Freeman's champion., 1857-08-27
Runaway Match.

as they are now, there dwelt in the
town of P, a pretty village,
distant some twenty-five miles froqA
the market town, peculiarly ugly
and CROSS grained, but wealthy
farmer.
Minnie was Danforth's only child,
and report said truly that she would
be his sole legatee. The old man was
a sturdy farmer, and was estimated to
be worth full ten thousand dollars at
that period very handsome fortune
to be sure.
The sparkling eyes and winning
manners of Minnie Danforth had
stirred up the finer feelings of the
whole male portion of the village,
and her father was peculiar, and none
succeeded in making headway with
him or her.
In the meantime, Minnie had q
true and loyal lover in secret Who
would have supposed for one moment
that such fellow would dare to look
ON beauty and comparative refine
ment ? His name was Walker; or
as he was generally called, Joe Walk
er; and was simply a farmer, employ
ed by old Danforth, who had entrust-
ed Joe with the management of his
lplace two or three years.
But very excellent farmer and a
right good manager, was this Joe
Walker. He was young-only twen-
ty-three, and he actually fell in love
with this beautiful, pleasant, joyous
Minnie Danforth, his employers
daughter. But the strangest part of
tho occurrence was that Minnie re-
turned his loYe earnestly, truly and
frankly, and promised to wed him at
favorable time.
Things went on merrily for time,
but old Danforth discovered certain
glances and attentions between them
which excited his envy and suspic-
ions. Very soon afterwards Joe
learned the old mans mind directly,
in regard to the future disposal Of
Minnie's hand, and he quickly saw
his case was hopeless one unless he
resorted to a stitagem, so he sat his
wits at once to work. By agreement,
an apparently settled dislike and cold :
ness was observed by the lovers to-
wards each other for five or six
months; and the father saw, as he be-
lieved, with satisfaction that his pre-.
vious fears had been premature.
Then by agreement also between them
Joe absented himself from home at
evening, and night after night, for
full three months longer did Joe dis
appear as soon as his work was finish
cd, to return home only at late bed
time. This was unusual and Old
Danforth determined to know the
cause Of it.
Joe frankly confessed that he was
in love with a mans daughter, who
resided less than three miles distant,
but after q faithful attachmen be-
tween them for several months, the
old man had utterly refused his ap-
plication for the young girls hand.
This was capital-just what the
old man desired. This satisfied him
that he had made mistake in regard
to his own child; and he would help
Joe get married and thus stop all fur
ther trouble or suspicion at home.---
So he said:
"Do you like her ?"
eyes, sir-yeS."
"Then marry her."
"But ! can't, her father Objects
"Poh let him do so, what need
you care! Run away with her I"
"Elope."
" Yes OF withher at once. If
the gal will join you, all right, merry
her, bring her here, you shall have tho
cottage at the foot of the hill I'll
furniShit for you, wages shall be in
creased; and the old man may like it
or not"
"But---
"But no butts, Joe. Do as / bid
you--go about il at once; and"
"You will stand by me?"
eyes TO the last. l know you,
Joe, you're good fellow and good
workman, and will make anybody q
good SON or husband"
1.-THE old fellow will bo 10 mad
though"
"Who cares? Go now quickly,
but quietly"
Tomorrow night then," said Joe.
eyes"
"I'll hire Clover's horses %
mo you shan't,"
"Why not 7"
"Tskc my horse---the best one,
young Morgan hell take you of In
fine style in the new ph@ton,"