A fine residence was bought on a fashionable street, and then Mr. Montgomery proceeded to take his ease.
Iola was introduced into the first society, and created quite a sensation. It was acknowledged by all that she was the “belle of the season,” and many young gents sought her company. Iola looked upon them with contempt, however. They were not half so handsome as her Chauncy, and she knew that none of them had the courage her affianced possessed.
At length, one bright morning, Ralph Bison arrived, dressed in a handsome suit which quite became him.
With the prairies he left his hunter’s language, and now looked and conversed like a perfect gentleman.
The first evening he was in New York he had quite an adventure. Going along a dark street, he saw half a dozen brutal loafers insult a young lady. Ralph took her part and the whole crowd went for him, but the Hunter Hercules proceeded to try his old plan. Catching up one man he hurled him against the others, and left the whole six lying in the gutter, ending up his gallant exploit with escorting the young lady home.
When the time for Chauncy’s wedding came on, the young man learned to his surprise that Ralph instead of standing as groomsman to him was about to stand as groom.
The double wedding passed off finely.
Ralph acted his part to perfection, and no one looking at the handsome middle-aged gentleman standing at the side of the blushing young girl would have guessed that he was the famous Hunter Hercules.
After the wedding, the two couples, accompanied by Barry, set out for Europe, intending to make the tour.
Chauncy had made the tour several times before, but this time he was really happy.