The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-07-04
stand the girl looking so unhappy
when he offered her his congratula-

stand the girl looking so unhappy
when he offered her his congratuIa-
tons.
Mary Elwyn was not well enough to
take her place in the Sunday school
the following morning, which hap
pened to be Sunday, and she did not
come to church during the day.
Her bans were called for the third
time that day, and her wedding was to
take place early in the week.
When Mr.. Elwyn came back that
night from taking the Sunday evening
duty at Rose Ash. he found his house
hold thrown into confusion.
Mary had run away.
It was all over the village the next
morning. She had left her home while
the family We're at church in the
morning, and had not since returned.
Mr.. Elwyn bore his daughters dis
appearance more calmly that any one
would have supposed. Mary was al
ways self-willed." he explained, 'and
she was averse to the marriage from
the first. There was previous at
tachment which we hoped she had got
over. She has been very unhappy
since her engagement to poor Forbes,
frettlng, I'm afraid, for her old love,
and she has gone away to escape mar
rylng man she does not love"
This was all the explanation that
was ever given of Mary Elwyn's sud-
den disappearance; and there were nc
efforts made to follow her.
1t was not many weeks after Mary
ElWyn's disappearance that business
called the rector up to town, and on
the way, at Beeston Junction. he met
his curate, who was going up by the
same train. Mr.. Elwyn had his son
with him. lad of 49, and between
them they were carrying across the
rails big black portmanteau. There
were plenty of porters about the sta
ton, and one Of them came up to him
and offered to carry the bag; but he
sent the man off with a bundle of
wraps, which were no weight at al.
Whatever could that bag contain?"
Brown asked himself that question all
the way to Londan. There were few
things of that bulk that could weigh
SO heavily, only metal, indeed"
Was Elwyn returning the wedding
presents?
He had not come back by the end
of the week. and on the Saturday even
Ing. quite late. letter 5Eas sent to the
rectory from his wife, asking Brown to
fill her husbands place the next day,
as he was unexpectedly detained in
town.
A few days later while Mr.. Elwyn
still delayed his return. news reached
the rectory that Sir Giles Fawley and
his family were coming home. They
had gone abroad for several years, and
they were coming back quite unexpect-
eddy. The curate would have to look
out for another house, and another
cure-for, IL the truth must be told a
growing dislike and suspicion Of him
had been in Browns mind for some
time past.
But few days later more startling
news reached the rectory; the bailiffs
were at the court.
The news spread like wildflre through
the village, and every little tradesmAn
In the place crowded up to the great
house with his bill.
Brown telegraphed at once to Sir
Giles lawyer In town to come down
without delay. He went through the
house. the plate safe-the lock Of which
had been forced-was found empty!
Z And all the beautiful old china was
gone!
i Browns story had aroused the mis-
cradle mans greed; his wife had read
Alright the revelation Of the cupidity
i II, had awakened ,, IN his glittering eyes.
The humiliation Of poor Brown during
that terrible time was dreadful. His
wife declared that he went gray in a
week.
No wonder! 1t was he who had
brought Mr.. Elwyn into Beeston. 1t
was he who rave his old friend, Sir
Giles, confidence to let his family place,
with it's priceless heirlooms, to his
wealthy curate-and 1t was he who had
helped him to carry them away.
Months after Mrs. Brown heard by
accident that Mary Elwyn was en-
ployed as q nurse In London hospital.
VI course, she found her way without
delay-and OF course she wrote to the
lover that she had run away from In
that unreasonable-she always insists
upon calling 1t, that honorable-wAy,
and told him her story. and the story
OF that Bluebeard cupboard, Of which
the unhappy girl had the key.
Kenneth Forbes came home from In
dia the following year; and this time
he took his wife back with him.