The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1897-01-14
MY RUBY WEDDING RING.

The inn at Loudrc was very disa-
greeable. The odor of garlic and cab
bage and the dampness and dirt were
unsupportable, and so l decided to
push on to Danyers. 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,
and | was not liable to meet any one
on the lonely road. l started off cheer
fully enough, resolved to enjoy my sol
itary drive 10 the utmost.
The moonlight, as it glinted on the
soft green of the hedges and strcakcd
the gray of the dusty road, was very
beautiful, and before half a league had
been passed over l 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 Il cross roads where
with difficulty l deciphered the bat
tered signpost and learned | must turn
to the left to reach Danvers. So, cluck-
ing up my deliberate stecd, which pro-
ceeded in q half dignitied, half pro-
testing fashion, ! 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 soInno-
lent state midway between sleep and
waking.
l 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 a
woman in distress. fell upon my ears.
and. leaning forward, l 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
q few steps before me was q slight,
girliSh form, draped in a dark mantle.
sprang to the ground and softly ap-
preached her. Tier face was buried in
her hands and she sobbcd bitterly.
"Mademolselle," l said, speaking in
French, you are IN trouble. Can | as
sist you In any Way?'
ttiS nv ANap anu llN hlotIl-
light fell upon the most beautiful face
! have ever seen. Absolutely fault
less in feature. it was surmUuntcd by
u 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.
"Who are youf' l asked gently, land
why are you here
II an Amelia de Boursons, mon
sieur, and l 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
ullon my heart.
But it is late" l continued, ''surely
some great misfortune must haze be-
fallen you to bring you here at this
hour"
at is true, monsieur she replied,
struggling with a new paroXysm of
grief; "tO-moTroW is my wedding day"
The tone of despair in which these
words We're uttered startled me.
but is that so terrible an eventr~I
asked.
"If 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
IN appealing look into my face, and
then she dropped her head and sobbed
| did mo- stop to reason upon the
Strangeness of all this. | was a young,
gcnerous-hearted man in those days,
and could not resist the appeal from
beauty in distress.
But. tell me- l said, chow can l
save you from this distasteful mar
rlage? DO you wish to fly? l have Il
conveyance close by and will gladly
escort you to Il place of safety"
"To fly would avail me nothing" she
answered with Il sweet sadness; they
would follow us and force Inc to re-
turn"