Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-05-13
THE STORY OF HY WEDDING RING.

Auc luu ab BauuTe was very 01s
agreeable. The odor of garlic ant
cabbage and dampness ard dir
were insupportable. and so ! deci,
ded to push on to Danvers. The
only vehicle could procure was q
rafting two-seated gig, drawn by Q
hony white horse of doubtful abili.
ty; but as my destination was only
three hours away, and / was not Ii.
able to meet any one on the lonely
road, started of cheerfully enough
resolved to enjoy my solitary 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 hall
a league had been passed over
heartily congratulated myself upon
my good fortune in escaping the
horrible inn at Laudre.
After an hours dreamy and de-
lightful ride l came to a cross roads
where ~ith difficulty | deciphered
the battered signpost and learned l
must turn to the left to reach Dan.
vers. So, clucking up my deliber-
ate steed. which proceeded in half
dignified, half protesting fashion, l
turned into grassy lane between
two tall hedges and drove through
lonely district until the dreamy
influence of night overcame me,
and l drifted into a somnolent t
state midway between sleep and
waking.
was aroused by the sudden halt
ing Of my horse, that gave fright
ened snort and planted both front
feet firmly before him.
A subdued sobbing, as of a wo-
man in distress, fell upon my ears,
and leaning forward | 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 an
gle of this, few steps before me,
was a slight girlish form, draped in
a dark mantle.
sprang to the ground and soft
ly approached her. Her face was
buried in her hands and she sobbed
bitterly.
'Mademoiselle,' said, speaking
in French, 'you are in trouble. Can
] assist you in any way?'
She lifted her head, and the
moonlight fell upon the most beau
tiful face / have ever seen. Alb
solutely faultless 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 earnest.
ly into mine,
Who are you: p / asked gently,
'and why are you here?'
Il am Amelie de Boursons, mon.
sieur, and reside at the chateau
Just within these gates
The soft musical notes of her
voice added to the powerful i'm
preston her exquisite beauty had
already produced upon nv heart.
But it 10 late,' l continued
surely some great misfortune must
have befallen you to bring you here
at this hour
1T is true, Monsieur she re-
piled, struggling with new parox.
yam Of grief; tomorrow is my wed.
ding day.
The tone of despair in which
these words were uttered startled
me.
But is that so terrible an event,
/ l asked.
If you but knew, MONSIEUR sh,
said, 'how vile and brutal is tht
man they are forcing me to marry
you would willingly save me from
my horrible fate 2
She accompanied these word
with an appealing look into m,
face, and then she dropped her hea'
and sobbed anew.
ala not stop GO reason upon tn
strangeness of all this. | was /,
young generous-hearted man il
those days, and could not resis
this appeal from beauty in distress
But, tell me, ] said, 'how can
save you from this distasteful mar
riage? Do you wish to ily? ! hav
q conveyance close by, and Wi
| GLADLY escorf Won To a nlaca a