The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-10-29
NY RUBY WEDDING RING.
by L. Frank Baum.

The inn at Loudre was very disa-
Ereeable b odor of garlic and cab
page and the dampness and dirt were
unsupportable, and so 1 decided 10
push on to Danvers. The only vehicle
l could procure was a rafting two
seated gig, drawn by a bony white
horse of doubtful ability; but as my
destination was only three hours away,
ana l was not liable to meet any one
on the lonely road, I started off cheer
fully enough, resolved to enjoy my sol
ltary drive to the utmost.
The moonlight, as it glinted on the
soft green Of the hedges and streaked
the gray of the dusty road, was very
beautiful, and before half a league had
BEEN passed over I heartily %congratu-
lated myself upon my good fortune in
escaping the horrible inn at Loudre.
After an hours dreamy and delight
full ride l came to a cross roads where
with difficulty I deciphered the bat
tered signpost and Learned 1 must turn
to the left to reach Danvers. So, cluck-
ing UP NY deliberate steed, which pro-
ceeded in a half dignified, half, pro-
testing fashion, l turned into a grassy
lane bet Ween two tall hedges and
drove through a lonely district until
the dreamy influence Of night over
came me, and l drifted into a somno-
lent state midway between sleep and
waking.
was aroused by the sudden hating
OF my horse, that gave a frightened
snort and planted both front feet firm
ly before him.
distress A subdued ,sObbing, as of q
woman i'll distress, fell upon my ears,
md leaning forward, I pcered into the
moonlight to discover whence it came.
"A high brick wall ran close to the
roadway, covered with ivy and lichens,
and leaning against an angle Of this
O. few steps before me was a slight,
glrlish form, draped in a dark mantle.
l sprang to the ground and softly ap-
preached her. Her face was buried in
her hands and she sobbed bitterly.
"MademOiSelle," I said, speaking in
French, you are in trouble. Can l as
sist you in any Way??'
h lifted her head, and the moon
light fell upon the most beautiful face
l have ever seen. Absolutely fault
less in feature, it WAS surmounted by
a crown of yellow hair that shone like
gold in the glare Of the mOOnbeams,
While a pair of deep violet eyes that
even tears could not dim looked earn
estly into mine.
"Who are you% l asked gently, "and
why ere yOu here"
q" am Amelia de Boursons, mon
sieur, and I reside at the chateau just
within these gates"
The Soft, musical notes of her voice
added to the powerful impression her
exquisite beauty had already produced
UPON my heart.
But it is late" I continued, %''surely
some great misfortune must have be-
fallen you to bring you here at this
hour
1T is true, monsieur she replied,
struggling with a new p%aroXysln of
grief; Tomorrow is my wedding day"
The tone of despair in which these
words were uttered startled me.
But is that so terrible an eyent?' I
asked.
eff you but knew. monsieur" she
said, chow vile and brutal is the man
they are forcing me to marry, you
would willingly save me from my hor-
rible fate!"
She accompanied these words with
an appealing look into my face, and
then she dropped her head and ,sobbed
anew.
I did not stop to reason upon the
strangeness Of all this. I was a young,
generOuS-hearted man in those days,