Smyrna times., 1913-02-05

appointed Office.
I'm sorry, Mr.. Burnell," said Mr..
Ridgely, as he shook hands with the
painter and babe him be seated, "but
my sister, Miss Malinda Ridgely, who
was to sit for her portrait. is quite
indisposed today and cannot see you.
1 trust she may be able to talk to you
tomorrow"
81 trust her illness is not serious"
remarked Burnell, rising to go, but
the other waved him back into his
seat.
"Don't CO. l would be happy if you
will dine with us tonight, though you
will find us anything but cheerful COM
pany under the circumstances" He
threw himself into a chair. "As you
will see more or less Of my family,
may as well take you into my conf
dence. At present we are in great =
trouble"
Burnell looked interested as he
lighted the cigar Mr.. Ridgely offered
him.
81 have daughter, an only child,
beautiful GIRL" said Mr.. Ridgely, his
voice trembling with emotion. "She
has been reared with the greatest care,
and my sister has been a second moth
er to Frances. Four weeks ago you
can imagine how shocked we were
when my daughter-she is only eight
een-cOnfessed that she wanted to
marry her music master, a young Ger
man, clever enough in his way, but Of
whose antecedents know nothing. l
forbade the match, of course, Until the
man could give some account OF him.
self, but he must have eXerted some
influence over my daughter, for few
days after her confession Of love for
the musician Frances left home, taking
only a small sum of money with her.
She-left a note saying that she would
go away and earn her own living until
Felix could afford to marry her
"You can imagine our grief and con-
sternation OF course l put detectives
on her track Immediately, and she has
been under surveillance ever since. 1t
seems the fellow went to Providence to
play in some orchestra there, and
Frances has seen him only once since
she went TO New York She has been
working in a department store until
yesterday afternoon; then l received
word from my agent that she had left
the employment of the firm and had
told her landlady she was going to
Providence to be married. Somehow
Alden, my agent, lost sight of her, and
she has slipped off to meet this fellow.
'If only could catch her. 1 am sure
she would listen to reason, for she
loves us dearly, but her Ridgely pride
has been reused, and | have been let
ting her fight it out alone, hoping she
would tire of it and come back to US.
But let it go too long. This German
chap undoubtedly is after her money
as well as herself"
81 think l can help you out, Mr..
Ridgely," exclaimed Burnell. 81 be-
lieve your daughter came down on the
train with me last night" And he re-
lated his adventure to the impatient
father.
+ ''It is Franeesw cried Mr.. Ridgely
reaching for his hat. Il thank you q
thousand times for your kindness tc
my child, Mr.. Burnell. Now, if Alden
win only come along we can get thai
1903 and reach Providence in time tC
prevent their marriage"
In five minutes the detective arrived
!, and as they fastened down to the
station Mr.. Ridgely told the story Of
. Burnell's meeting with the girl IL
black and his knowledge of her having
gone to Providence.
Burnell afterward learned from Mr.
I Ridgely's own lips what had happened
] It seems that his daughter had grown
somewhat disillusioned concerning he
e German lover, but her pride forbade
that she give in, though her tende
heart was breaking for a reconcilia
tion with those whom she had love,
! and from whom she was now parted
for the first time in her life.
Il Her correspondence with the younl
. German was desultory and only serves
). to emphasize the difference in thei
L upbringing At the end of three week
l Frances Ridgely admitted to hersel
! that she was completely cured of thi
fatal fascination for her music mas
I urged that they be married at once
He had a steady position and coul
s support them. His endearing epithet
g recalled once more the bliss Of thei
first lovemaking, and the girl was me
q mentarily stirred by his appeal and cor
I sented to go to Providence and MARI
l. him.
y Mr.. Ridgely and his agent arrive
a just in time to halt Felix Hermann 0
Is the steps Of the girls boarding place
She was standing in the doorway
u gowned in that same shabby blac
y dress in which Burnell had seen he
- When she saw her father she fainte
= in his arms, and afterward they learr
- ed 1t was from pure joy at her n
lease from her engagement.
Felix Hermann seemed to be relie'
ed Of a great responsibility whe
= Frances returned to her father, an
y nof l0no a aftaruvard hn rnarrfad rio