The Ordway new era., 1912-04-12
The Runaway Bride

Lord Richard Jocelyn had played his
last game Of solitaire for the evening.
and now, reclining In his armchair, ),
was leisurely puffing clouds OF smoke
toward the ceiling out OF his favorite
meerschaum. Upon the table at his
hand n letter lay. 1t was from his
father In England. the fourth viscount,
and In 1t was a scathing denunciation
Of Lord Richard for his failure to Sc
cure a moneyed bride. And II you do
not stir yourself. Richard" the letter
concluded, II shall be forced. reluc-
tantly. to stop your allowance till you
come home"
There was some ground for the
fourth viscount's remonstrances. for.
having gone to America to complete
arrangements for his marriage with
the daughter of a certain varnish man.
ufacturer. whose fortune was reputed
to be in the neighborhood Of thirty
millions. Lord Richard had handed the
lady over to a prior claimant. a penni.
less painter. and then. breaking away
from his fashionable encourage. had
set to work more or less systematical-
ly to explore the possibilities OF ad-
venture in the New World. And now
all must come to an end!
Lord Jocelyn sighed and folded the
letter into its envelope. Then he un.
dutifully tore 1t into six pieces and let
them fall into his waste paper basket.
This means home and England" he
said regretfully. And l was begin
ming to love America SO well. No
county fairs. no tea parties. no yes.
my lord and no. Lord Jocelyn' every
moment of my life. And now every
thing Is over
A long and resonating ring at his
door bell at this moment interrupted
his gloomy meditations. Instinct told
Lord Jocelyn that the ring came
from the pressure OF feminine finger;
furthermore that his caller. whoever
she might be. was not In a condition
OF mind that might be called wholly
composed: for the long ring was sue
ceeded by several shorter rings. and
terminated in a succession OF still
shorter and very violent tintinnabula-
tons.
Lord Jocelyn laid down his pipe.
rose up and went down to the door
which. as he laid his hand upon the
handle, flew back in his face. disclos-
ing the form OF an extremely pretty
girl. carrying suitcase. who precipi-
lated herself into his arms. calculating
some agitated phrases in foreign
tongue which was entirely incompre-
hensible to him.
II beg your pardon" stammered
Jocelyn. disengaging himself as deli
cately as was possible under the cir
cumstances. Have you not come to
the wrong apartment. mademoiselle?''
Instead OF answering him the young
woman dropped her suitcase in his
private hall and slammed the door be-
hind her. She stood regarding him
with a mixture Of embarrassment and
fear, in which the latter emotion clear
ly predominated. And again she be-
gan beseeching him in this strange
language which. to Jocelyn's ears.
sounded like Russian.
"Mademoiselle speaks English-or
French? he asked.
"Ah, oui, Monsieur" she calculated
hastily In the latter tongue. "Sauvez
moi, je vous prie; cachez moi. Mon
ennemi-"
S0o OEOhe OH III COuAuolOA "AAC
Jocelyu stared at her in amazement,
almost catching the contagion OF her
own terror. Who was this enemy.
what enemy could this beautiful girl
fear so much that she sought refuge
from him in the apartment Of a stran-
ger?
However, this was clearly not the
time to ask questions. Jocelyn led
the way into his apartment; but she
looking round frantically. clutched at
his arm and. still speaking in French
begged him to hide her where she
could never be found"
Jocelyn racKed his brains in perplex-
ity. II she did not feel safe here.
where would she? He assured her that
none should be permitted to enter, but
even this did not modify her fears.
"He will come, Monsieur" she gasped.
Hide me-hide me, implore you"
A pew thought passed swiftly
through the young mans brain. Per
haps this was lunatic whom he was
destined to entertain. Clearly 1t be-
hooved him to allay her fears, even
by the most preposterous measures
There was large cupboard in his
kitchen, or rather in tiny room ad.
joining it, which had been partitioned
off as a storeroom. 1t was empty
save for a few bottles Of claret. Here
she could seclude herself; moreover
this refuge afforded an access to fresh
air through the medium Of an open
top which communicated with the
open china closet above. The very
place! None would dream Of looking
for a fugitive in such shelter. And
finally, this little room, placed as it was
at the end of his suite. communicated
by door with the hall outside. If
therefore, the young woman showed