Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1907-09-28


Dick Fitzgerald to act as one of the
ushcrs at the Craven Mountford we'd
ding. Dick had been in love with
Audrey Craven long before Sir Henry
MountfOrd had come across the water
In search of bride and bank ac-
count.
Mrs. Craven had shrewdly argued
that with Dick acting as one Of the
ushcrs she would put a stop to the last
shred of gossip. For several years
their friends had looked for the an
Audrey. and the new turn - affairs
had not met with popular approval.
If Dick was an usher he might seem
to give countcnancc to the alliance
No one blamed Audrey for the en-
gagcmcnt. Mrs. Craven. had she been
a man, would have achieved credit as
n ward boss In her feminine sphere
she heCtorcd her family, the charita-
bic societies of which She was invnria-
bly, the president, and even the rector
of ST JUde's recognized God. Mrs.
Craven and the bishop i'll that order.
When Sir Henry was graciouSly
pleased to accept Mrs. Cravcns dipIo-
matte ovcrturcS their set had regard
ed Ii'E'S fate as sealed and with IL
murnlured Poor Audrey" gave their
attention to other affairs The an
nounrcmcnt that Dick was to be one
of tn" usher: brought forth an addi-
tionHI Poor Dick but En rather cn
joycI his duties rs. Stan'ilg on the
steps of st. Judc'S he explained to the
wedding guests that the service was
postponed owing to the absence of
Miss Craven.
I'VE only know what word was sent
up from the house." he assured Mrs
P0nderS Miss Craven went out to
visit Nell Tcstra last night She left
so early that no escort seemed ncCcS-
sary. but she did not return home. No
one knows what happened. Mrs. Cra-
ven is proStrated. Sir Henry? | un-
dCrStdnl he is taking it very badly"
He bowed her away and turned to
the next conner. There hld been no
time TO recall the invitatiols. and the
six uShcrS were too busy to g'vr moe
than passing attention to an. one per
SON
Sir Henry was taking . v""y badly
indeed. He was Sto" up and
down the long hall of the Craven
home, and between diSaproi 1;mrnt
and wounded pride the tlooH"a't.% of
speech We're opened, and his lla%ll"o
would have done credit to Il stable
boy.
Mrs. Craven shut herself in thn IL
brary long before he had convlu Ci II, ;
remarks, and the stol:d butlc", aided
by the coachman. elected Sir II"nry
from the house. to the huge delight o.
the reporters who had vainly hHHi2.,cl
the front door for the last hour or 50.
Then Mrs. Craven took to hoy he |
ana vowed that no dau%h or of hers
should ever marry into the British no
bilty, while Carver Craven h0rrirl
down to the police station to ask that
a general alarm be sent ont.
Nothing came of this action. and aft
er Il couple of days the papers drur"cl
the sensation. Dick was distract ~.
TWO days before the ceremony Audrey
had assured him that things wou' !
turn out all right and had told him
not to worry. but li..r long silence ar
gucl that she had not been able to
make things 90 rs she had planned
and that she had killed herself rather
thrn marry man she did not love
In the hope of diStraCting his min'l
the senior Fitzgerald intruStcd him
with Il commission in Chicago, and
Dick. glad to get away for Il few
days, took the train after cXactng II
promise that he should be informed
by wire of any development.
The trip seemed interminable. but at
last he reached town and established
himself at a hotel. He could not see
the people he wanted until the follow
ing morning. and to diSpel his loncli-
ness he hunted up Jim Dalton.
Dalton and he had been chumS in
the college days before Dalton had
gone west to study medicine. He was
inferno In one Of the hospitals now,
ana after dinner Dick and he went
out.
WANT to see the animalS?' asked
his chum after the first flood of Ques-
tions had been asked and answered.
Dick shook his head.
"I'd rather talk" he said. I'm in
no mood to look upon suffering"
"NVc'vc got one celebrated case"
said Dalton proudly. Been in the pa
pcrs almost week nova ripping
pretty girl with aphasia. Doesn't
know who she is or where she came
from or where she wants to go. The
funny part is that she suffers from
ronc of the causes of the disease"
"Dick smiled. at must be pleasant
to forget everything sometimes" he
said. You couldn't innoculate me,
could you?"
Il never knew that it was infec-
tious," said Dalton. "Still, you might
try it in the interest Of science. She
usually comes in for a chat In the
evening. She likes to talk about her
sase she knows as much about the
disease rs | do"
He rang the bell, and a trim nurse
appeared. "Will you ask Miss Smith
to come in If she has not yet retired,
he said. and he turned to Dick.
I'll have to introduce you as a re-
porter" he said. "She's not like the
average charity patient in n clinic, you
know. It's evident that she is gently
bred, and she might resent being on
exhibition"
Dick nodded, but when the door
nnnnnl To admit the nntinnt he tCan