The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-01-04
DRIVEN TO MARRIAGE.

Everybody declared that Hugh Cole
wood ought to be the happiest man In
Greenville.
He was young, handsome and we'll
educated; then, just as he was prepar-
ing to fight his way to fame with pow
erty arrayed against him, he had sud-
denly been made the sole heir to the
fine old estate of his eccentric aunt,
Miss Betsy Colewood, recently de-
ceased.
What more was necessary to the
happiness of gay young fellow like
Hugh Colewood? Nothing, it seemed
to the envious bachelors.
However, there were conditions, or
one, at least, in his aunt's will which
caused him no little uneasiness. He
must love and marry the girl of her
choice, one whom he had never seen.
Hugh Colewood caught up his aunt's
last letter to him, and read 1t again
and again, hoping to find some little
loophole of escape from the calling
condition.
But it was there in merciless black
and white. This Is the part that wor-
ried him:
"If you cannot comply with ny
wishes for you to meet Ethel Wayne
and love and marry her you forfeit
your heirship to my estate. EthePs
mother was my dearest friend, and IL
you marry her daughter 1t will be full
filling my fondest desires. You can
not help loving her.
II could not rest In my tomb peace
fully and know that Ethel was not
mistress Of my estates, and you, dear
boy, the master. My lawyer, Cranston,
will arrange for you to meet Ethel, as
he is one of her guardians. You know
how thoroughly / despise old bache-
lors, therefore l give you warning that
I will not allow you to inhabit my
houses and lands as one of that dis
agreeable, crusty order"
So had written the eccentric spin
ster. Hugh nibbled the end of his
mustache impatiently as he pondered
on the conditions which the will i'm
posed.
Hugh loved the Colewood estates
and could not bear to think of giving
them up. Now, II the will had not
specified whom he must marry, but
left the selection of wife entirely to
himself. Hugh believed that he would
have enjoyed the romance of hunting
for bride.
He picked up his hat and rushed
from his room, going up to the hotel
where Cranston was stopping while he
arranged some business matters with
Hugh.
Hello, Colewood! Have a seat"
said the lawyer, scrutinizing the flush
ed face and nervous manner of the
visitor He was wondering to himself
turned young Colewoods head wher
his visitor remarked:
You are aware of the one peculiar
feature in my late aunt's will, Grams.
TONI"
Light at once dawned upon the law.
yer, and there was a twinkle in his
eyes. However, he asked Indifferent.
ly:
ITO what peculiar feature do YOU
refer, Colewood?"
THE one that absurdly commands
me to marry girl that I have never
SEEN"
"Oh, that" returned Cranston. "Yor
are a lucky fellow, Colewood. That's
the best part of the fortune"
It's the most exasperating part. .
Hugh cried desperately. "How can q
fellow love and wed to order?"
We'll it's deal of time and bottle,
saved to the wooer," remarked the
lawyer, putting. 1--WE no doubt EtheI
Wayne will suit you better than any
selection you are capable of making
Hugh Colewood flushed warmly al
the lawyers odd observation and he
spoke hotly.
I'm sure she won't suit me, sir. The
estates can go TO charity for all care
l don't love any woman and love my
freedom too we'll to marry yet awhile
] don't want to be thrust upon any wo.
man for the sake of fortune, and
don't suppose Miss Wayne cares two
straws about the absurd condition In
my aunt's will"
1t is very likely, although Ethe
had the greatest respect for the lat,
Miss Colewood, and was very careful
to humor all her vagaries," returned
Cranston, much amused over younl
Colewood's excitement. However,
hardly feel able to state whether tn,
girl would accept Miss Colewoods las
great vagary in the shape of her i'm
pulsive nephew or not"
Il shall not give her the opportun
ity," said Hugh, nettled at the lawyer
words.
Hold on, Colewood. Let's drop non
sense and come to business You lik
your aunt's estates, but you cannot re
tain them without complying with he
wishes. You have never met the cir
whom your aunt has chosen. Perhap
1t will be proved that you are neithe
OF you opposed to fulfilling the condi
ton. H
''At least you must meet l will ar
range that Ethel will pass the summe
with my sister in the country and ri
manage for you to spend few week
With them. You can very soon tel