The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-10-12

half minute descending. With Girs-
| chen above to steady it, and with me be-
meath the window to lower you down,
nothing can be better. 1t is only fifteen
feet, and we shall be in the carriage and
driving to Newark long before we are
missed. My friend the Rev. Mr.. Wor-
tendyke will be waiting to marry us,
and the next morning we can return to
receive the congratulations of our friends
and the blessings of our parents. Still"
said he, "I wish you would abandon
your strange scheme, and be married as
other people are" .'
To this she would not listen. So the
helpless Herman merely gave q sorrow
full sigh, and pressed the wilful girls
hand. rr7r-- arr v-r--r- IN
Meanwhile, the basket and rope were
hidden away beneath Grets's bed, she
hattering herself how nicely all things
had conspired to second her whim. She
had secured the fidelity of Girschen by
very liberal sum of money, saying
nothing of couple of very handsome
dresses, which blinded her maid to any
fear of the old folks displeasure. 1t was
arranged that she should not accompany
them in their flight, but remain behind
and feign astonishment at Greta's disap-
pearance.
| Never had Greta shown to more ad-
vantage. She was the life of the party.
She sat down to her hsrpsichord and
ratified off lively country-dance. She
then would spring up to attend to some
of her guests. Then she would steal off
to that part of the lawn which was
under her bedroom window, and look
up to see that the sash was open. To
disarm suspicion, she had requested Her
man not to speak to her till she should
give him bouquet to hold, which was
to be the signal for his fastening to the
lawn to lower the basket. They were
all about to join in general dance,
when Herman received the signal of his
fate. He bowed to Greta, took the bou-
quet, and stole out of the door which led
from the grand parlor to the lawn, while
she ran up stairs to her own apartment
There she found her maid with large
cloak, which she hastily threw over her
shoulders. She then helped Girschen
lift the basket to which the ropes were
attached over the window. In another
moment Herman had hold of the rope,
in Greta got, and was about midway be-
| IWe6u DGT WlHuOW-olil duu buc ldWDy
when at least dozen persons, all
with torches, rushed out of the house,
and, to Greta's utter dismay, planted
themselves Immediately where she was
going to alight.
Poor Herman paused in his action as
though paralyzed, and there was the un-
happy Greta midway suspended between
her window and the ground.
"Pull up, Herman !" said the bewild-
cred girl. AS she said this, blaze of
light streameG from her window, out OF
which, to her horror, leaned the heads of
her mother and father.
"What is the meaning of all this p
said her mother. ~.
Herman, let me down r screamed
Greta. .-.
Meanwhile, the entire party had
gathered on the lawn under the window,
which, owing to the torches, was as
light as day.
Herman now began to let the basket
descend, from which, when it touched
the ground, Greta was helped out by
Mr.. and Mrs. Zabrieski.
"What explanation" said Mr.. Van
Cortlandt, "can you, Mr.. Herman Ia
brieski, give for this outrageous con-
duct?"
He said this with so stern an air that
Greta, with her characteristic generosity,
hastened to her lovers rescue.
Father, don't blame Herman It's
all my fault l made him do it !"
"What were you going to do2" said
her mother, assuming great indigna-
ton.
"We were going to elopel''
"To elope!" they all cried in chorus.
"And why were you going to
elopeY" inquired her mother.
because it is SO ;romantic"
"Come into the house." said her faith
er. "We will soon cure you of your TO-
nance"
Saying this, her father and mother
took her by the arm and led her into
the grand parlor, the company all fol-
lowing.
Greta was so thoroughly crestfallen
that her high spirit gave way, and,
throwing herself on to her mothers
neck, she burst into tears.
Pray, don't be angry with Herman
1t was all my fault !" said the weeping
girl. "Pray forgive him ~
81 will only forgive him on one con-
dition." said her father, with great
asperity of manner.
"I will do anything to please you p
said Greta.
"Then," said the father, "you must
marry Herman tonight. won't sleep
till have seen the ceremony performed
Caught thus in her own tolls, Greta
consented, and, amid the congratulations
of her friends, she dried her eyes, and
smiled once more.
1t was not until nearly year after
ward, when their little Herman was
christened, that her husband confessed
his share in the plot.