The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-08-10
MONTMORENCY CRANE.
A Lost Opportunity That Brought
Him Happiness.

Him HapD1neaS.
Montmoreucy Crane had been brought
up to believe that he was to "come into
his property when his majority was
attained. But on the morning of that
eventful day his mother had revealed
to him, in long and serious interview,
that his property" existed nowhere
but in his own imagination.
"I have done everything for the BEST"
Mrs. Crane had said in conclusion. "In-
stead of scraping and pinching to save
you few pitiful thousands, I have, on
the contrary, brought you up with the
most expensive habits, and to associate
with only the richest people. have
not spared any pains to turn you out
gentleman; in fact, the last of my
ready money has gone for your initia-
ton at the Howling Exclusives club,
and to set you up with your horse an'
trap, with just sufficient in reserve to
pay your expenses at Saratoga for the
summer have kept back absolutely
nothing for myself, and now have only
my small annuity to live on, which, as
you know, dies with me. 1t is true that
] have accustomed you to look forward
to a brilliant future, but that future
now depends entirely upon yourself"
Montmorency moved uneasily.
But what do you expect me to do?"
he asked, after a short pause.
"You must marry money, of course"
was his mothers reply.
"But suppose should prefer-er-
going into business?" he ventured, ten
tatively.
"That would never do, Montmoren-
cyl Mrs. Crane said. dccisively. You
haven't brains enough for anything in
the world but to be gentleman! You
never was such fool about money
matters as your poor dear father!'
Late that same afternoon, as Mont
morency drove in his neat turnout down
the street, he was still revolving in his
mind all that his mother had said dur
ing that fateful interview; and he could
not help acknowledging certain JUS
tice in her conclusions. Indeed he was
in so deep study that he forgot to look
up at Jennie's window until after he
had passed by. Then, glancing back
over his shoulder and catching sight OF
her pretty, smiling face, he groaned in
the anguish of his spirit.
But by evening, when he gave a
dinner to a party of his intimates
at the club, in honor of the occasion, he
had himselfin hand SO well that he was
able to respond to their toasts with
even feeble show of wit, and to dodge
their most searching questions relative
to his property" and his future plans
"You see, boys, I really haven't de
cided anything yet" he said at last
with fine assumption of candor, sex
cept that shall spend my summer il
I Saratoga"
Without his mothers assistance
Montmorency would never have beer
able to make his choice among all the ricl
and pretty girls he met at the. springs
But Mrs Crane was too wise to let he.
son run the risk of refusal, and sool
she had settled upon a handsome ant
spirited young woman from the west
There's your opportunity, Mont
morency,' she said ''Pork-packers
with enormous WEALTH. The old peo
pie are good-hearted, but common
They have come east on purpose t.
marry their only child to gentleman
and they don't care what it costs them
You can't afford to be too particular
and the girl has style and spirit Be
sides, wife always rises to the rank o
her husband. Montmorency, your pat
lies clear before you. just do as l tel
you. and as soon as you get thing
settled shall go home with an cas-
mind.'
Notwithstanding that Montmorenc
had come of age, he apparently had n
will apart from his mothers; and, hay
ing followed her instructions to the le
ter,it was not long before he found hin
self the accepted suitor of the handsom
Edna Barlow, of Chicago.
But, in spite of his enviable positio
as prospective son-in-law to one of tn
richest men in the west, Montmorenc
was low-spirited and miserable, and h
avoidance of his former associates ga,
color to the story, that was general
circulated, that Monty had bee
) caught by couple OF old schemers ft
their handsome daughter"
For all Montmorency knew, his ia
fancee might be charming you1
woman; but somehow-poor fellow!
he had never felt quite at his ease
! her presence since the day she had pa
sively allowed him to slip the brilliaI
solitaire, still unpaid for, upon the sli
third finger of her small left hand.
One afternoon, however, it chance
, that the two were sitting alone togetl
er, side by side, and Montmorency VIZ
emboldened to let his arm slip dow
from the back of the sofa upon whic
it had been resting, and, encircling HI
: slender waist, he bent forward to pres
lover-like salute upon the temptir
cheek.
: The first attempt at gallantry W;
} met by sudden and stinging repuls
With the vigorous box which fell upc
t his ear it seemed, for moment, that ii