The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-02-26
MISCELLANY.
Written i,r Gl ason's Pictorial
THE RUNAWAY MATCH
OR,
OvER-SHOOTING THE MARK.
BY FRED HUNTER.

A great many years since, when bright
eyed and far haired lasses were not 80
plenty in New England as they now are,
there dwelt in the town Of p, n pref
ty village, distant. then, some five and
twenty miles from "Markct town." a pc
culiary comcly and graceful maiden, who
had peculiarly ugly and cross grained
but a wealthy old father.
Minnie was Danforth's only child and
reports said truly that she would be his
sole legatcc. The I'D man was 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 man
ners of Minnie DanIorth had stirred up
the finer feelings of the whole male portion
of the village. and her sutors were numcr-
Gus but her father was particular, and
none succeeded in making headway with
him or her.
In the meantime, Minnie had true
and loyal lover IN secret. Who would
have supposed for one moment that such
a fell1w would dare TO look upon beauty
and comparative refinement His name
was Walker. or, as he was generally call
ed, "Joc'-Joe Walker; and he was
Simply IL farmer, employed by old Dan
forth, who had entrusted Joe with the
mana. encnt Of his p ace for two Or three
years.
But very excellent farmer, ard right
good manager, was this plain, uaassuming
but good looking Joe Walker lie was
young, too, only twenty three; and ne
actually fell in love with the beautiful
pleasant, joyous Minnie Danforth, his old
employers only daughter But the
strangest part OF the occurrence was, that
Minnie returned his love earnestly, truly,
and frankly; and promised to wed him at
the favorable moment.
Things went on mcrrily for time, but
old Danforlh discovered certain glanccs
and attentions between them, which excl.
ted lis envy and suspicious Very soon
afterwards, Joo learned the old mans
mind, indirectly, in regard to his future
disposal of Minnie's hand, and he quickly
saw that his case was hopeless one,
unless he resorted TO stratage.n; and 30
he set his wits at once to work.
By agreement, an apparently settled
| coldness and distance was observed by the
lovers towards each other for five or six
months and the father saw (as he be-
lieved), with satisfaction, that his previous
suspicious and fears had been all prema- =
ture. Then, by agreement also between
them, Joe absented himself from the
house at evening and night after night
for full three months longer, did Joe, dis.
appear as soon ms his work was finished,
TO return home only at late bedtime.
This ives unusual and old Daaforth deter
mined to know the cause of it.
Joe frankly confessed that he was in
love with mans daughter, who resided
less than three miles distant but, after a
faithful attachment between them for sew
eral months, the old man had utterly
refused to entertain his application for the
young girls hand
This was capital; just what old Dan
forth most desired. This satisfied him
that he had made a mistake in regard to
his own child !; and he would help Joe to
get married and thus stop all further sus.
picions or trouble at home. SO he said :
swell, Joe, is she buxom lass 7"
"Yes-yes, said Joe. "That is other
folks say so. I'm not much of a Judge
myself"
Sand you like her :"
"Yes, sir-yes."
"Then, marry her, said old Danforth.
"But caat-the father objects"
'Pooh!" continued Danforth. "let him
do 30 what need you care Run away
with her."
"Elope T.
"Ies! OFF with you at oncel II the
! gal will join-all right. Marry her, bring