The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-02-12
Ge
Harridan-Ormsley
Elopement
BY Mary eOood
Copyright. 1906, by c. H. sutcliffe

H.
the young ladies' seminary Sue 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 hel
wedding. In this they We're prescient
! since Thorndyke Ormsley had for some
time made her the object of his atten-
| tons
Thorndyke 0rmsley did not altogeth.
err 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
confided to her youngest sister Pamela
There is something restful in Thorn
dykes conventionality. l always know
| just what to expect from him, and |
fancy that l 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 a few months when he
made up his mind that to marry her
was the only proper course of action.
He was too well regulated young
man to propose to Katrina without
having first spoken TO her father. This
was procedure that the astute morsel
of girlhood had foreseen and arranged
for.
AS ha aftorrrard ,.oo,,,laInod - r.
trina: Il cannot understand it, Your
father was brusque nervous, quite un-
Ike himself All that | could get him
to say was that you were too young
and that he entirely disapproved.
When l 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 do?"
Thorndyke attempted to comfort her.
and he found the process so agreeable
that he prolonged it for some moments
before saying soothingly: DO not be
discouraged, dear l will call on him
again. He must be made to see rea-
SON" AS 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"
He won't" Katrina's voice, though
smothered, was decisive.
why not?'
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. He has really hard time to
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
er, trousseau-oh, it is awfulr' and she
clasped her hands despairingly Papa
is always so good. He wanted to mort
gage the house. but I said mo-"
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. II
always knew that you were proper,
but 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 be utterly
scandalized by an elopement Is it
right TO distress her when she has done
everything for me and | am all she
has,"
At this virtual capitulation Katrina's
tears ceased to flow Then il I get
Aunt Harriet's consent you will be
willing to elope?' she asked guilelessly.
81 would do anything to marry you,"
he answered, with unusual reckless
ness.
Katrina threw her arms around his
neck. Then it is as good as settled"
You don't know Aunt Harriet"
Ormsley admonished
Yes, | do. And. what is more, 1
wager that if You do exactly as l tell
you she herself will suggest an elope-
ment"
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
be left the house more in 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 in big
old fashioned house called the Larches
She had the only victoria in town, her
butler always stood behind her chair
at dinner, and her parior maid wore
French caps. In all respects her estab-
lishment was most correct. But it's
rhythmic order and the mind of its
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 favorite dishes, and
Jenkins served them to a nicely. In
stead of going out of an evening he
brooded over the fire or feverishly
paced his room His rapid footballs
could be heard long after the rest Of
the family had retired.
Miss Harriet loved her nephew. as
she had his father before him. When
he had successfully refused to take
'onic. see 4 physician or consider q sea
"trip alarm overcame her usual stiff
ness. and she implored an explanation
Thorndyke gave it reluctantly. He
loved Katrina Harridan Katrina loved
him. Her father objected. That was
the end of it,
Miss Harriet listened in amazement
An Ormsley. her nephew, refused by
Harridan. a mere upstart In society! 1t
was ridiculous. preposterous!
Thorndyke refused further discussion
of the subject. His aunt lay awake
most of the night and as the clock
chimed the hours of the early morning
so did her indignation grow.
1t was almost at boiling point the
next day when Katrina was announced
Before her hostess could sI5Nak the
girl threw herself in her arms.
"Oh, dear Miss Harriet she cried,
''of course Thorndyke has told you. l
suppose ought not to be here. when
am forbidden to have anything to do
with him, but it can't be wrong to
come when he is away
Miss Harriet found herself patting
Katrina's head.