Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-05-03

fvon's trench maid, who served as wit
Miss Miss Lyon looked very charming in
rho tiuht fitting, dark colored travelling
suit she wore on the occasioa for the
yorno couplc had decided TO set out on
trip to Europe at once
RaIph was In paradise. That signi-
fes all
Doctor as the person who should COM
rnuricote tho ominous news to Mrs
Warringham.
Ralph since their college days, and felt
an unbounded admiration for his clever
friend. Him nobody ever dreamed OF
calling clover, but be had the reputation
of being q good hearted, honest fellow
and everybody liked him. Ralph regard
ed him with sincere friendship and I'M
plicit trust
This amiable young gentleman did oy
no means feel comfortabloat the thought
of his comm ssion. But there was noun
ing he would mot have done at Rapns
behest He would even have sold him
his favorite horse.
When the ceremony was over ana
the newly made couple had received the
congratulations of Jack and the iegaI
gentleman, the formeEobserYeda chance
70 take the Doctor ASIDE for momenI
Mrs. Warringham, with the assistance
of the maid, was putting the fnlshlhg
touches 10 her toilet, while the lawyer
arranged his papers and documents.
"I wish you all tho happiness friend
Il. IN Dalnh WARMLY DfcSS-
ing his friends hand. "You have dan
eerous rocks ahead old man, but III 90
what | can to make thing right
Ralph saw the emotion In Jacks eyes
and warmly responded to the pressure
Of his hand. ,
"Thank you, my dear fellow" he said,
@thank you II know that you Will DO
that. And listen, Jack; tell my cousin
Hattie to keep my memory green, for
do not know how soon | may see ner
again"
He wss himself somewhat overcome
by emotion.
But why did Jack Spofford seem to
fee embarrassed at the mention OF Hat
tic Eeckford's nameP
Jack Spofford carefully elaborated In
his mind the little speech with whicn nc
was to communicate to Mrs Warning
ham the facts of her sons marriage and
departure for Europe. But when ne
stood before that superciliOus lady Ior
whom he had since his boyhood, le't
tremendous respect that could almost be-
| called awe. he found that he had forgot
ten every word of it. So he had TO get
through his task as best he could, whlcn
after all was much better than ho had
| feared.
lie could not, however, tell his tale
without admitting that he had taken
part in tho necessary arrangements, ana
| grew deeply crimson when Mrs war
| ringham said, with cutting irony:
ii am greatly Obliged to you, Mr.
Spofford, for tho pains you have taken
in promoting tho happiness OF my fam-
ily."
He felt greatly relieved when he had
at last left the house. AS ho was walk.
ing through tho garden that surrounded
the mansion with green lawns and shrub
berry he met Miss Beckfo d. This seemed
to Jack a partial compensation for the
crlcal he had just gone through, and at
the same time he remembered that he
had a message to her also
Hattie Be ,kford hailed him with the
dignified frankness that was so charming
characteristic of this young lady OF
n ncteen
"Nhy arc you in such haste to get
away, Mr. Spofforl?" she asked your
call has been very brief" "
"The messenger whose tidings are bad
should not tarry long," Jack replied Sc
riously,
Hattie turned shade palcr. "Bad
tidings?" she asked. "What is 1t, Mr..
Spofford?"
81 called to bring yourself and Mrs
Warringham the adieus of your cousin
Ralch. He has departed for Europe.
The girl now turned really pale; hei
lips tremb.ed, as sho exclaimed:
"For Europe"
ale has gone to Europe to spend the
honeymoon with Mrs. Warrngham, for
mcr Miss Lyon, whom he has married.
Hattie felt as if her heart would cease
to beat During the last three Gays she
had known what would come, yet now
when the object of her grief had become
real, she was overwhelmed with sorrow
For an instant pain made her unjust
and she exclaimed:
married c,andestinely and ran away
like coward"
Jack could not allow his admired
friend to be spoken of in that way.
"Not clandestinely nor like a coward
Miss Bcckford," he said "Ralph toc
his mother some days ago what he in
tended to do"
The momcntary emotion Of bitterness:
had already vanished from Hattie
mind. Sho now was filled only with
concern for the future happiness OF hel
idol
"You knew Miss Lyon, Mr.. Spofford2'
she INQUIRED anxiously. "Tel me what
sort of woman she is. VIII Ralph bt
happy by her side?"
The question was most embarrassing
to honest Jack. Although commonly
ready to approve and admire whatever
Ralph did, he could not fail in this case
to see how little there was in the new
Mrs. Warringham's character to promise
a happy outcome of the unlOn. He tried
to give an evasIvc, diplomatic answer,
and replied:
"Ralph loves her pasSionately and
love should be guarantee OF happiness.
The honest fellow had no idea thai
these words, which were intended tc
s; are her feelings, drove tho knife still
deeper into her heart.
Ho took his leave after having briefly
related the ceremonies Of Ralphs we'd
ding. When he was gone, the girl hast
ened in'o her room, locked the door and
gave free vent to tho tears she coulc
restrain M longer All was over now