Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1901-12-22
UOW | MARRIED
I'LL MY GRANDMOTHER ;

~ WIS NV NfAt"
gan then. hut before | say any more
let me recall TO your mind the fact
That was always regarded In the fam
ily as my erandfather's heir. The title
aud entailed estate would go. OF course.
10 his eldest son. my uncle. but the
greater part OF his vast wealth would
come TO me. In fact. he had 80 de-
elarcd. had lost both parents when
but a child, and had grown TO man
hood under his immsllate care. for he
lad long been widower. My father
had been his favorite son. What more
natural than that should be the pre-
ferred onel There was this under
standing. however. between my grand
father and myself: ! must never marry
without his approval. Marry! had
no thought OF It, My rollicking bach
olor life pleased me too well to ex-
change II for any other.
And that sort Of existence lasted I'M
al was twenty-seven, and then II
was brought to an abrupt close by
what do you SUPPOSED Wen. girls
face. nothing mora girls face seen
for brief moment only nj a window
a. was changing carriages at Bolton
statlon. You smile. don't wonder.
but declare TO you that from thence
forth knew no peace OF mind. That
face was ever before me. looking out
from under a dainty gypsy hat, pale.
pure. perfect IN outline. with n luxuri-
ant mass OF soft brown hair full OF
shiny ripples, dark eyes. little red
mouth and shining white teeth.
some dreamy little chit ! said to
myself again and again. with n pref
~ face and a head full OF romance. l
wish had never seen her. At all
events. v is highly probable that we
have met for the first and last time; so
I'll forget her"
Brave wordsl could not forget her,
aud Just then. to add TO my perplexity.
my regiment was ordered OF TO India
few days before embarking ! re-
celyed letter from my grandfather.
Sir John Halbrooke. urging me TO run
down to The Towers In order taat l
might meet tue ihu9 WIZ ""e 'N'"NN'
to be my future wife. My answer was
short and 10 the point:
Dear Grandfather-I have no desire 10 marry.
Bssides. start for India In two weeks, 20 ] have
no time for eourtship. But I shall nun down 70
The Towers 10 see you. Your aiiectionsts. etc.
The old gentleman's answer was
equally concise and explicit:
Nv Dear orandson-If you come 20 Tie Tow
rrs with the intention Of putting yourself en-
tirely 10 my hands, shall be oyerioyed 10 so
you u you attempt to enter my house with any
other intention. IN have you kicked out. and i
you 90 20 India. hope TO heaven that you'h %
shot. Your anectionste. etc
What could be done In the face OF
such an eplstie as thls7 Evidently
nothing. so cheerfully made my
preparations for departure. and before
we salled-I am glad TO remember this
before we sailed wrote again TO Sill
John. but this time II was letter full
of gratltude and affection and earnest
regrets that could not do as he de
sired.
10 this I received no answer, but q
month after my arrival In India read
the announcement OF the baronets
death. and the same paper contained
his marriage notice. A letter from his
solicitors explained the mystery.
My grandfather had been severely
Injured while overlooking some reno
vatlons which were being made at The
Towers. and. feeling that death was
fast approaching he had almost at the
last moment married the only child
aud heiress OF Hubert Monckton. Esq
Moreover, wrote the lawyer, "by
your grandfather's viii you inherit
something above 100000, provided you
consent 20 marry the lady with whom
he went through the ceremony Of mar
ringe on his deathbed. Otherwise you
receive not n penny OF his fortune"
Had the man gone madl Marry my
grandmother? For, word 1t as they
might. the ugly fact was still there
the woman was my grandmother.
Brstllng with Indignation | wrote ia
Sir Johns lawyer-not very ciyilly,
fear. but very energetically, ! am sure,
In the first place. | said | would not
Aiftli u ltNu1 VI Nli d'hh Aihtbi''hN
fortune as free gift. In the next,
would not accept the whole Of II bur
doncd with a single restricting clause
and. IN conclusion, I not only refused
20 marry the widow. but absolutely de-
elned holding any communication
whatever with her.
card say 60 my grandmother" add
81. "that the world Is wide enough and
there are men enough In II for her "a
seek whom she my deyour elsewhere
and not among those whom the law OF
the land now declares TO be her own
kllh and kin. Let her east her eyes
among the strangers at her gates and
moi upon her grandson
That ended the matter, and was
troubled with no more letters about Il.
Two years afterward ! returned 10
England on leave. and then fate. In
ahe person OF General Ashland, led me
down TO Surrey for fortnights shoot
ing.
All, my dear fellow. II Is only the old