Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-01-25


painter and babe him he seated. but
my sister. Miss Malinda silgely. who
was to sit for her portraii. Is quite
indisposcd today and cannot see you.
trust she may be able To talk to you
tomorrow
IL trust her Illness i not serious
remarked hurnell. rising to 20. but
the other waved him back into his
seat
Don't go, | would he happy if you
will dine with us tonight. though you
will lind uS anything but cheerful com
pany under the circumstances. lie
threw himself into n chair las you
will see more or less of my family. !
may Ms well take you into my conh-
dence. Al present we are In great
trouble"
Burnel looked interested as he
lighted the cigar Mr. Ridgely offered
him.
IL have n 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 gloth-
er 10 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. |
hn fsh af
man could give some account OF him
self. hut 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 small sum Of money with her
She left note saying TINT she would
go away and earn her own living until
Felix could afford 10 marry her
You can imagine our grief and con
sternntion or course put detectives
on her track Immediately and she has
been under surveillance ever since. II
seems the fellow went TO Providence to
plny in some orchestra there. and
Frances has seen him only once since
she went 10 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 to
Providence To Ice married Somehow
Alden. my agent. lost sight Of her. aud
she has slipped on to meet this fellow.
III | only could catch her am sure
she would listen 10 reason. for she
loves rs dearly. but her Ridgely pride
has been reused. and have been let
ting her fight 1t out alone. hoping she
would tire Of IL and come back TO us.
But let II go too long. This German
chap undoubtedly Is after her money
as well as herself"
II think ! can help you out, Mr..
Rldgcly," exclaimed Burnell IL be-
licve your daughter came down on the
train with me last night" And he re-
lated his adventure TO the impatient
father
1T is Frances" cried Mr. Ridgely.
reaching for his hat. II thank you u
thousand times for your kindness to
my child. Mr. Burnell. Now, II Alden
will only come along we can get that
1903 aud reach Providence In time TO
prevent their marriage
In FIVE minutes the detective arrived.
and as they hastened down TO the
station Mr.. Ridgely told the story Of
Burncll's meeting with the girl In
Alaol a M M, lsnntvtadsa ~ har. ho cfnU
gone TO Providence.
Burnell afterward learned from Mr..
Ridgelys own lips what had happened.
II seems thai his daughter had grown
somewhat disIllusioned concerning her
German lover, but her pride forbade
tina, she give in. though her tender
heart was breaking for reconcilia-
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
upbrlnging Al the end Of three weeks
Frances Ridgely admitted 10 herself
that she was completely cured OF this
fatal fascination for her music mas.
ter. but just then he wrote TO her and
urged that they be married at once.
He had Il steady position and could
support them. His endearing epithets
recalled once more the bliss Of their
first lovcmnking. and the girl WAS mo.
mentarily stirred By his appeal ana con.
scented 10 90 10 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 aftcrward they learn
ed II was from pure JOY at her re.
lease from her engagement.
Felix Hermann seemed TO be reliev-
ed of great responsibility when
Frances returned 10 her father. and
not long afterwa?d he married rich
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