Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-01-29
A Fiance by
Express
-. Bly,.
HOWARD FIELDING
Copyright, 1903, by Charles w. Hooke

bread and water until she was too
weak to oppose paternal command. Tie
method is unusual now in this part Of
the world. and therefore the luck Of
Stuart Hollingsworth may be called ex-
cepionally hard.
Hollingsworth was engaged to Ruth
Warren without her fathers consent.
Hollingsworthoh ohad a great reputation
as wit and had said one or two very
clever but not unkindly things about
Albertus Warren.
otherwise Hollingsworth was unex-
ceptionable. He was not so rich as
Warren, but he was in a good way Of
success. A brisk, bright, CHEEKY fellow
he was despite the melancholy cast of
his countenance and the sad, sweet
voice which lent itself so well to the
purposes of his unfailing jests.
Warren was different from everybody
else in the world, but most particularly
from his daughter. who possessed
very amiable disposition. She was
plump and pretty, exceptionally cheer
full in gentle way and quite destitute
of any trait that could he called an &C.
centricity. 1t could be seen with half
all eye that she was saturated with
love for Hollingsworth in the way of a
piece of cake dipped in wine.
| Her father had done his best to make
an old maid of her. She was already
| twenty-four Many suitor had bs,n
| frightened away from the great, square
house. with its antique iron fence and
It's strips of dusty lawn. But nobody
could frighten Hollingsworth. He was
| not tall man, and he was slenderly
built, but he was armed always with
the mighty weapon of invincble good
humor Not even Albertus Warren
could quarrel with him, and perhaps
that is why the old sinner resorted to
desperate measures.
Whatever the explanation may be,
this is the situation: Hollingsworth
knew that the young lady was in her
| fathers house. He had faith to believe
that she still loved him, but he could
neither see her nor get one word from
her. The truth dawned upon him slow
| ly. He was informed at the house two
or three times that Miss Warren was
her by mail, and it did not come. A
very earnest communication from him
self brought no response from her.
Then he called at Mr.. Warren's office
and was denied.
At the end of week Hollngsworth
had confidential talk with his friend,
John Breck who was a lawyer. Breck
treated the subject with levity. He
had recently been the victim Of a very
good joke which Hollingsworth had
put up," and he expressed mean
spirited qualification that fate should
have avenged him. Coming to more
serious view at last he said:
"There are various things that you
can do The young lady is of age. She
can claim her liberty"
THAT'S the way ! look at it," re-
sponded Hollingsworth.
Breck shook his head.
1.-THE old man will get tired Of it." he
said "He won't imprison her long"
Two or three days elapsed without
bringing any new developments, and
then Breck called at Hollingsworth's Is
apartments. He looked worried.
1--WE seen Albertus," he said. "and
I'm afraid that the matter is more Sc
rious than l had supposed. The old
villain has got something up his sleeve.
What it is don't know, but he evident
ly believes it to be a winner. If he
didn't, Stuart, my boy. could fix this
whole matter for you. This in conf
dence to you: I've got very strong
hold on old Albertus Warren, and
wouldn't scruple to use it in case of
this kind. If he were merely holding
out obstinately against you, with no
definite plan in view. could swing
him. But he's trying to accomplish
something. I'm sure of it, though
don't see what it can be unless he in.
tends to make her marry somebody else
She is the sort Of girl to mind her ia
ther."
"It is he: only fault" replied Hol
llIlsSWOIlll Dut, oNC hNit' ooShA
There's one thing obvious-she is being
tricked. Nobody can convince me that
she doesn't suppose that she has sent
word to me. She has trusted her letter
to some rascally servant
"Is there anybody in the household
whom you know particularly well?'
asked the lawyer. And Hollingswortl
replied that he had occasionally held
amicable conversations with the house
keeper, who seemed to be friendly dis
posed toward him.
But" he added, "Ive written to hel
already and have got no reply
Write again." said his friend, "anc
I'll try to deliver the note and get al
answer Ask her if she can sugges
any way by which you can get into the
house without Mr.. Warren knowing
It. That's the point. You must have
an interview with Miss Ruth if it's IL
any way possible. This case is desper
ate. 1t will come to runaway mar
riage before you get through with IT
and if you take my advice you'll ar
range for one at the earliest possible
moment provided that you get
chance to talk to the young LADY,
Hollingsworth wrote the note, ant
Breck hurried away with 1t. He dit
not return in the course of the evening
but several other fellows dropped IN
The rumor that the course Of true low