The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-06-03
was brooding over the parental

Sne was DrOOulnS over tne pdTeH1Si
cruelty.
Farmer Miller did not permit many
minutes to elapse before he had placed
himself in the wash-house, which adj
Joined the kitchen, so that he might
hear all that passed between the dis
comftted lovers. He did hear the dia-
logue with which / have commenced
this historiette. He possessed himself
of the CONTEMPLATED elopement, and
was satisfied.
"She is going to run away, is she ?''
he said to himself; "I'n teach him a
lesson, / warrant me and for that little
Gipsey, I'll settle her business speed
ily."
After tea that evening, Mary retired
to her little room, her heart beating
with anxiety for the approach of mid
night. Her surprise may be imagined
when, half an hour afterwards, she
found herself a prisoner. She tried the
handle of the lock. 1t would not move.
What was to be done? Could it have
become fastened accidentally She
called her father, and he came.
"What's the matter, Mary" ?" was
his exclamation, without, however
opening the chamber door.
"My door is fast, and 1 can't get
out"
every we'll, DEAR" was the reply
"go to bed like good girl, and III
open it in the morning."
She knew it was not of the slightest
use to demonstrate. He must, by some
means, have discovered her design
She could do nothing but weep and
bite her lips with vexation.
The next thing the farmer did was
to visit the barn. AS usual, it had {
large wagon door, in which was cut fol
common use smaller entrance. Tht
latter was only secured by the ordinary
latch inside, which was lifted in the
customary way, by thrusting finger
through small hole made in the door
beneath the latch, for the purpose.
Farmer Miller remained in the barr
Ilong enough to arrange matters to sui
his purpose, and then coming ou
through stable that adjoined, or rath
er lay partly behind it, he walked
quickly home, laughing quietly to him
self. He first listened to his daughter
door, and fining all quiet retired tt
his own room, and went to sleep.
Just about midnight, a horse ant
wagon drew silently up, on the road
behind Farmer Miller's barn. Jo'
Claver got steathily out of the vehicle
jumped the fence, and crept cautiously
around to the door of the building il
question. How happy he felt! Ii
another moment Mary would be hi
own! In the morning she would b,
his darling little wife, Farmer Mile
would storm of course; but the farme
loved his daughter dearly. He wa
proud of her. He would therefore re
lent, forgive and bless them. Full O
these delightful anticipations, 10,
thrust his finger into the hole in the barr
door to reach the latch, but" All 7
how he yelled with pain. A steel tral
adroitly placed on the inside, so as t,
catch any obtruding article, hat
snapped, and his bleeding finger wa
held fast in its iron teeth
1t was cold night, and Joe's feel
ings may be conjectured as he stoo,
there shivering and shaking, hour afte
hour, unable to move from the spot
held a prisoner by the savage instru
ment, his larcerated finger occasionin,
him exquisite agony, and his hear
sinking into his boots with the convic
ton that day-break would only expos
him to the farmers indignation and tn
village ridicule.
Just at dawn, Farmer Miller, chuck
ling over the success of his ruse, wen
down to the barn. There still stoo,
Joe, and not far off the horse and wae
on. need not say how Joe implore,
!, pardon, and promised everything tina
! could be desired to purchase it an
silence. Farmer Miller and he fnall
2 closed a bargain. Joe was released
! Nay more-Joe was in New York be
fore noon, en- route for Iowa.
As for Mary-this incident occurre
two years ago, and / have just Eisse
her first baby. She pleased her father
and seems to have pleased herself i
, consequence, quite as much.-S,ueda
Times.