The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-23
MONTMORENCY CRANE.
A Lost Opportunity That Brought
Him Happiness

his property" when his majority was
attained. But on the morning OF that
eventful day his mother had revealed
to him, in a long and serious interview,
that his property existed nowhere
but-in his own imagination.
Il have done everything for the best, ;"
Mrs Crane had said in conclusion. I'm
stead of scraping and pinching to save
you few pitiful thousands, l 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 and
trap, with just sufficient in reserve to
pay your expenses at Saratoga for the
summer. l 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
now depends entirely upon yourself"
Montmorency moved uneasily.
But what do you expect me to do?'
he asked, after a snort pause.
You must marry money, of course"
was his mothers reply.
But suppose should prefer-er-
tatively.
THAT would never do, Montmoren-
cy" Mrs. Crane said, decisively. You
haven't brains enough for anything IN
the world but to be a gentleman! You
are all Crane, my dear boy; and there
never was such a fool about money
matters as your poor dear fatherr'
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 a 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, CHANGING 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
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, l really haven't de-
= Il = L =
with fine assumption of candor Eek
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.
But 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. 'sPork-packers,
with enormous wealth! The old peo-
pie are good-hearted, but common.
They have come east on purpose to
marry their only child to a 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 as soon as you get things
settled / shall go home with an easy
mind"
Notwithstanding that Montmorency
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 sutton of the handsome
Edna Barlow, of Chicago.
But, in spite of his enviable position
as prospective son-in-law to one of the
richest men in the west, Montmorency
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 handso daughter"
For all Montmorency knew, his fair
fancee might be a charming young
woman; but soinehow-poor fellow
he had never felt quite at his ease 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 CHANGED
that the two were sitting alone togeth-
-. he "a
emboldened to let his arm slip down
from the back of the sofa upon which
it had been resting, and, encircling her
slender waist, he bent forward TO press
a lover-libe salute upon the tempting
cheek.
The first attempt at gallantry was
met by sudden and singing repulse.
With the vigorous box which fell upon
his ear il seemed, for moment, that the
room had turned upside down Then,
as things righted themselves and his
scattered wits returned, Montmorency
saw his fiancee erect before him with
angry eyes and flaming face.
Don't dare to touch me, Do you
hear?" she cried. "0h, hate you, !
hate YOU, What shall Go?''
You hate me, 3" Moutmorenev echoed,
in slow, puzzled way, and yetyou're
going 70 marry me, Why, what does It
all lnean?"
Il cannot help it," she said, half def
ently, half in desperation They VIII
have It so, But, until then-uutil then,
at least-you shall not touch ne. I VIII
not permit it,
4 great light b-olsr in upaon Noutrao. /