Gunnison news-champion., 1905-10-20

earn has pas. Let me see. wher. was ]
on the other benche''
At the meck chance rail
On. YES. Well. seased as I was con
scented 10 rhe farce, saying that ~ should
DO the Last Of fay lovers nonsense shat
wossld endure. We went through an
absurd rigmsrole, they made me say
lots of foelish things. and at the end
the Young man who PLAYED the minister
insisted on kissing the bride. Then my
mock husband insisted. and-ohi dear
melt was very mortifEing. and until
that wretcbed performance was given !
had 10 endure all sorts ~ banter and
jest. Then came ho tragedy. A few
DAYS after the performance my mask
husband was thrown from his carriage
and instantly killed. bf course ! was
shocked. togerher with bis other friends.
but you may imagine my surprise when
his will was unsealsd 10 find that he
had left, after few minor bequests.
sll his thirteen millions 10 me, bis
wife,"
'-whewl' exclaimed Mr.. nrsne.
softly, and he looked hard ut the
ground to conceal the incredulity that
he knew must show Itself in his eyes.
Il then learned" continued thu
young woman, THAT the man whe per-
formed the mock ceremony was author-
lied to do 1t In real earnest, and that
the presence of witnesses and the
other features of New York lac msde
the marriage legal. 1t WAS carried ~
the courts and SO decided. Behold me.
then, widow with great wealth. The
situation was not wholly pleasant, for
people talked end suitors came in
troops. No | went abroad. Yesterday
l arrived in America again. I know
nothing OF this city. and yielding to
my maids advice l went TO the Adams
Hotel. That was in the early after
noon. My trunks were TO follow me
this morning. Fatigued with the
worry of landing and the waiting
for customs officers and feeling
the approach of sick headache,
retired. About six O'Clock l awoSe re-
freshed to find that my maid had disap-
peared with my clothing, my hand bag
gage and all my money. She had left
me what ! now wear. which ! was forced
TO put on. The clerk of the hotel very
impudently 6iscredited my story; said
that my mistress had paid the bill and
gone, and that was to follow her to the
St Cloud. He added. moreover. that
two games of the kind in one day were
more than he could stand. was not
clear as to his meaning, but 1 UNDER
stood him to refer to some man who haA
attempted to impose upon the house
earlier in the day with . similar story"
Yes, that was me-" groaned Mr..
Drane, ungrammatically.
IN sheer desperation. continued the
hapless widow, Il went TO the st.
Cloud, but, of course. found no trace Of
my maid. Since then I have wandered
about most of the time in this park.
supperless. sleepless and, until you in
terposed, friendless.'
| Madam" said Mr.. Drane, when she
had finished, ''your tale 10 most in
teresting."
And a clever fabrication, 1 suppose ?.
she added, sadly.
No. madam, do not say that he
exclaimed. in confusion, Tor he WAS
struggling hard to believe it. ia not
wldower, and have not been robbed
by my valet, but otherwise l am in .
situation to trust your account of YOUR
career implicitly. Somebody has taken
my Clothing, my money, my credit, my
name, my identity from me, and"
Hush whispered the widow; here
comes the officer again. Let us be OF
before he speaks to u.s.
As they walked into the street. and 40
out VI the "sparrow-chaser's- territory.
Mr.. Drane's feelings, which had been
somewhat stirred by his ompanion's 3
recital. sank again to level with his
condition.
! What in the world shall we do?a be
asked. I'm hungry.
so am L." said the widow. Il don't
know which way to turh."
Atthis moment hurried footsteps t,r-
, hind them caused them to face abou+ A
young man in evening dress and a black
eye was coming up with policeman.
That's the fellow exclaimed the
young man, pointing at Mr.. Drane. Il
charge him with unprovoked assault. y
Mr. Drane's i4eart went into his boots
At the prospect of fresh humiliation.
but before he could utter word the
policeman had snapped an iron rins
over his wrist and had said, roughly:
Come pow, step lively
Dazed, mortified, crushed, Mr.. Drxne
could neither speak nor move. and the
policeman drew back his club to per-
suaAe him into motion, but the blow
did not reach him. 1t raised a cruel
welt on the young widows wrist, anA
her voice trembled with pain and indie-
nation A. she said:
Do not take this gentleman. Mr.. o.
6ceyi He WA At fault onlr in dof.,S;-~