Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-08-10
MONTMORENCY CRANE.
A Lost Opportunity That Brought
Him Happiness.

Montmorency Crane had been brough,
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.
81 have done everything for the best"
Mrs. Crane had said in conclusion. SIN
stead of scraping and pinching to save
you few pitiful thousands, / have, on
the contrary, brought you up with the
most expensive habits, and to associate
with only the richest people. l have
not spared any pains to turn you out
gentleman; in fact, the last of my
ready money has gone for your initia-
tion at the Howling Exclusives club,
and to set you up with your horse and
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 brilliant future, but that future
hOW pCPCheiS cnblItlp upoh .youEocli.
Montmorency moved uneasily.
but what do you expect me to doP
he asked, after short pause.
You must NAVY money, of course"
was his mothers reply
''But SUPPOSE should prefcr-er-
going into business2" he ventured, ten
tatively.
"That would never do, Montmoren
cyP Mrs. Crane said, decisively. "Yol
haven't brains enough for anything in
the world but to be gentleman! You
are all Crane, my dear boy; and there
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 Jennies window until after he
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 s
dinner to 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-
cidcd anything yet" he said at last
with fine assumption of candor, Tex
cept that shall spend my summer in
Saratoga"
Without his mothers assistance
Montmorency would never have been
able to make his choice among all the rich
and pretty girls he met at the springs.
Bat Mrs. Crane was too wise to let her
son run the risk of refusal, and soon
she had settled upon handsome and
spirited young woman from the west.
There's your opportunity, Mont
morency," she said. "Pork-paclSers,
with enormous wealth. The old peo-
pie are good-hearted, but common.
They have come east on purpose to
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 of
her husband. Montmorency, your path
lies clear before you. Just do as | tell
you, and rs soon Us you get things
settled shall go home with an easy
mind"
Notwithstanding that Montmorcncy
had come of age, he apparently had no
will apart from his mothers; and, hav-
ing followed her instructions to the let
ter,it was not long before he found him
self the accepted suitor of the handsome
Edna Barlow, of Chicago.
But, in spite of his cnviable position
as prospective son-in-law to one of the
richest men in the west, Montmorcncy
was low-spirited and miserable, and his
avoidance of his former associates gave
color to the story, that was generally
circulated, that Monty had been
caught by couple OF old schemers for
their handsome daughter"
For all Montmorency knew, his fair
fiancee might be a charming young
woman; but somehow-poor fellow!-
he had never felt quite at his case in
her presence since the day she had pas
sively allowed him to slip the brilliant
solitaire, still unpaid for, upon the slim
third finger of her small left hand.
One afternoon, however, it chancet.
that the two were sitting alone togeth-
cr, side by side, and Montmorency was
emboldened to let his arm slip down
from the back of the sofa upon which
it had been resting, and, encircling h.s
slender waist, he bent forward to press
. lovcr-like salute upon the tempting
cheek.
The first attempt ut gallantry was
fhet by sudden and stinging repulse.
With the vigorous box which fell upon
his ear it seemed, for moment, that the
room had turned upside down. Then,
as things righted themselves and his
scattered wits returned, Montmorency
saw his fancee erect before him with
angry eyes and flaming face.
Don't dare to touch mel Do you
hear?" she cried. ooh, hate you'll
l..+a ,,o,,t IUL,+ ebo1l JaOv