Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-04-18

Tue Oluer WhVeu ullu DhCk lnIO his
seat
Don't go. l would he happy IL you
will dine with lis 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. &.
II have daughter, an only child, a
beautiful girl" said Mr.. Ridgely, his
voice trembling with emotion. "She
has been reared with the greatest care,
and my sister has been 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, n young Ger
man, clever enough In his way, but of
whose antecedents know nothing. I
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 n few
days after her confession of love for
the musician Frances left home, taking
only small sum of money with her.
She left II 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 | put detectives
on her track Immediately, and she has
been under surveillance ever since. II
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 received
word from my agent that she had left
the employment Of the firm and had
told her landlady she was going ia
Providence to be married Somehow
Alden, my agent, lost sight of her, and
she has slipped Off to meet this fellow
"If l only could catch her. 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 1t out alone, hoping she
would tire of 1t and come back to us
But l let 1t go too long. This German
chap undoubtedly is after her money
as well as herself"
II think ! can help you out, Mr.
Rldgely," 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.
ut is Francesp cried Mr. Ridgely
reaching for his hat. 81 thank you q
thousand times for your kindness tC
my child. Mr.. Burnell. Now, IL Alden
will only come along we can get that
1903 and reach Providence In time Ia
prevent their marriage"
In five minutes the detective arrived
and as they FASTENED down to the
station Mr. Rldgely told the story OF
Burnell's meeting with the girl In
black and his knowledge Of her having
gone to Providence.
Burnell afterward learned from Mr.
Ridgely's own lips what had happened
1t seems thn' his daughter had grown
somewhat dislllusioned concerning her
German lover, but her pride forbade
that she give In, though her tender
heart was breaking for reconcila-
ton with those whom she had loved
and from whom she was now parted
for the first time In her life.
Her correspondence with the young
German was desultory and only served
to emphasize the difference in their
upbringing. At the end of three weeks
Frances Ridgely admitted to herself
that she was completely cured of this
fatal fascination for her music mas.
ter, but just then he wrnte to her and
urged that they be married at once.
He had steady position and could
support them. His endearing epithets
recalled once more the bliss OF their
first lovemaking, and the girl was mo-
mentarlly stirred by his appeal and con
sented to go TO Providence and marry
him.
Mr. Ridgely and his agent arrived
Just In time to halt Felix Hermann on
the steps of the girls boarding place.
She was standing In the doorway,
gowned in that same shabby black
dress In which Burnell had seen her.
When she saw her father she tainted
In his arms. and afterward they learn.
ed 1t was from pure Joy at her re-
lease from her engagement
EpliX Hartmann aaamad 70 kn raIfoy
ed OF great responsibility when
Frances returned 10 her father, and
not long afterward he married n rich
widow who was passionateIy fond OF
music.
Robert Burnell painted Miss Ridge
ly's portrait, but he did not meet
Frances, who Immediately went abroad
with her father for change OF scene
after her escapade. But he never
gave up his hope OF one day knowing
her and transferring 10 canvas her
beautiful face.
When she finally returned he renew |
ed his acquaintance with her, and AFT |
err her first embarrassment In his pres |
ence wore of he was overjoyed TO no.
celve n commission to paint her port |
RAFT
30 successful were the sIttings that |
In the end the painter gave Mr. Ridge.
ly the exquisite painting in exchange |
for the original, and his fellow pnssen. |
ger for life proved 10 be the same girl
he had met on the train and assisted TO
elope with another man.