The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-10-12
.- ~ " RIDGwAY, Pa THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1871


suit of armor. When I recovered from
all this nonsense I resolved never again
to read another, and l have kept my
resolution"
We need not repeat all that passed on
this occasion. 1t is sufficient to say that
the result will show what they determ-
ined on.
When Herman and Greta had reached
secluded spot in the garden, they sat
down on rustic bench.
After a short pause, the young Knick-
erbocker said:
"Grets, want to ask you solemnly
one question"
"a dozen, if you please" said the
merry girl al am ready to answer"
"Were you in earnest last night" re-
sumed her lover, "that you would not
marry me without eloped with you 2"
"Most certainly was" she said, with
great seriousness.
"Well," said he, 81 would rather lose
my right hand than do 1T; but as l
would rather lose my life than lose you,
l have resolved, very reluctantly, to
agree to your plan, on one condition"
"I'll agree to anything, if you will
only elope with me- said the wiiful
girl.
"Greta," said Herman, "what will
the neighbors say of us when they hear
of itP"
eff you think more of our neighbors
than you do OF me, why don't you marry
one of themP But what is the condi-
tionY" .. ..'
"How do you propose to escape from
the house 7"
"Why, in the usual way, of course"
returned Greta. al shall get out at my
window at midnight, descend a rope
ladder, and jump into the carriage,
which you will have waiting at the end
of the lane"
"a rope-lsdder! l thought So it's
just that rope-ladder I'm afraid of; it is
too dangerous; you might miss your
footing, or the ladder might break, and
you would be killed"
"Those risks" said Greta, "only in
cresse the pleasure" r .
at is risk 1 won't let you run,
said Herman, with On air of determina-
ton.
"Then you refuse to elope with me -
said Greta, hastily.
"No, don't; but instead of trusting
to rope-ladder, Girschen and / will
lower you in basket" e..
"1n basket" said Greta, spring.
ing 20 her feet. "Whoever heard of a
heroine eloping in a basket? What do
you mean Z"
81 mean that if you will let Girschen
and me lower you from the window in
that large basket saw in your store
room, when l helped you store away
the preserves, will elope with you.
But as for trusting your precious life to
flimsy rope-ladder, I won't do it; it
would be the next thing to killing you. :"
They had long discussion on this
point, and Greta manfully battled for
her own way; but as she dearly loved
Herman, she finally agreed to his-as
she termed it" preposterous plan"
On their return to the house, they
found the old folks waiting dinner for
them. Before the lovers separated that
night, it was arranged that the elope-
ment should take place on the following
Thursday; on which evening, by most
fortunate coincidence, Greta's parents
had announced their intention of lnvit-
ing their neighbors to grand festivity.
Greta retired to rest that night in e1-
cellent spirits, and after binding Girs-
chen to the most solemn secrecy, she
impaired to her the whole design, and
engaged her as an ally.
my dear Herman" said Greta, on
the morning of the important event,
show very fortunate it is that my father
should take it into his head to give a
grand party tonight When all are
busy dancing in the large parlor, and
mother and the servants are busy laying
the supper in the hall, will steal up to
my room and descend from the window.
wish that you would let me go down
the rope-ladder, instead of in the basket
it is not half so romantic ~
"But great deal safer, dear Greta."
"That may be but don't remember,
in all the novels have read, that any
heroine ever was let down in basket"
said the romantic girl. "They all es-
capped from parental tyranny by rope
ladder and only one of all the number
ever met with an accident, and that was
Annabells of Cologne, who was SO
clumsy as TO miss her step and break
her neck"
"Well, without your being clumsy
replied Herman, pressing her hands,
"you might meet with an accident.
Perhaps the rope might break. No, my
dear. You know 1 only consented to
elope with you on condition of your
going out the front door, which is even
safer still, or else by me and Girschen
lowering you in that large clothes-bas-
ket in your room. My dear, l was prac-
ticing all day yesterday, and that pulley
is as safe as baby's cradle. Besides,
you promised me-"
"Well," said Greta, az would much
sooner run the risk of the rope-ladder
but still 1 will keep my word. Any
thing is better than being married like
the rest of the world p
There never was a merrier set than
that gathered together in the hospitable
mansion of the Van Cortlandts. The
clergyman of their church was there
and all his family. Scarcely family Of
any Importance in the neighbortp pod
but was present at this grand party.
A small band of musicians had been
hired from New York for the benefit Of
the dancers, and the larder and the
cookery of Mrs. Van Cortlandt had beer
taxed to the utmost to feast the merry
throng.
Under the pretense of assisting hi
fancee, Herman had been at the Var
Cortlandt homestead all day, and, with
the secret oonnivance of the old people
had arranged SO that the lovers should
m not he d;at,,,bad xuhila thau f;xad tha ~