The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-04-27
templated elopement, and he was salts

fed. 81, ~ s5 5azs 9.ii II Ji
She is going: to run away, is she? he
said to himself. I'll teach him lesson
| warrant me; aud as for the little .gipsey
I'l settle her business very speedily
After tea that evening, Mary retired to
her little room, her heart beating with
anxiety for the approach of midnight =
Her surprise may be imagined when half
hour afterwards, she found herself
prisoner! She tried the handle of the
lock! 1t would not move! What was to
be done? Could it have been fastened by
accident? She called for her father. and
he came. - t-5io.. IS
What's the matter Mary?' was his ex-
clamation, without, however opening the
chamber door.
MY door is fast, and / cannot get
outl'
Very well, DEAR was his reply; go to
bed, like q good girl, and I'll open it in
the morning , rlo
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. ss 2a5 ,eS1
The next thing the farmer did was to
visit the barn. As usual it had a large
wagon door, in which was cut for COM
mon use smaller entrance. The latter
was only secured by the common latch in
side, which was lifted in the customary
way, by thrusting the finger in through a
small hole made in the door, beneath the
latch, for the purpose. uss.a gf
| Farmer Miller remained in the barn
long enough to arrange matters to suit
his private purpose, and then coming ou!
through the stable that adjoined, or rather
lay partly beneath it, he walked quietly
home. laughing heartily to himself. He
FIRST listened at his daughters door, and
finding itquiet. retired to his own room
and went to sleep. .ats2,i 2 %
Just about midnight, horse and wag
on drew silently up, on the road, behini
farmer Miller's barn. Joe Clavers, go'
stealthily out of the vehicle, jumped the
fence, and crept cautiously around to tn,
door of the building in question. How
happy he felt! In another moment, Mar
would be his own! In the morning sh,
would be his own little wife. Farmer Mil
ler would storm of course, but the farme
. loved his daughter dearly. He was prout
of her. He would, therefore relent, for
give and bless them! Full of these de
ligLtful anticipations, Joe thrust his fin
ger into the hole of the barn door to reacl
! the. latch, but-Ah how he yelled will
pain. A steel thrap, adroitly placed o.
q the inside, SO as to catch any obtrud
ing article, had snapped, and his bleed
ing fnger was held fast with its iroI
teeth! tNt
1t was o cold night, and Joe's feeling
. may be conjectured, as he stood there
s shivering and shaking. hour after hour, un
II able to move from the spot held prisone
: by the savage instrument, his lacerated fin
ger affording him exquisite agony and hi
y heart fairly sinking in his boots with th
e conviction that day break would onl
q expose him to,the farmers Indignation ar
the village ridicule. d M g. eal.9sa
J; Just at dawn, farmer Miller, chucklin
over the success of his ruse, went dow
}, to the barn. There still stood Joe, an
e not far off the horse and wagon. nee
q MT say that Joe implored pardon, an
IS promised everything that could be desire
= to purchase it and silence. Farmer Mi
II Ter and he finally closed q bargain. Jo
}. was released. Nay, more, farmer Mile
j. gave him one hundred dollars, and Joe Wa
g in New York, before noon, en- route fc
Iowa.