The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-11-26
NY RUBY WEDDING RING.

The inn az Loudrc was very disa-
-reeable. The odor o; garlic aud cab
haee aud the dampncss and dirt were
unsupportable. and 80 / decided 10
pash on TO Danyers TIE only vehicle
I could procure was O rattilng two
seated gig, drawn by a bony white
horse OF doubtful ability; but as ms
destination was only three hours away,
and was not liable 90 meet any one
on the lonely road. started OF cheer.
fully enough, resolved 20 enjoy my sol
itary drive to the utmost
The moonlight. as Il rlinied on the
soft green OF the hedges and sircaked
the gray Of the dusty road, WIS very
beautiful. and before half a league had
been passed over I heartily congraiu-
lated myself upon my good fortune In
escaping the horrible inn At Loudrc-
After ah hours dreamy and delight
ful ride / came % a cross roads where
with difficulty / decipheFed the bat
tered slgnpoSt and learned ! must tura
10 the len to reach Danvers SO. cluck-
Ing up me- deliberate siecd. which pro
ceedcd In q half dienlhed, half pro-
testing fashion. / turned Into q grassy
lane between two tail hedges and
drove through lonely district until
the dreamy influence OF night over
came me. and I drlicd into aoinno.
lent state midway between sleep and
waking
| was aroused hy the Gudden halilng
Of my horse. that gave O frightened
snort and planted both front feet trim.
Is before him
distress 4 suhduc1 Gohhiag rs Of a
wonlu IN distress. Zen upon my can.
and. leaning forward. ! pccred into the
moonlight 90 discover whence j. came
A high brick wall ran close 20 tht
roadway covered with Ivy and licheHs
and leaning against IN aLgle of this
a few steps before me was a slight
/ girlish form. draped Ia a dark mantle
! spmug 20 The ground aud softly ap
preached her. Her face was buried N
her hands and she sohbcd bitterly.
"Aladcm0lselle. said. speaking n
French. you are ia trouble. Can ! rs
Eisf you Va any way!
She lifted her head. and the moon
light fsll upon the most beautiful iaC,
have ever seen. Absolutely fault
less Ia featurc. Il was surmuunied by
a crown OF y,iluw hali thli shonc ilk'
gold in the glare Of the momhoams
while ! pair OF deep violet eyes tia
even tears could not dim looked earn
esily into mine.
"who ar. youi" asked gently, "an,
why are you 'rc.'
Il am Amelia de BOursons. mon
sieur. aud ! reside 10 the chateau jus
within these gairs"
The soft. mLE.Cal notes ~ her velci
added io the powerful Impression be-
exquisite beauty had already produce,
won ny heart.
"But Il n late" ! contllacd. "surel!
some great misfortune musi have hp
fallen you 10 bring you here az TIL
hour"
1T Is true. monsieur" she replied
struggling with a new paroxySn u
grief; Tomorrow Is my Wedding day,
The tone % despair 10 which thcs
words were uttered startled me.
"But Is that 40 terrible an eventT
asked.
III you hut knew. monsieur" Al
said. show vile aud brutal Is the ma
they are forcing me % marry. 20
would willingly save me from my ho
nhlc fatcr'
She accompanied these words wit
an appealing look into my face. an
then she dropped Der head aud sohbe
anew.
I'D not stop 10 reason upon N
strangcncss of all this. was a youni
gcnerous-hcarted man In those day
and could not resist the appeal froi
beauty Ia distress
"But. tell ms said. chow can
save YOU from this disiustcful ma
rlagcy DO you wish o. hys have
conveyance close by and viii gladl
escort you 10 q place of safety"
"ro fy would avail me nothing" Nj
answered With n sweet sadness: "ihe
would follow us and force me 20 n
/ turn"