne, once
Helen Beauford, informing her thai
Eric was so changed that he was quite
model husband-in fact, he was al
that she could wish him to be; but fol
some reason he seemed to hate the
name of Gresham. y WaUerley MdgG
zine.