The Crittenden press., 1920-08-24
A
Strange Wedding
By RALPH HAMILTON

uce raised On u small area surrounu-
ing the house he had the free use OF
during his lifetime, was problem
Morris Vehon had solved, although at
4 cost of close pinching. II was .
lonely spot at the edge Of a quiet little
village, and life FOR the old man and
his motherless daughter, Eulalie, was
q round OF duh monotony.
They had been now Ave years at
Rosecrest and Eulalie had grown into
4 lovely, graceful girl OF twenty. From
the wreck of former fortune her
father had saved quite q library, a
plano and some choice pictures, and
these graced the humble little home
and surrounded II with something OF
the reiinements OF intelligence and cul-
ture. The girl had always done her
full duty as helper and daughter.
Often In II fit Of melancholy MIR, Vehon
would upbraid himself for caging her
bright spirit away from the joys Of
life.
~ am very happy and contented as
II is, dear father" Eulalie would Insist.
~ must inherit from dear dead mother
q love for the charms Of nature amid
which she was brought up, and | hnd
no false friends among the flowers and
the birds"
They were seated one evening on the
porch, both dreamy and lulled TO
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
landscape with delicate silvery
glow. The distant chug! chugl OF an
automobile aroused them. II seemed
coming down the road passing the
house, but the sounds became less dis
tinct finally, as though the machine
had turned of at some side road. and
at this Mr.. Vehon wondered, for even
the one main thoroughfare was rutty.
uneven highway.
Perhaps half an hour passed by
when down the latter came madiy
rushing auto. II halted directly In
front of the house and one OF three
men It held sprang from the ina.
chine and unceremoniously rushed up
to the porch.
Limousine" he spoke rapidly, red
and black, two men aboard Has II
passed here within the past two
hours"
"None such, none at ALL" replied
Mr.. vehon. "Not many Of any kind
do" and the man hastened back TO the
road. and the machine, turning, re-
traced Its course amid an excited con
fab among its passengers.
The Incident somewhat disturbed
the serenity Of Eulalie and her father.
Within half an hour the latter made Q
movement as II intent on going into
/ the house and Eulalie Joined him.
\ - = lantern e"a - - -
srything Is all rfgrt ~ the bnrn. IA
ther," she said, and few minutes
later crossed the rear yard for the
purpose stated. She drew back as
! hot breath OF air came through the
open door OF the structure. Then the
lantern CLEAN fell upon the front OF
IN automobile. Eulalie lifted the Ian
tern. Its rays showed a man in chauf-
feur attire standing at the step. and.
half reclining on the rear seat, a pale
young man, suggesting an invalid.
ave ran In here because we we're In
trouble" hastily spoke the chauffeur.
ut there a man about the housef"
"My father, yes" said the bewil.
dered Eulalie. II Will send him at
once"
Mr. Vehon went TO the barn. Soon
he and the chauffeur came carrying
the young man between them. He
was borne TO room upstairs The
chauffeur. an hour later. left the house.
Mr. vehon came down to Eulalie with
u iOuN lut's
"we have become unwillIngly part
OF q tragedy" he said The young
man Is Burton Gray. and he Is seek.
Ing to evade relatives who are after
his fortune. They have been giving
him u slow poison. and his chauffeur
was trying TO get him beyond their
r.o.h frb. .ntnmnhIla t.yhIoh ma a. ~
earlier In the evening held the pur-
suing plotters The chauffeur thinks
bis young master Is dying. He has
left 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 him
until II Is safe for him to be removed"
And that was why the house was
turned into hospital for u week. The
physician made secret daily visits aud
expressed the belief that his patient
would not survive, but Burton Gray
seemed TO be content and relieved at
the kind minlstratlon OF Morris We
hon and his daughter.
II am a doomed man." he said one
day to the former "The relatives az.
ter my fortune have probably de-
stroyed the will have made. II shall
baiiie them. You are poor. your
daughter deserves q broader life than
she Is passing here. ask her ~ mar.
rya dying man, who wishes to reward
her great kindness and your own by
providing for all your future"
II was solemn ceremony, the mar.
riage performed with only the doctor
aud u clergyman present, ye, from
that hour Burton Gray seemed to re-
yive. Tie passed the crisis OF his III.
ness, and the happlest moment In the
life OF Eulalie was that In which. able
to get about at last, she supported bis
wayprInu af.ns N q aha lad hin, n,s tato