The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-06-11
Misfellaueuns.
MAGGIEs ELoPEMENT.
ny ANY RANDoLF.


'Nor roarcd Squire Benner; 4 tell you
no, NO, NOR
Now Squire Benner was big man, with ,
big voice, and q very emphatic way Of using II
and II was no wonder that Maggie, his blue
eyed little daughter, shrank away from the aw
ful sounds Of the quadrupled negative! Sh'
had oonned small speech, explanatory Of tho
various good qualities Of Carl Fairlic, and ar
expression Of her own unaltcrable devotion tc
him; but she could no more have spoken 1t, In
the echoing reyerberations OF those awful mon-
osyllables. than she could have rccited the
Greek alphabet. SO she turned red and white
like daisy, and fed away from the sounds Of
her fathers wrath, into the more sympathetic
atmosphere Of her mothers sitting-room, where
Mrs. Bcnner, plump and rosy as full pear
was putting new velvet collar on the Squire's
oyercoat.
'Dear me- said Mrs. Benner, looking over
the top Of her gold spectacles, what Is the
mstter.'
'Oh MOTHER sobbcd Maggie, Il am very mis-
erablc, and poor Carl win feel 50 bad! Oh, why
Is father 50 prejudiced,'
'Mrs. Benner laid down the steel thimble and
the big shears, and took Magge's little golden
head into her motherly lap.
MY DEAR said Mrs. Benuer, 'your fathers
mani
Volumes could not have expressed more sub
tie philosophy than this one curt speech Of Mr.,
Benner.
'He's man. said the plump matron, 'and
Carl Fairlie is poor, and somebody else we know
Of Is rich; and he has forgotten that when he
married me, we had forty-fve dollars and a sci
Of old-fishioned china between us. Just wait
daughter. and have patience; it will all come
right in time
'Oh, no, mother, II never will,' said Maggie,
looking family up, with eyes like blue morning
slories, after heavy rain. IF you could only
have heard him.
Then. my DEAR said Mrs. Benner, after q
moments grave dcliberation, we must take the
matter into our own hands
Mamma, you wouldn't
'Yes, would said Mrs. Benner, stoutly
I'D slip away to Aunt FraIec's some night and
get married quietly
For there was vein Of romance still In Mrs,
Benner's sunshiny heart, and she sympathilci
in the untoward loves Of her daughter and
Carl Fairlie.
Then Maggie took heart Of hope, and told
her mother, in futtering whispers, how Carl
had had the audacity to propose the very same
thing; and they discussed plans, prcliminarics,
and possibilities in low mysterious murmer ol
voices, until sharp knock, at the front door
made them both start like guilty creatures
Mrs. Benner was first to recover her presence
Of mind. She rose, and went to the door.
A tall female, dressed in black and closely
vcilel was there.
as Squire Bcnner at homer
Well, yes; believe he's in the little Office.
Do you want to see him 2
'Yes.'
Mrs. Benner was nearly distracted with the
utter usclessness Of her efforts to peep around
the corner Of the veil, or to identify the tall,
erect figure.
who shall say wants to see himi'
NO name. viii 80 directly to his Office, II
you will show me the way
Baflled once more, Mrs. Benner slowly lei
the client to her husbands Office, lingering a
little ere she closed the door. in hopes that some
name would be spoken. But the mysterious
female sat down on one Of the stiff ofSce-chairs,
opposite the stout Squire, in total silence; and
Mrs. Benner returned to Maggie.
ITS very strange,' said she. Il wonder. who
she can possibly be"
And she moved her chair up by the window,
that she might see the incOsnita depart.
Once again, however, she was disappointed.
At the expiration Of two mortal hours, Squire
Benner came out Of his Office alone. gloved and
halted.
why what has become Of that woman ssk.
ed his wife, dropping her wax and needle-eass
In her surprise.