Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1902-02-07
LIOW | MARRIED
III MY GRANDMOTHER

gan then. but before ! say any more
let me recall to your mind the fact
that ! was always regarded In the lam
iIy as my grnndfather's heir. The title
and entalled estate would 90. OF course.
to his eldest son. my uncle, but the
greater part Of his vast wealth would
come to me. IN fact. he had 80 de-
clarcd ! Ind lost both parents when
but a child. and ! had grown to man
hood under his Immediate care, for he
had long been a widower. My father
had leen his favorite son. What more
natural than that I should he the pre-
ferred onef There was this under
standing. however. between my grand
father aud myself: I must never marry
without his approval Marryl ! bad
no thought Of Il. My r~olilcking bach
elor life pleased me too well to ex-
change It for any other.
And that sort Of existence listed IN
III / WINS twenty-seven. and then II
was brought to an abrupt close by
what do You suppose7 Well. n girls
face. nothing more a girls face seen
for q brief moment only at n window
as I was changing carriages at Bolton
station. You smile. don't wonder.
but declare to you hat from thence
forth I 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 a luxuri-
ant mass OF soft brown hair full OF
shiny ripples. dark eyes. a little red
mouth and shining white teeth.
''Somr dreamy little chit" I said to
myself again and again. with a pref
" face and a head full OF romance. |
wish I had never seen her. At all
events. It is highly probable that we
have met for the Hrst and last time; so
I'll forget her"
Draw words! ! could not forget her,
and Just then. to add to my perplexity.
my regiment was ordered of TO India.
A few days before embarklng | re-
ceiyed a letter from my grandfather.
Sir John HalbrOoke. urging me to run
down to The Towers in order that l
might meet the lady who was destined
to be my future wife. My answer was
short and to the point:
Dear Grandfsther-I have no desire 20 marry.
Besides. | start for India In two weeks, 90 ! have
no time Tor courtship. But I shall nun down to
The Towers to see you. Your anectionats. etc.
The old gentleman's answer was
equally concise and explicit:
Ny Dear Grsndson-If you come to The Tow
rs with the intention Of putting yourself en-
tirely in my hands, shall be O~verioyed to SCI
you. II you attempt to enter ms house with AM
other Intention. I'll have you kicked out. and I
you 70 to India. I hope TO heaven that you'll b
shot. Your aHectionate. etc.
What could be lone In the face o
such an epistle as this? Evidentl,
nothing. so / cheerfully made m,
preparations for departure. and befOr
we sallqd-l am glad to remember thl
before we sailed ! wrote again to 81
John, bur this time It was n letter fu
OF gratitude and affection and earnes
regrets that | could not do as he d.
sired.
To this I received no answer. but
month after my arrival In india ! ren
the announcement OF the baronet'
death. and the same paper cOntalne
his marriage notice. A letter from hi
solicitors explained the mystery.
My kINluINNAtI uNu DEEn oNNEAGA
injured while overlooking some reno
vations which were being made at Tn
Towers. aud. feeling that death wa
fast approaching. he had almost Mt tn
last moment married the only chill
and helress of Hubert Monckton. EsC
Moreover" wrote the lawyer. 'b,
your grandfather's will you lnherl
something above f5O.OOO. provided 20,
consent to marry the lady with whom
he went through the ceremony OF mat
rage on his deathbed. Otherwise 20
receive not n penny Of his fortune"
Had the man gone mad? Marry m
grandmother For, word II as the
might. the ugly fact was still there
the woman was my grandmother.
Brlstllng with Indignation. ! wrote
Sir Johns lawyer-nOt very civllly.
fear. but very energetlcally. ! am sur
In the first place. | said | would NJ
accept a penny OF Sir John Halbrooke
fortune ms a free gift. In the next.
would not accept the whole OF 1t bu
deped with n single restricting claus
and. I'm conclusion. | not only refuse
to marry the widow. but absolutely d
clined holding any communicate
whatever with her.
"And say 10 my grandmother" | ad
ed. that the world Is wide enough al
there are men enough In 1t for her
seek when she ~ . devour eisewhe
and not among those whom the law
the land now declares TO be her on
klth and Kin. Let her cast her ey
among the strangers at her gates al
not upon her grandson
That ended the matter. and ] W
troubled with no more letters about
Two years afterwnrd ! returned
England on leave. and then fate.
the person OF General Ashland. led
down to Surrey for a fOrtnlght's shO'
ing.
At. my lear fellow. It IL only the G
story over again. I went down to 81
rey anC Mrt there whom do you 80
posrg Wpr. the girl whose face-se
once and for a moment only - b
hauYtcd mr for years.
She was a distant relative OF 1