Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-07-06
A GIRL OF SPIRIT.

Great preparations were being made in
the little village of Derrickfergls, county
Tyrone. for the forthcoming marriage of
Kathleen. only child of Phemius Derrick,
squire of the place, with Capt Carruth-
ers, of the rifle brigade, and of Carruth-
ers castle, Westmoreland-a eminently
eligible Young man, with rent roll of
f12 900 a year
Kathleen's mother. who didn't like the
squire out OF her sight and ruled that
burly individual-weak woman though
she was-with rod of iron; he, too, was
practically confined to his Irish home.
But Kathleen. now and again, was al
lowed to visit friends in London; and she
met, and became engaged TO, Capt. Car
ruthcrs.
Her mother was much pleased by the
gagement. 1t was great satisfaction
to feel that she was safely engaged to
man with E12,00O a year.
The squire was less impressed by the
thought of Carruthers castle and the big
rlnt roll All he cared about-for he
ldolizcd Kathleen-was that the girl
should marry the man she loved and
be happy with him
Kathlcens mother, having almost for
gotten her ailments awhile in this new
and exciting interest, reveled, for many
weeks, in bracing atmosphere of orange
blossoms and satin gowns and bridal
wells, and going-away frocks, and lace
trimmed unde: linen.
1t had been arranged that Kathleen's
wedding should be celebrated with fes-
4 ,nI. 10 -, I,o
big dinner party the night before the
wedding and ball on the evening of the
suspicious day itself. The tenantry were
to be entertained. In fact, everything
was to be done to mark the great occa
sion.
There was only one fly in the ointment
of Mrs. Derrick's satisfaction, and this
was the fact that Capt. Carruthers, who
was detained in England till the last mo-
ment by his military duties, when asked
to send Il list of his relatives and friends
whom he wished to have invited, had
sent the names of only five-his mother,
his two sisters and an uncle and aunt;
and that of these only one-his elder
sister-had accepted the invitation, the
others all excusing themselves on the
plea of distance This annoyed Mrs.
Derrick. She regarded it as a slight
designed to show their disapproval of the
match; and she made some caustic com.
ments on the subject to the squire.
Two days before the wedding the
bridegroom's advance guard arrived--his
sister Miss Caruthers, and his brother,
Capt. Charles Carruthers flor both broth
ers were in the army and held the same
rank, his best man. The latter was a
good looking young fellow, strikingly
like his elder brother, though not, per
haps, quite so handsome. He and his
sister put up at the hotel i'll the ad-
iaccnt town. where the bridegroom, who
was to arrive next day, would also sleep
on the night before his wedding
On the morning of that day Il very
strange and startling thing happened,
Capt. Charles Carruthers received let
ter from his brother-a letter which
caused him to proceed posthaste to Der
rick hall, looking very nervous and up
set For the job his brother had set him
was distressing and humiliating. The
letter ran as follows
MY Dear Charles i hardly know how
to write to you; but there are impera-
tive reasons why | cannot--absolutely
cannot marry MISS DefrlcK.
Il ought to have broken off the en-
gugement before. But-heaven forgive
mel lacked the courage. | have been
nearly distracted for weeks past about
it, But now time has come when |
must speak out. | love another woman,
who is part of my life. | cannot-dare
ot--tcar myself away from her.
1T has been hideous mistake. But |
should be doing Miss Derrick an even
greater wrong by marrying her than by
thus breaking it off at the last moment.
See her. for me, Charles, | implore
Won and tell her the truth. Beg her for
giyeness. and ask her to think as kindly
of me as she can. Your unhappy and
distracted brother
GEORGE CARRUTIIERS.
Poor Charles! No wonder he looked
nervous and distressed as. with this let
ter in his pocket he drove over to Der
rick hall
lie asked to see the squire alone; and
when he had been with him in his study
for Il quarter OF an hour the squire rang
the bell and sent message TO his wife.
She came. and terrible scene ensued.
Her rage knew no bounds, She in
weighed against the renegade bridegroom
and all his family, including the unhappy
Charles was. however. too much
ashamed Of his brother and too much a
gentleman himself 20 utter word of
protest
Il shall never be able to look any Of
my friends in the face again" she kept
saying. 1T is making . public laughing
stock of me. Such men ought to be
thrashed thrashcd within an inch of
their lives. All the guests invitedi All
the preparations made. / never heard Of
anything so infamous"
Kathleen was sent for; and. the ter
rble news having been broken to her bv
he snMlre rs mnmilN ~ h.. nnnlA Ii. 49,.