The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-27
A1YENTURES oFSHERLOCk HOLMES
a NOBLE BA7CHELOR.
BY Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
COPYRIGHT BY HARPER & BROTHERS.

made during the week to the list OF
the prizes which have been borne away
by these charming invaders. Lord st.
Simon who has shown himself for
over twenty years proof against the
little gods arrows, has now definitely
announced his approaching marriage
with Miss Hatty Doran, the fascinating
daughter of a California millionaire.
Miss Doran, whose graceful figure and
striking face attracted much attention
at the Westbury House festivities, is an
only child, and it is currently report
ed that her. dowry will run to consid-
erably over the six figures with ex-
pectancies for the future. AS it is an
open secret that the Duke Of Balmoral
has been compelled to sell his pictures
within the last few years, and as Lord
St Simon has no property OF mis- own,
save the small estate of EirchmOor, 1T
Is obvious that the California heitess
Is rot. the only gamer by an alliance
which will enable her to make the easy
and common transition fr"'h Il l."rub-
iican ;ady to a British peeress.
Anything else?'' asked Holmes,
yawning.
"Oh yes; plenty. Then there is an
other note in The Morning Post to
say that the marriage would be an alb
solutely quiet one. that it would be at
st. Georges. Hanover Square, that
only half dozen friends would be
invited, and that the party Wo1ld re-
turn to the furnished house at Ian
caster Gate which has been taken by
Mr.. Aloysius Eoran. Two days later
that is. on Wednesday last--tl,ere Is a
curt announcement that the wedding
had taken place, and that the ho:ley-
moon would be passed at Lord Back
waters place, near Petersfeld Those
are all the notices which appeared be-
fore the disappearance of the bride.
Before the what?" asked Holmes,
with a start.
1.-The vanishing of the lady"
when did she vanish, them"
AT the wedding breakfast
Indeed This is more interesting
than it promised to be; quite dramatic
in fact
Yes; it struck me as being little
out of the common.
"They often vanish before the cere-
mony, and occasionally during the
honey moon; but i cannot call 10
mind anything quite SO prompt as this
Pray let me have the details.
L warn you that they are very in
complete
Perhaps we'll make them less So
"Such as they are, they are set
forth in a single article of morning
paper yesterday, which / will read TO
you. 1t is headed Singular occurrence
at a Fashionable Wedding:
1.-The family of Lord Robert st.
Simon has been thrown into the great
est, CONSERVATION by the stralse ard
painful episodes winch have taken
place in connection with his wedding.
The ceremony as shortly announced
in the papers of v, sterdly. occurred
on the previous morning. but it IS only
now that it has been possible u coI-
firm the strange rumorS which hate
been SO rersisteptly floating ahou!. IN
spite of the attempts of TIE fri"'ids
to hush the matte" uD. 81 much Iub-
lie attention has now been drawn to ii
that no good purpose can be served by
affecting to disregard what is a COM
mon subject for conversation.
1.-The ceremony. which was per-
formed at st. Georges. Hanover
Square, was a very quiet one. no one
being present save the father of the
bride, Mr.. Aloysius Doran. the Duchess
of Balmoral, Lord Backwater, Lord
Eustace, and Lady Clara ST. Simon
(the younger brother and sister of the
bridegroom) and Lady Alicia Whit
tington. The whole party proceeded
afterwards to the house of Mr.. Alloy
SiuS Doran at Lancaster Gate, where
breakfast had been prepared. 1t APP
pears that some little trouble was
caused by a woman, whose name has
not been ascertained, who eldeavorcd
to force her way into the house after
the bridal party alleging that she had
some claim on Lord St. Simon. 1t was
only after a painful and prolonged
scene that she was elected h. the but
Ter and the footman. The bride, VINO
fortunately entered the house o-fore
this unpleasant interruption, had sat
down to breakfast with the rest. when
she complained of sudden indisposi-
ton, and retired to her room. Her pro-
longed absence having caused some
comment, her father followed her, but
learned from her maid that she bad
only come to her chamber for an in
slant. caught up an ulster and bonnet,
hurried down the passage. one OF the
footmen declared that he had seen
lady leave the house thus apparellcd,
but had refused to credit TIA; 1t was
his mistress, believing ner TO be WIN
the company. On ascertaining that his
daughter had disappeared, Mr.. AIoy-
siua Doran, in conjunction with the
bridegroom, instantly put himself
into communication with the ponce,
ard very energetic inquiries are beng
made which will probably result in
speedy clearing up this very singular
business. Up to late hour last night
however nothing had transpired as to
the whereabouts or the missing lduS'
There are rumors of foul play In the
matter and 1T is said that the police
have caused the arrest of the woman
who had caused the original disturb
ance. in the belief that. from Jealousy
or some other motive, she may have
been concerned in, the strange dis
Of the bride"
And is that all %
Only one little item in another of
the morning papers. but it is sus-
gestive one
And that is
THAT Miss Flora Millar. the lady
who caused the disturbance, has ac
tually been arrested. 1t appears that
she was formerly a danseuse at the
Allegro and that she has known the
bridegroom for some years. There are
no further particulars. and the whole
case is in your hands now-so far as
it has been set forth in the public
press.
And an exceedingly interesting
case it appears to be. | would not
have missed it for worlds. But there
is a ring at the bell. Watson, and as
the clock makes it a few minutes after
four, / have no doubt that will prove
to be our noble client. Do not dream
of going, Watson, for l very much pre-