Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-07-24
Ole
Harridan-Orm
ElOpement
By Mary wood
Copyright. 1905. by c. Il. su,cline

Katrina IIarridan was the sixth Of
seven daughters. red haired and under
sized. but that did not prevent her
from being a power in her world. At
the young ladies' seminary she was the
Acknowledged leader as well as the
most Intimate friend of her twelve
classmates, each of whom had the
promise of being bridesmaid at her
wedding. In this they were president,
since Thorndyke Ormsley had for some
time made her the object of his atten-
tons.
Thorndyke Ormsley did not altogeth-
er meet with the approval of the class.
They thought him lacking in the dash
and daring requisite for a suitable
match for their president
Katrina, however. viewed the matter
from different standpoint. AS she
confided to her youngest sister PAMELA:
There Is something restful in Thorn
dykes conventionality. / always know
Just what to expect from him, and |
fancy that / can furnish more OF the
element OF the unexpected than Is
found in most orthodox families"
She therefore smiled upon her ad-
mirer. 1t followed that she had been
graduated but few months when he
made up his mind that to marry her
was the only proper course of action.
lie was too well regulated a young
man to propose TO Katrina without
having first spoken to her father. This
was n procedure that the astute morsel
of grlhood had foreseen and arranged
for.
As he afterward complained to Ka-
trina: Il cannot understand il. Your
father was brusque, nervous, quite I'M
like himself All that | could get him
TO say was that you were too young
and that lie entirely disapproved.
When | tried TO argue. Pamela came
in. and he intimated that the inter
view was closed"
Katrina buried her face in his shout
der. ooh, dear oh, dear." she walled.
what shah we dof"
Thorndyke attempted to comfort her,
and be found the process so agreeable
lIAl If liOlVAl-fN Al lNi NViAit lllVAil'nAN
before saying soothingly: do not he
discouraged dear l will call on him
again. He must be made to see rea-
SON" As a happy thought struck him:
"Why don't you speak to him your
selff You girls have always seemed to
get your way pretty thoroughly. He
will say yes to you"
"He won't" Katrina's voice, though
smothered. was decisive.
"Why notf"
Because ! won't let HIM" Without
giving her lover time to recover from
the shock she hurried on: Papa has
lost great deal of money these last
years. lie has really hard time TO
get along. so that another wedding is
out of the question. You don't know
what a wedding costs. We have had
five So we do. There Would be the
presents and dresses for those twelve
bridesmaids, the flowers, music. cater
er. trousseau-oh, il is awfulr' and she
clasped her hands despairingly. Papa
gage the house. but | said no."
Light had begun to dawn upon Orms-
ley. "Let me, Katrina" he began.
Two red spots appeared in Katrina s
cheeks. And have us all ashamed to
look you in the face? Never, Pamela
and have decided never to marry un-
less we elope"
Thorndyke Ormsley stiffened. THAT
is impossible"
Katrina began to cry in earnest. Il
always knew that you were proper
but l never thought you were so hor.
ribly proper that you cared more for
what people would say than you did
for me-" she sobbed.
Her lover could not resist her tears
'You know that love you better than
anything else In the world" he said
tenderly. 1T Is not entirely on my
own account that | object. There is
Aunt Harriet. She would he utterly
scandalized by an elopement. Is II
right to distress her when she has done
everything for me and | am all she
has?"
At this virtual equalization Katrina's
tears ceased to flow. Then II | get
Aunt Harriets consent you will be
willing to elopef" she asked gullelessly
II would do anything TO marry you.
he answered. with unusual reckless
ness.
Katrina threw her arms around his
neck. Then il is as good as settled"
you don't know Aunt Harriet
Ormsley admonished.
Yes do. And. what is more,
wager that If you do exactly as | tell
you she herself will suggest an elope
mcnt"
So the two put their heads together
Most men would have wished them
selves IN Ormsley's place He must
have been sensible OF his privileges for
he left the house more in love than
ever and vowed to play his part in the
comedy. Katrina refused to admit the
possibility Of n tragedy.
Miss Harriet Ormsley lived in bic
old fashioned house called the Iarches
She had the only victoria IN town. hei
butler always stood behind her chair
of dinner, and her parlor maid wore
French caps. In all respects her estab
lishment was most correct But It's
rhythmic order and the mind OF lis
mistress were alike disturbed by the
strange behavior OF young Mr.. Orms
ley. For three or four days he had
eaten scarcely anything. although his
aunt ordered his favorlte dishes. and
jenkins served them TO a nicely. In
stead OF going out OF an evening he
.brooded over the fire or feverishly
pocpd hia rom ITie ranfd fooffalls