The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-11-28
NY RUBY WEDDING RING.
BY l.. frank Baum.

The inn. at Loudre was very disa-
greeable. The odor Of garlic and cab
bage and the danpness and dirt We're
& unsupportable, and so I decided to
push on to Danvers. The only vehicle
Il could procure was a rattling two
seated gig, drawn by a bony white
horse Of doubtful ability; but as my
destination was only three hours away,
and was not liable to meet any one
on the lonely road, started off cheer
fully enough, resolved to enjoy my SOL
itary 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 league had
been passed over I heartily congratu-
lated myself upon my good fortune in
escaping the horrible inn at 1oudre.
After al hours dreamy and delight
full ride l came to Il cross roads where
with difficulty deciphered the bat
tered signpost and learned must turn
to the left to reach Danvers So, cluck-
ing UP NY deliberate steed, which pro-
ceeded in a half dignifed, half pro-
testing fashion, l turned into a grassy
lane between two tall hedges. and
drove through a lonely district until
the dreamy influence of night over
came me, and drifted into a solnno-
. lent state midway between sleep and
waking. ElHe-
s. | was aroused by the sudden halting
OF my horse, that gave frightened
snort and planted both front feet firm
ly before him. T@M;.: @: ~ =.
distress A subduel sobbing, as of
woman i'll distress, fell upon my ears
and, leaning forward, 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
a few steps before me was a slight,
girlish form, draped in a dark mantle
L spr1ng to the ground and softly ap-
proached her. Her face was buried in
her hands and she sobbed bitterly.
"Mademoiselle,' I said, speaking in
French, you are in trouble. Can as
sist you in any way?'
She lifted her head, and the moon
light fell upon the most beautiful face
| have ever seen. Absolutely fault
less in feature, it WAS surmounted by
Il crown of yclloW 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. So 5s sEss.ss b
''Who are your i asked gently J, ana
why are you here i st
Il am Amelia de Boursons, mon
sieur. and reside at the chateau Just
within these gates y y =
The soft, musical notes of her voice
added to the powerful impression her
exquisite beauty had already produced
UPON my heart. "% es =
"But it is latc,' continued, s'surely
some great misfortune must have be
fallen you to bring you here at this
hour"
''It is true, MONSIEUR she replied,
struggling with new paroxysln Of
grief; 'tO-morrow is my wedding day.
The tone Of despair in which these
words were uttered startled me.
But is that so terrible an event?' I
asked 80 49,.
''lf you but knew, monsieur" she
said, "hoW 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. go .'-'' =
I did not stop to reason upon the
strangeness Of all this. was a young,
f. generous-hearted man in those days,