Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-12
The Stnrg Teller.
MY RUBY WEDDING RING.
BY L. FRANK BAUM.

| The inn at L0udre was very dlsa-
greeable. The odor of garlic and
cabbage and the dampness and dirt
were unsupportable, and so l decided
to push on to Danvers. The only
vehicle I could procure was rattling
two-seated gig, drawn by bony white
horse doubtful of ability; but as my
destination was only three hours away,
and was not liable to meet anyone on
the lonely road, started off cheerful
lily enough, resolved to enjoy my 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 1 heartily congratu-
lated myself upon my good fortune in
escaping the horrible inn at Loudre.
After an hours dreamy and delight
fful ride came to cross roads where
with difficulty I deciphered the bat
tered signpost and learned I must turn
to the left to reach Danvers. So,
clucking up my deliberate steed, which
proceeded in a half digni6ed, half
protesting fashion, I turned into a
grassy lane between two tall hedges
and drove through lonely district
until the dreamy influence of night
overcame me, and I drifted into q
somnolent state midway between sleep
and waking.
Twas aroused by the sudden halting
of my horse, that gave frightened
snort and planted both front feet firmly
before him.
A subdued sobbing, as of woman
in distress, fell upon my ears, and
leaning forward I peered 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 slight, girl
ish form, draped in dark mantle.
sprang to the ground and softly
approached her. Her face was buried
| in her hands and she sobbed bitterly.
"Mademoiselle," I said, speaking
in French, "you are in trouble. Can L
assist you in any way ?"
She lifted her head, and the moon
light fell upon upon the most beauti-
full face I have ever seen. Absolutely
faultless in feature, it was surmounted
by crown of yellow hair that shone
like gold in the glare of the moon
beams, while pair of deep violet eyes
that even tears could not dim looked
earnestly into mine.
"Who are you ?" I asked gently,
"and why are. you here?"
81 am Amelie de Boursons, monsieur,
and, reside at the chateau just with
in 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" continued; "sure-
ly some great misfortune must have
befallen you to bring you here at this
hour"
"It is true, monsieur" she replied,
struggling with a new paroxysm 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 event?'
I asked.
eff you but knew, monsieur" she
said, show 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.
did not stop to reason upon the
strangeness of all this. I was young,
generous-hearted man in those days,
and could not resist this appeal from
beauty in distress.
"But, tell me-" I said, chow can l
save you from this distasteful mar
riage? Do you wish to fly? 1 have
a conveyance close by, and will gladly
escort you to a place of safety.
"To fly would avail me nothing"
she answered with sweet sadness;
"they would follow US and force me to
return"
"But how else can I save you ?" I
asked, helplessly.
~ do not know" she replied, with
sudden calmness that suggested de-
spair. "But unless you can find some
way to succor me shall take my own
life."
There was no doubt from the ex-
preston of her low, earnest voice, that
she meant this, and, full of consterna-
ton at the thought, racked my brains
for some way to preserve both her life
and happiness.
At last an idea came to me, but
trembled at my own presumption as l
suggested it.
"Mademoiselle," I said, haltingly,
II see but one alternative You must
marry me-"
The violet eyes opened wide in sur
prise. "Marry you, monsieur ?"
"Then pursuit would be useless. Be-
ing my wife, you would escape this
william who insists upon wedding you.
1 am free and able to give you all that
would add to your happiness, and 1
,bo11 Ioor, fo lova unu varU dearly