Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-02-06
Ghe
Harridan-Ormsle
Elopement
By Mary wood
Copyright, 1905. by G. IL. sutcliae

Katrina Harridan was the sixth Of
seven daughters. red haired and under
sized. but that did not prevent her
from being IA 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
,leldlng. In this they We're president.
since Thorndyke Ormsley had for some
time made her the object Of his atten.
tons.
Thorndyke Ormsley did not altogetll>
or meet with the approval of the class.
They thought him lacking in the dash
and daring requisite for suitable
match for their president
Katrina, however. viewed the matter
from different standpoint. As She
conhded TO her youngest sister Pamela:
There * something restful in Thorn
dykes cOnventiOnalIty ! always know
just what 10 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 al
mircr. 1t followed that she had been
graduated but few months wien hc
made up his mind that TO marry her
was the only proper course of action.
He was too well regulated young
man To propose 20 Katrina without
having first spoken u her father. This
was procedure that the astute morsel
of g.rlhood had forsscen and arranged
for.
rs he afterward complained to IA
trina: Il cannot understand il. Your
father was brusque. nervous, quite un-
like himself All that | could get him
10 say was that you were too young
ana that he 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 "Oh, dear. oh, dear" she walled
What shall we dof"
Thorndyke attempted to comfort her
and he found the process so agreeable
that he prolonged il for some moments
before saying soothingly: do not he
discouraged. dear / will call Oh him
again. He must be made to see rea-
son" As a happy thought struck him:
why don't you speak TO him your
self? You girls have always seemed to
get your way pretty thoroughly. He
will say yes TO YOU"
lie 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 shocll she hurried on. Papa has
lost "A great deal of money these last
years. He has really q hard time 10
get along. so that another wedding is
out of the question. You don't know
what wedding costs We have had
five So we do. There would be the
presents and dresses for those twelve
bridesmaids. the flowers. music. cater
or. rousseau oh. it is awfulr' and Size
claspcd her hands despairingly. Papa
Is always SO good lie wanted to mort
1
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 10
look YOU in the face? Never. Pamela
and have decided never To marry nm
less we elope."
Thorndyke Ormsley stfrened Tint
is impossible
Katrina began TO cry In earnest. Il
always knew that you were proper
but never thought you were so nor
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 nay
own account that | object There is
Aunt Harriet She would be utterly
scandalizcd 10y an elopement Is it
right TO distress her when she has done
everything for me and 7 am All size
has,"
At this virtual capitulation Katrina :
tears ceased 10 flow. Then il ! get
Aunt TIarrict's consent you will be
willing To- elope?" she asked guilelcssly.
IL woukl do anything TO marry You. -
he answered. with unusual reckless
ness
Katrina threw her arms around his
neck. Then il is rs good as settled
You don't know Aunt Harriet. :
Ormsley admonished
Eyes. I 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 Ornsley's place. lie must
have been sensible Of his privileges. for
he left the house more i'm love than
ever and vowed to play his part in the
comedy Katrina refused to admit the
possibility Of a tragedy.
Miss Harriet Ormsley lived I'm a big
old fashioned house called the Larches
She had the only victoria in town. hei
butler always stood behind her chair
at dinner. ana her parlor maid wore