Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-02-19
Mise f l. i 4 \ Y.


Love laughs at locksmths," we are told
hIt rat traps are no subject of laughter, even
to the blind god himself, as shall show YOU
in the sequel of thi, brief story.
But you will 20 to-night?''
'Ycs, ! will.
"And if have old Bob behind the barn at
iwelve, you'll BE- waiting inside, and well
lrive to New York and get married straight
oif the reel ?''
Yes. When all the folks are in bed and
,sloep. | Il steal out of the wash-hous, door.
% - the barn, get in and disguise myself
When you come rut in your finger, lift the
latch, open the barn door, and III drop into
ruur arms like Il ripe apple. o. | do So love
90 run away Won't it he delightful ?'
The speakers were Joe Clavcrs and Mary
Miller. | need not mention that they were
lovers. Mary's father was Il prosperous far
m"r Of Connecticut. and Mary herself wa, one
nt' the widest, most light-hcarted. romantic.
innocent and aticctionate creatures ever made
after the " almost divine - model of mother
Eve Joe was generous. .Iimpulsive youth
Whose parents had once seen tlatterine days.
but had of late been unfortunate and fallen
into comparative poverty
Farmer Miller, as he grew rich, grew am
bilious. Mary was his only child lie look
Cd to her settlement in the world as the means
Of his own social Advancement. and had al
ready selected in his minds eye a suitable
match for her. of course .IOc's attentions
therefore, did not meet with his approval; and
while he was unwilling to hr thought sordid
enough To reject Joe openly for his lack of
means, he had suggested to that young adven-
turer the propricty of alscnting himself alto
gether from Mary attractive presence This
done, he had assured Mary of his resolution
10 dispose Of her hand according to his own
notions of feminine happiness.
need not say that these facts operating
upon the mind of IA thoughtlcss loving, &C.
centric, and spirited child, like Mary had a
peculiar effect. That very moment she de-
termincd 10 marry Joe ClavcrS. lie was ev-
identity prosecuted Persecution only made
him the dearer to hcr She liked him before.
but now she loved him. In fact, the more
she thought IF it, the more shc was convinc-
cd that h. was an angel, and that perfect
idolatry on her part would only be an act of
noble devotion
If Farmer Miller had been sensible man,
and at all disposed 10 study human nature,
he would have adopted perhaps very differ
ent course toward his wayward daughter
lie would have introduced his proposed SON
in-law, and forbidden her at the same time
TO indulge in the slightest regard for him 49,
Inc probability is that she would have fallen
desperately in love with him at first sight,
and given Joe his congo without further Ger
cmony ; but Father Miller had a way of his
own, in all things, and he was satisfied that,
should Mary feel disposed to play him Il
trick, no was quite able to manage Il Roland
for her Oliver
The very next morning after he had in this
manner "opened his mind, - as he called it,,
t. his daughter, he luckily happened to see
Joe Clavers make his furtive entrance into
the kitchen where Mary was busily at work,
but not singing as usual, for she was brood
ing over the parental cruelty.
Farmer Miller did not permit many min
utcs u clapsc before he placed himselfin the
wash house which adjoned the kitchen, SO
that he might hear all that passed between
the discounted lovers. He did hear the dia-
logue with which have commenced thi,
histOrietfe. lie possessed himsclfof the plan
Of the contemplated elopement, and he wa'
satisfied.
''She is going to run away, il She - h,
said to himself "I'll teach HIM a lesson,
warrant me and as for the little gipsey, !
settle her business very speedily.
Aiter tea that evening Mary retired To iIcl
little room, her heart beating with anxiety
for the approach of midnight. Her surIrsD
may be Imagined when, half AN hour after
wards. she found hcr-cfa prisoner Sin
tried the handl" of the lock. It would no
move What was To hc done Could i
have been fastened on her by accident? Sh'
called for her father, and lac came.
"What, TIA" matter, Mary - was his cX
clamation. without, however, opening tn
chamber door.
my door is fast, and cannot g,t out g.
Very we'll, dear, was hi- reply ''go t
bed, like good girl, and ! II open it in tn
morning"
She knew it was not of the slightest ~. t.
demonstrate. lie must by some mean, hav
discovered her design. She could do nothing
hut weep and bite her lips with yexation,
The next thing the farmer ID was to yisi
the barn A, usual it had large wago
door, in which was cut for common usr
smaller entrance. The latter was only s'
cured by the ordinary latch inside, whic
was lifted in the customary way, hy ruStin
finger in through a small hole made in III
door, beneath the latch, for the purpose.
Farmer Miller remained in the barn Ion
enough to arrange matters to suit his priva'
purpose, and chen coming out, through Il
stable that joined, or rather lay partly b.
meath it, he walked quietly home laughin
10 himself lie first listened at his daugl
ter's door, and finding all quiet, retired
his own room and went to sleep.
Just about midnight horse and wagc
drew silently up, ON the road, behind Farm
Millcr's barn. Joe Clavers got stealthily o.
Of the vehicle, jumped the fence, and ere
cautiously around the door Of the buildir
IN question, How happy he felt In anoth
moment Mary would be his own In Il
morning she would be his darling, little wit
Farmer Miller would storm, of course; b
the farmer loved his daughter dearly, al
was proud of her. lie would, Therefore l
l9nt, forgive, and bless them Full of the
delightful anticiIations Jo, thrust his iing
in III, hole of the barn door to reach t
latch. butt Ah how hr yelled wi
pain. steel trap adroity placed ON t
insils, s., IS To- catch any ohtrudinG artic
had snapped, and his bleeding finger "
held fast with it. iron teeth
It was cold night. and Joc feelings M
be conjecturcd a. he stood there, shiyeri
aud shaking. hour after hour, unhle