The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-03-03

light the fear that perhaps she would
be unhappy was forgotten.
II was only a short journey and the
bridal party arrived in ample time at
the quaint old chapel which nestled
in a grove Of ancient elms. Already
nearly all Of the invited guests had as
sembled though strange to say, the
groom had not appeared. This at
tracted no attention at first, but as
the belated guests came in and still
the husband-to-be failed to present
Himself, questioning glances began to
be cast about the room. At last ev-
eryone was there save Count Bolen-
ski and his continued absence be-
came the theme of numerous anima-
ted conversations carried on in whis-
pers that were none too low.
But the wonderment Of the guests
was a trine compared to that of Jonas
Armond, who was both amazed and
vexed at the delay occasioned by his
chosen son-in-law. Rapidly his excite
ment increased until his measured
pacing back and forth between the
chapel and the road became apparent
" race against time.
The conduct of the bride, however
was singularly out of keeping with the
situation She remained calm and
seemed unaffected even by the almost
plying glances cast in her direction
through the lorgnettes Of fashionably
gowned women.
But luckily the suspense was to con-
tinue little longer, for Jonas Armond
upon glancing down the road for per.
haps the fiftieth time saw an auto
mobile and heaved a sigh Of relief
Surely it could be no other than the
groom, and the old man knew by the
speed the machine was making that
the driver was anxious to get to his
destination.
Retracing his steps even more rap
idly than during his previous perform
ance, the highly agitated father rushed
into the chapel and bade his daughter
make her final preparations. Then
he hastened again to the roadside that
he might greet properly the dlstin-
guished man who was to become a
member Of his family.
BY this time the car was almost
upon him, when suddenly it seemed
as If all bedlam had broken loose. The
peaceful silence of the countryside
was broken by the crack of revolvers,
the "honk honk" of the motor horns
and the discordant shouts of hilari-
GUS men. Alarmed by the noise, the
guests hurried from the church and
added their high pitched exclamations
OF surprise to the general confusion.
The bride and even the wedding we're
forgotten in the excitement of the mo-
ment and as the flying auto came to
an abrupt stop every one crowded
toward the throbbing machine.
Without warning, a grotesque figure
was tossed from the car and everyone
turned his attention to the strangely
clad being. The man, for such it
seemed to be, was followed by a bull
dog that instinctively seized the
strangers trousers by the most con-
venient part and hung on with a te-
nacious grip. Wild howls of fear
issued from the lips of the terrified
newcomer, who danced madly about,
too frightened to remain quiet enough
to permit Of anyone's coming to his
relief
Safe me, hellup me-" shrieked the
creature, and with coattails flying out
over the determined dog he made a
rush for Jonas Almond. Then the
guests recognized him. 1t was Count
Bolenski
Immediately light dawned on the
father and he looked about for his
daughter He was just in time to see
her in the automobile waving a fond
farewell as she passed from view
around "a distant corner. Angrily, the
irate parent denounced his child and
her fellow conspirators, while the
count, having been freed from the
stubborn canine, called down maledic-
tions upon them all. But 1t was Of no
use! Bess was gone and there would
be no marriage to titled foreigner,
The guests, betraying a lively inter
est in the whole affair, started home
ward, and Almond and his wife, after
bidding the count take care Of him
self, began their return to the country
estate.
Just as they were turning into the
shady avenue Jonas Almond espied
for the second time that day, an ap-
preaching auto and halted the team
he was driving. He did not have long
to wait. The big motor stopped near
him and in 1t were his daughter, four
men and another young woman,
whom he recognized as the "modiste"
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