The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-09-05
An Awkward Predicament.


Over in Missouri lives Mrs. Hemp
dale, who has, OF had a daughter. named
Laura, who loved man named Jack.
This man Jack she didn't like, but she
was informed By a neighbor that Jack
and Laura had arranged a plan Of elope-
ment. Her mind was quickly made up.
She announced to Laura the next morn
ing that she was going to RelleEille on a
visit, to be gone three days, and that
she must be good girl and not tear the
house down while she was gone.
That night Jack knew Of it, and as he
read the nice little note that bade him
''come over early and stay till mother
comes back, and what a splendid time
we will have,"' he smiled, knocked the
ashes off from his cigar and resolved "of
course be would"
Jack went over, but there is no earth
ly use in our attempting to describe the
delectable things he enjoyed; it was
sugar season on that plantation, sure.
Just before dusk, while Jack was run
ming over full ofthe glory of the occasion,
in rushes Miss Laura's black waiting
woman with
'tLor bress my black soul, chin, ef
yere aint ole missus right at de gate
sure!"
"My God! DiDah, what shall we do
with Jack?"
Pop i'm in dat are closet, dar, Miss
Laura" and Jack was popped into the
closet in twinkling.
In stalked the oldladJ, and after sharp
ly scrutinizing the disconnected and
blushing countenance of Laura, felt sure
that Jack had been there.
"Come here, Laura. Now you can't
deceive me. That abominable Plain has
been here, and you and he have fixed up
a.runaway match, to come off tonight.
Oh, you little thing you, after your
bringing up, to treat me so. But you'll
find your mother is no fool. You'll find
that she's too sharp for you my lady.
Sooner than you should marry that mis-
cradle Jack Plaine, I'd see you laid in
your grave. He's not going to squander
iny money, Eassure you. =.
The old lady rose, and going to a
clothes press returned with several com
forters and a pillow, and walking up to
the closet where Jack was concealed,
threw them in with .firt, and turning
to the trembling Laura, said
t'Now, march in here, miss ;step along!
I'll see that you don't get no where near
that low-fung mechanic this night"
Laura whispered and protested that
she didn't want to, declaring that her
mother would be sorry for this some
dav." .--.....
But without paying any attention to
her protestationS, her mother then gave
her push, shut the door, locked it, and
triumpbantly put the key in her pocket,
and in due time went to bed. Pretty
early in the morning the old lady arose,
and without waiting to dress, fished the
key out Of her pocket, and opening the
closet door to bid Laura to come forth,
gazed wildly for one instant, and then
uttered piercing scream. Recovering
very speedily, she started away from the
door and called family: i
Laura, Laura, dear! 60 into the kltcn-
en- and see about breakfaSt?" Then pre-
sently-"Jack, say Jack ~
Jack came forth with very son-in-law
looking air, answered..
"Well, madam, what IS it?"
sJack, do you know anything about
farm ?"
''Not to speak of, mann"
You can read, and write, and cypher,
| suppose ?"
Nothing to brag Of, MAIN"
"Well at any rate, Jack, 7 think that
after breakfast you and Laura may as
we'll 60 down to the city and get married,
for I'm tired of watching you, that's
fact