The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-07-12
ESTABLISHED 1875

broken down woman. 1t was not the
equivOcal position in which she stood
before the world, but the fact that she
loved the man she had treated in a
manner which every day seemed to
her more unmaidenly and barbarous.
This, added to that dreadful silence,
was killing her. She was not sure
even that he lived. Her parents, her
neighbors, endeavored in every way
to draw her from her dependency.
Her friends the cowboys gathered in
groups to discuss the man whom they
considered to blame for her condition
and even debated the question of send
ing one of their number to find him
wherever he might be and give him
the chance Of returning to his wife or
swallowing dose of lead
But no such method Of restoring her
happiness, of course, ever reached the
young wife's ears. She gradually sank
till those about her began to shake
their heads and predict that she would
at last fall victim to her unfortunate
affair The Hayden ranch was finally
sold The intelligence was kept from
her as long as possible. fearing that
this breaking the last link that bound
her to her husband would have an in
creased effect upon her. But when the
new owner took possession of the prop
erty 1t was impossible that she should
be kept in ignorance any longer. AS
was feared, it destroyed her last hope.
One morning when the daily stage
arrived at the relay house Ralph Hay
den hurriedly alighted, ordered horse
and, mounting, galloped away. Half
an hour later he was seen to ride into
the Macdonald ranch house The
news spread over the neighborhood.
The ranchers and the ranchers' fami-
lies discussed the arrival and wondered
what the next move would be. The
cowboys convened in special meeting,
and it was solemnly agreed that if the
Britisher went away without his de-
partilre being satisfactory to his wife
they would waylay him and force him
to fight each one of them successfully
till all were killed or he bit the dust.
Some of them fingered their revolvers
nervously in anticipation.
1t was not long, however, before very
startling news was given out at the
ranch house. Hayden had returned
for the bride he had been forced to
marry; he was not only Ralph Hayden,
but Sir Ralph Hayden and heir to one
of the fairest estates in England.
Then all the women exclaimed at once:
Goodness gracious! Kate Mac is
Lady Hayden!
The afternoon this news was cir
culated the cowboys agreed that they
would go in body to the Macdonald
ranch house, learn of its truth, and if
it were so give three cheers for Sir
Ralph and Lady Hayden. Learning
of their intention, many of the neigh
bors repaired there to see the fun
Lining up before the house, the boys
began to call for their favorite Pres
emily she appeared, leaning on the arm
of her husband pale and thin, but with
that same old smile on her lips which
had made them her slaves. yell
arose and cries of Tell us about itr'
She pointed to her husband who said:
OOJSt II was dtl d IulSldh0. L uldQc
several, and our Kate made one. let
complications in England interfere
with me and my wifes happiness; but,
thank God. they are past, and we are
all happy"
This brief speech was received by
three cheers from the cowboys, as
sisted by the neighbors present Then
the assembly were invited into the
house. and the bottle was passed.
After few weeks sojourn the cou-
pie left for England. leaving the fol-
lowing explanation:
An English girl with a large estate
had agreed to marry Ralph Hayden,
younger son of Sir George Hayden,
If within a given time he should.
through the death of an invalid BROTH
er, inherit the title After his Amer,
lean marriage Ralph Hayden had re-
turned to England and found the girl
he had been engaged to marry condi-
donally had fallen in love with anoth-
eT man, whom she was about to we'd
The returned ranchman smarted
long while under the marriage into
which he had been forced Meanwhile
his brother fingered in bad health and
finally died. Then the new incumbent
sailed for American to bring back his
wife.