Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-10-26

] Obeyed with outward sullsnness, but
inward and gleeful alaCTity. 4 plan
had already occurred TO me by which |
could obtain a longer repricye for Es-
ther, and the old mill furnished the op-
pOrtunity. / moved slowly along the
path, pretending the greatest reluctance,
and the sycamore switch was more than
once held warningly up to quicken my
steps. To do him justice, he did not
strike me, and we reached the old mill
at last, 1t stood in 4 wide clearing; a
| Cart-tTack wound along the slope of the
hill, and continued between a double
row Of trees, on either side of which the
mill-pOnd lay in black and sullen still
I ness, until it stopped ut the door of the
! tumble-dOwn, deserted old mill-hOuse,
There had once been an outside bridge
/ by which one could cross over TO the
{ section of woods beyond, without enter
/ ing the house. But that had crumbled
away long ago, and the only means of
/ transit was through the ruinOus old
/ house, the floor of which was more than
| half gone. Hawning gaps showed the
black water below, and few people had
courage to try the strength of the three
or four planBs that still stretched from
door to door.
/ Nevertheless this was my plan Of cs-
cape. I was always daring, and had
skinned across these planks more than
once for mere frOlic. I was not afraid
( of them now. As soon as We were near
/ enough, 1 cried out boldly:
"TheTe they are in the milI-hOuse! 1!
Come ~ And springing forward be-
( fore he could prevent me, pushed back
/ the old door, ran lightly over the rOtting
/ beams, out at the other side, and was
I 1,
| before Mr.. Morrison had recovered pres
ence of mind enough to shout after me.
looked back for one glance, and saw
| him standing at the further door, stamp
| ing his feet, and making furious gestures
I toward me; but I laughed them TO seOrn.
No danger of his following me across
that frail bridge, even with Miss Cox in
viewi
By the public road the distance to Pop
lar Hill was less, by half, than by that
which Mr.. Morrison and l had Travelled
together, and which lie WOnld now have
to travel backward alone. [ should
gain at least fifteen minutes, therefore,
and reach home in time to send Esther
far out Of the way if my mother had
not already done sOl, before her step
father could appear again. / flew along,
hardly feeling the ground under my feet,
] was 50 exhilcrated with my triumph,
and i'll Il few minutes had reached the
lower gate of our own dOmains-nOt the
one to which Mr.. Morrison had follow
ed me, but another, a quarter of a mile
below, which opened on the county road.
! was too excited TO open the gate, and
if it had not been too high, ] should
have cleared it with flying leap. AS
it was, I climbed up to the top, and Just
as l was about to drop down on the 9TH
er side, I cought sight Of gig coming
rapidly down the avenue; a lady and
gentleman We're i'll il. I knew instinct
lively who they were, and leaping back
ward hastily / threw the gate. open
wide for the gig to pass.
1t came on at furious rate, 5laCkened
speed little as the gate was approach
ed and up to a sudden stop as the Occu-
pants perceived me. Esther looked out
with an eager cry:
"Oh, Emmy where have you been?
! Where is hcpi
'Down at the old Million the wrong
side" answered, gleefully. HE won't
be here i'll ahuTry, so just drive on. You
needn't be afraid fooled him ~
Emmy, you're an angel ~ said Mr..
Ashley, energetloally. ''But WemusIi't
stop to talk TO you. Every minute is
precious nOW.v
ooh, please, one minute mure" plead
ed Miss Cox. "I want Emmy to 90 with
me. Her mother will not mind.
Emmy, will you?
"Of course will, - answered, uPOmpt-
~. III So any fFhere. in the world
Jump in, then" and Mr.. Ashley
hold his hand to help me. I made a.
spring to Esther's lap, and NIG. Ashley
tossed dollar to the negro boy perchcd
behind, for gate-OpeniDg purposes,
"Here, Joe Back tOthe house rs fast
Us you can clip il, and tell your mistress
we have got Miss Emmy with us Unt
we'll bring her back safe and sound,
Now, Stella ~
The bay mare pricked her ears and
bounded forward on the hard level road.
Esther snatchcd me to her bosom and
kissed me cOnvulsiyely, and | returned
the carcsses in Il whirl of halFS excite
ment and CXult3tiOn. 3hey were eager
TO know everything that had passed
with Mr.. Morrison, and + detailed The
whole scene at length, 10 Mr. Ashlcy's
infinite amusement, receiving for my
reward 50 many llattgring thanks and
praises that my head was fairly turned
with delight.
" -
though ~ Mr.. Ashley said, presently, |
with a cOmical smile and EsGher's face
grew scarlet in u moment. ] had not
Thought of it before, lUt the truth flash
ed upon ue with that blush.
''YOu are going to Snowhillr' l ex-
claimed, inVOluntarily; and Mr.. Ashley /
laughed ut the unconscious d;sIlli,y Ia nv I
tone. SnOWhit was the Gretna- Green I
of uur county, Just across the boundary /
line of the State, and the scene cC all !
the irregular marriages t,laI occurred 4
within many q mile. There were, of
course q thOusand ridiGulous associations +
connected with is; a SuuWhill wedding
was theme for county gossip and fun I
always, and scandal too, sometimes.
Child as l was, I could not help know
ing the disreputable airOf the place, and
could not bear To think of Esther's
name being mixed up with all t4use
stories. wv
"Y0U Needn't look shocked, " he said,
desperate eases require
desperate remedies, don't you knOW?n
':Oh, yes but SnOwhill Was there
no other way ~ | could not help say
ing.
"Nonc." hc returned, emphatically.
Esther is under age, and Mr.. Morrison
is her legal guardian. Unless she is
married Immediately, hC can take her
home with him; and you know we'll she
can't be married lawfully in Virginia
without his cOnscnt-which we don't \
intend to ask. SO we have no choice be-
tween Snowhill and Mr.. NIorrissn.H
"Oh 90 TO Snowhill, them I cried, Il
eagerly, and he laughed, and uhirruped
to Stella, and away we went faster than (
ever.
"'lour mother advised it," Esther
tcarlully. "T never could I
have consented but for that
"Did she"'' ! exclaimed, relieved at
DncC, It must be right if my mother :
advised il, who was respected 10y every
body. And my uncomfortable feeling
was dispCllCd at once, only the excite I
mCnt and enjoyment Of the adventure
remaining. Poor Esther, however, was Y
full Of nervous terror and diStTvss, which j
increased upon hUr as we drew near the ]
end uf Our Journey, and oven her lovers {
lender soothing failed to dispel. 1t was I
4 sharp trial for her sensitive, delicate \
nature, So proud, and shy, and pure. I
)ulY the dread altvnatlvC-tO fall again [
ntO the stepfathCr's hands, and TO be {
separated inevitably for two long wears {
rom her lover, even if nothing worse
lappcuCd-recOncilCd her to a step 50 re-
)ugnant to her Sensibilities.
II was an odd wedding, in little q;
wooden shanty of Il magistrSoq's office, ,
with Il group of lualers hanging round to
tarC ut us. But il was justDts binding J
IL il it had been cunSGcratcd "with book i
md bell, ~ and had the one merit Mt ;
east, Of tmcrciIul brcvity. \ few min !