Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-09-01
A
Strange Wedding
BY RALPH HAMILTON

uCe IulStu Oh Sludll area SuTrOuut
ing the house he had the free use Q
during his lifetime. was probler
Morris Vehon had solved, although a
a cost Of close pinching. 1t was
lonely spot at the edge Of quiet littl
village, and life for the old man an
his motherless daughter, Eulalie, wa
a round of dull monotony.
They had been now five years a
Rosecrest and EulalIe had grown int,
a lovely, graceful girl of twenty. From
the wreck of former fortune he
father had saved quite library, {
piano and some choice pictures, ant
these graced the humble little home
and surrounded 1t with something Of
the refinements Of intelligence and cul
ture. The girl had always done hei
full duty as helper and daughter
Often in fit of melancholy Mr.. Vehon
would upbraid himself for caging her
bright spirit away from the joys OF
life.
Il am very happy and contented as
1t is. dear father" Eulalie would insist.
II must inherit from dear dead mother
Q love for the charms Of nature amid
which she was brought up, and find
no false friends among the flowers and
the BIRDS"
They were seated one evening on the
porch, both dreamy and lulled to a
sweet serenity by the balmy air and
the soothing perfume Of many flowers.
The pale starlight showed the rose
hung gate with the stretch of purple
frs beyond. A lurking moon on the
far horizon had just begun to tinge the
with delicate silvery
glow. The distant chug! chug! Of an
automobile aroused them. It seemed
down the road passing the
house, but the sounds became less dis
tinct finally, as though the machine
had turned Off at some side road, and
1t this Mr.. Vehon wondered, for even
he one main thoroughfare was a rutty,
Uneven highway.
Perhaps half an hour passed Dy
when down the latter came a madly
1ushing auto. It halted directly in
ront Of the house and one Of three
men 1t held sprang from the ma
.hine and unceremoniously rushed up
o the porch.
Limousine" he spoke rapidly, @red
md black, two men aboard. Has i
'assed here within the past two
lours?''
"None such, none at all" replied
1r. Vehon. "Not many Of any kind
To-" and the man fastened back to the
Dad, and the machine turning, re-
raced its course amid an excited con-
alb among its passengers.
The incident somewhat disturbed
he serenity Of Eulalie and her father.
Within half an hour the latter made a
Movement as If intent on going into
he house and Eulalie joined him.
"I1l take the lantern and see If ev-
rything Is all right in the barn, IA
her." she said, and a few minutes
tier crossed the rear yard for the
urpose stated. She drew back asa
ri atrturritp,fe. -l..--4a -4lsrni,nh tho
,rn IT'S rays showed q man In cnaul-
eur attire standing at the step, ana.
alf reclining on the rear seat. a pare
Dung man, suggesting an Invalid
eve ran In here because we were IN
rouble," hastily spoke the chauneur.
n there man about the houseW
.My father, yes" said the bewii-
Iered Eulalie. II will send him az
nee"
Mr.. yehon went to the barn. Soon
10 and the chauffeur came carrying
he young man between them. ne
vos horne to room upstairs. Inc
.hanffeur, an hour later, left the house.
Mr. yehon came down to Eulalie Win
a seriors face.
ave have become unwillingly q part
Of tragedy" he said. The young
man Is Burton Gray, and ne is seek
ing to evade relatives who are after
his fortune. They have been giving
him n slow poison, and his chauHeur
was trying to get him beyond their
roach. The automobile which we saw
a.r,,ar> in the evening held the pur-
swing nlotters. The chauffeur thinks
b,s young master is dying. He mas
,art him in our care while he goes
away striving to throw their enemies
on the trail. We must get doctor
for this Burton Gray and nurse MN
rrti, e. is safe for him to be removed
And that was why the house was
turned into a hospital for week. The
musician made secret daily visits aho
avnressed the belief that his patient
would not survive, but Burton Gray
seemed to be content and relieved a
tbe kind ministration Of Morris We
hon and his daughter.
IT am a doomed man." ne said ont
day TO the former. 'srhe relatives al
TOR nv fortune have probably de
stroyed the will have made. i sha'
haffle them. You are poor, YOU
aoughter deserves broader life thai
she is passing here. / ask her to maj
rv diving man, who wishes to rewar
her great kindness and your own y
nroyiding for all your future.
II was a solemn ceremony, the maj
rage performed with only the docto
and clergyman present. yet fror
that hour Burton Gray seemed 10 r
yiye. He passed the crisis OF his II
ness. and the happiest moment III u
,,fa of Eu,alie was that in wnicn, ADJ