The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-08-10

of the bride-elect regarded with evident
delight.
Instead of avoiding Montmorency, as
she had done at first, Edna now actual
ly betrayed impatience if he failed to
come at the accustomed hour. Myste-
rious letters frequently passed between
them; and the girl no longer invented
impossible excuses to avoid the tete-a-
tete drives with her betrothed in his
jaunty turnout
One beautiful, bright September
morning, however, Montmorency, ap-
pearing rather earlier than usual, re-
ceived the intelligence that sudden
indisposition would prevent his fair
fiancee from accompanying him upon
his drive. After expressing much re-
gret and promising to return in the
hope of seeing her later in the day,
Montmorency drove away alone. Once
out of sight of the hotel, he whipped
up his horse and fairly flew along the
level road, until, just beyond turning,
Edna herself appeared, all smiles and
sudden bushes. He paused then, but
only long enough to help her up beside
him, and, more swiftly than ever, they
spun away, until he drew up at last
before a quiet country church, where a
good-looking young stranger from the
west was awaiting them with hardly
repressed impatience.
A hurried ecstatic conversation fol-
lowed, and then the trio hastened up
the aisle together to where the fore
warned minister, with his witnesses,
stood in readiness.
The marriage service was begun, and
at the question: "Who giveth this
woman to be married to this man?'
Montmorency stepped forward, and,
with an elegant air of Importance and
satisfaction, he placed the hand of his
beautiful betrothed into that of the
| other fellow.
The brief ceremony was ended, and
| when they were again in the vestibule
the smiling bride turned to Montmor
ency with outstretched hands,
"You are more than gentleman
you're perfect angel!" she cried
"We never could have done it withou
you; and-and-and-you may kiss mi
now, if you like!
''It's awfully hard on the dear oil
people" she continued, rcgretfully, afte
the short pause caused by Montmor
encys now permitted salute. "Bu
they can't help forgiving their onl.
child by and by, for, after all, thei
greatest desire was for my happiness
Only they wanted to see it accomplishe,
in their own way, and they couldn't be
lieve that I'd never be happy with an,
one but John the dearest fellow in al
the world" smiling up at the radian
bridegroom, though l must say, Mont
morency, you do come next!'
Johns outburst of hearty gratitud
was cut short by Montmorency's Oh
servation that train time was fast ap
preaching. So, having seated them il
sprang up in the groom's place behind
and they drove away gayly to the neal
est railroad station.
At the very last minute Edna slippe
something into Montmorency's hand.
I'm so sorry, almost forgot it" sh
said, but here it is, and I'm sure you
want it again very soon for-you knoy
whom!"
The storm which broke with the di.
covery of Edna's runaway marriag
} with her old western lover was an III
pleasant one to weather, even althoug
her parents never dreamed of the pal
Montmorency had played in the
; daughters elopement. His positio
t now, at best, was an awkward one, an
he was glad to make his exit from tn
scene at Saratoga as speedily as poss
BILE.
But at home he found it even wors,
for there he had to face his mother
bitter disappointment, and her col
slant lamentations and reproache
made his life miserable.
So one fine morning, having actuall
succeeded in persuading pretty Jenn
into following Edna's example, he boil
ly presented his blushing bride to b
astounded mother.
This, then, was the ending of he
ambitious dreams! That Montmorenc
should have risen in such open rebe
lion, after submitting himself to h
authority SO long. was cruel and crus
ing blow to tie elder Mrs. Crane. 81
u gave no voice to her anguish now, +,
this grief was too deep for tears; b,
she packed up her most cherished
T longings and without delay went ov
& to Italy, where she had been told tn
= she could not only live comfortably {
her annuity, but with even semblar'
; of luxury, determined to end her ia.
u voluntary exile from tie COUNT
where her ungrateful son mad fallen
victim to his own short-sighted folly.
: Montmorency's first care, after b
S fall from grace, had been to dispose
n his jaunty turnout and to resign fro
h the Howling Exclusives club; and
T SO doing he had dropped out of sigh
S nay, had sunk fathoms beneath the n
G tice of his old set of acQuaintances al
chums.
S All this Mrs. Crane the elder h;
:. foreseen, but worse was yet to com
n and when she learned that her fall,
q idol had actually accepted the situate
/, of clerk in fashionable dry goo