Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-01-17


gagged 10 you / told her that was and
you can't think how furious she became.
She said all kinds Of furious things
about us both-told me that il mar
ried you your uncle would cut you of
with a shilling. and that she had no
idea Of helping us-as If / had ever
asked her-and that l must either
break of my engagement with you i'm
mediately or leave the shelter Of her
roof forever. IL chose the latter alter
native, Jim, and here am, you see. /"
my darlingp' he said fondly, press
ing the little hand that lay upon his
coatsleeve ''Do you know have had
much the same interview with Uncle
Obed this morning. He ordered me to
give you upor abandon all hope Of help
from him. gave him beans for his in
sulting proposition and left the house
under the ban of his avuncular curse,
and here am, You see. F"
''But what shall you do, Jim?"
"Don't know. Suppose l shall knock
along somehow. A man can always
fend for himself. It is you whom we
must think about What shall you do,
Gladdie?'
81 have some great friends living in
Thurloe square-the Greenaways. You
know them, don't you? shall go up
and see them and ask them to put me
up for a short time, and then, of course,
I must look out at once for something to
do. Perhaps could get situation as
governess. or lady clerkship, Or
"Don't, Gladdie! can't bear to
think of such thing for you. I-I-say
(Jim's color heightened, and his eye
sparkled with the sudden brilliancy of
fine idea), I-l-say, Gladdie, we've
could face this wretched world better
in-in-company, couldn't we? Why
why shouldn't t we be married at once"
"Oh, Jim"-what rosy color suf-
fused the brown little face-"it is i'm
possiblep'
'No such thing, Gladdie. We need
only wait week or two to comply with
the legal formalities and then goody
forever to all attempts to sever us.
Won't you--won't you consent?"
Jim was very persuasive, and Gladys
was very lonely, and love was very
strong. And somehow between the three
it was practically settled by the time
they reached Thurloe square. The awful
| imprudence, the desperate fatuity of
| this sudden step, which good, motherly
Mrs. Greenaway tried to impress upon
them both, they simply lost sight of in
their ridiculously childish happiness.
| And that tender hearted matron, after
scolding them both soundly for their
folly and prophesying the most miser-
able results from so rash a marriage, en-
forced her lesson by offering Gladys q
temporary home and permission to be
married from Thurloe square, if she
really was bent upon that insane step.
''It would look very bad for you, my
dear, circumstanced as you are, to be
married from lodgings or hotel" Mrs.
Greenaway said. "And though / am
strongly opposed to this most imprudent
union, yet il it is to take place, as you
both seem obstinately determined, I
should like to see it celebrated in a re-
spectacle way"
The good lady further insisted upon
one condition, which both Jim and
Gladys willingly accepted. This was
that each should write, the one to his
uncle, the other to the aunt, apprising
them of the intended marriage. She i'm
pressed upon them-even these foolish
young people saw the wisdom of her re-
marks-that any appearance of secrecy
ia the matter would be the worst posi-
BILE thing for them, and that moreover
it would be entirely useless, since they
were both of age, and no one could pos
sibly stop their marrying. Therefore, on
all accounts, the less concealment the
better.
So Jim wrote to Uncle Obed and &C.
tually had the nerve to ask him to the
wedding, while Gladys wrote to Aunt
Louisa a tender, loving little letter
which might have moved an ogress. No
reply, however, was vouchsafed to either
missive
The time soon slipped away, and the
day of the wedding-the earliest posi-
BILE date allowed by law-arrived The
marriage was to be solemnized early
at 10 o'clock-and very quietly, no one
being invited except the Greenaway
family and friend of Jim's to act as
best man. Mr.. Greenaway undertook
the empty formality of giving away the
bride, who was to be married in simple
travelling dress, and Immediately aftel
the ceremony the happy couple were tc
proceed to Victoria, en- route for Brigh
ton, where they proposed to spend 6
weeks honeymoon-the needful fol
which was one of kind Mrs Green
away's wedding presents-before re
turning to the cares Of penniless exist
ence.
Jim and his best man were the frs
to arrive at the church. While they
were waiting in the vestry, the window
of which overlooked the approach
through the churchyard, Jim's friend,
watching for the first signs Of the bridal
party, gave vent to sudden exclama
!; ton:
"Hello, who's this spruce old John
ny in the white waistcoat?"
Jim started and turned pale.
, GOOD Lordp he cried. 'It's my
Uncle Obed He has accepted my invi
tation, after all, then. I hope to good
} ness he does not mean to make useless
disturbance. -
} Before he had time to say much NOR
Uncle Obed, very smartly attired, hi
white waistcoat contrasting strongl.
with his red face, walked into the YES
try.
ella, you reprobatel" he cried, scowl
ing at his nephew. II have come t.
witness the consummation of your ruin
. you see"
'You are very kind, am sure, un
cle," answered Jim, holding out hi
{ hand, with all the cordiality of excess