Okolona messenger., 1902-06-11

the public fully informed Is %
the movements Of the captain and
his wife, each time Identifying the
latter as "the granddaughter Of
the late Colonel Henry G.. De
Long" ETC., ETC." One day the
mother-in.la called at the Office
and demanded a personal interview
with the editOr-in-chief, as she
only dealt with the heads Of hOus-
es when she went out. To him
she cOnfded this:
''The citizens of Auraria rem
ember with pleasure the mar
riage Of Captain Randall Fonda
and Miss HOrtense Marie Mac
Owen. AS the granddaughter of
the late Colonel Henry G. De Long,
one of McGinville's most prOmi-
dent, influential and wealthy cit
izens, the bride will be welcomed
into our most select society upon
her return"
tFrOnt page position, madame,
said the editor, "I shall see person
ally that it gets there"
The couple had to return, select
house, hold a reception, and in
other ways keep before the pub
lie. There was no escaping the
death grip of the old granfather in
each case, and it was not long un-
til every reader took it for granted
that the Colonel Henry G.. De
Long was to be found somewhere
whenever Captain and Mrs. Fonda
were mentioned.
The captain was proud and
buoyant for few days, then he
began to walk with slower tread,
and the cordial smile had left his
face.
"No,0 he would say, "there is
nothing the matter with me-only
little touch Of the Ganges fever.
1t will soon be over.
Calling into the Office one night,
later than usual, he was taciturn
and uneasy,
GA word with yOu," said be,
to be held secret. / know who
Colonel Henry G. De Long was,
but for the life Of me / have never
been able to locate the where
abouts of the late Mr.. MacOWen.
Heaven only knows how l can
repress my curiosity"
Winter melted into spring, and
summer came, giving away to
autumn. AS the sere leaves were
falling into a new made grave the
remains OF Captain Fonda we're
deposited therein. He had died
without having his curiosity en-
lightened. The Auraria Gazette
next day printed a notice, the
manuscript Of which was in the
same old hand writing:
"The death of the late Captain
Randall Fonda came as q great
blow to his bereaved wife. Mrs.
Fonda, as the grand daughter Oi
the late Colonel Henry g. De
Long, one Of MeGinVille's most
prominent, influential and wealthy
citizens, has received the deep
sympathy of those who have had
the pleasure Of knowing her dur
ing her brief married life."
The years have come and gone,
and silver threads have invaded
raven hair. This old message
from twenty years ago rests un'
easily upon my mind, and in the
effort to throw it of, the clippiRe
is dropped upon the floor, and
picked up the McGinville Banner
just received by midnight mail
Eagerly tearing the wrapper
turned to the social column, where
marriage announcement attract
ed my attention. Mrs. EalOnel
Finchman announces the engage
ment of her daughter, Miss
Frances Agnes, to Henry Arthur
M0untserrat. The notice goes on
"This marriage will be nOta
BILE affair, because of the great
social prominence of the bride
who is the granddaughter of th'
late Colonel Henry F. De Long
one OF McGinville's most prOmi
nent, influential and wealthy
citizens"
The paper had dropped from m!
hand. The last street car for th'
; suburbs was sounding the gong
and / hastened to leave my ghost
ly company behind.
There was too much grand
father.
Cures Blood and Sklh diseases, ltchlnI
Humors, Eczema, ScrofuIa, Etc.
Send no mOney-simply write and tr1