The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-06-20

IL i)euJcl yel, DlllluSS.
"Well, you may say it, Yale. But
come he is waiting"
mo, thank you, Billings"
Billings stared. She did more, she
grew red i'll the face, and that was 9
bad omen.
"You won't see him. them"
THANK you all the same, Billings
but guess L don't care about it."
"Well, you ,oW see him, zale Birken-
head, if l have to bring him here"
Zale laughed provokingly.
"I hardly think he will care to come
here, Billings If he should, you know
there is a lock on the inside as well as
outside"
you wouldn't dare, zale-you would
MT dare I"
do not disappoint yourself, Billings u
cautioned Zale, taking key from her
drawer.
"Then, Hale Birkenhead, we will
break down the door, for 1 am deter
mined that you shall see Mr.. Wallrud-
den"
"'And the prison-doors shall OPEN"
sang Zale, e,while Billings sailed out of the
room, locking the door with sharper
click than usual.
The above conversation was reported
Ce,Jdtim to Birkenhead, causing that
worthy gentleman to make host of
threats, some wise, but more of them
foolish. Wallrudden CHANGED to over
hear it, and, after Birkenhead subsided,
proposed a plan of his own.
81 am going away in the morning."
said he, Billings will inform Miss Birk-
enhead, and her door must be accident
| ally left ajar. Of course, Miss Birken-
head will take advantage of so good an
opportunity to communicate with that
-that-Mr. Poor; but 1 will take the
responsibility of preventing any letter
reaching that gentleman, for l shall not
be far away"
"Capital"' ~ exclaimed Birkenhoad,
and Billings echoed the praise.
The plan worked capitally, too. Zale
was drawn into the snare. SO soon as
she saw that Billings had forgotten to
lock the door, she fastened to make use
of the time. Penning a short note to
Alec, she donned her hat and shawl,
and slipped noiselessly out of the room,
down the stairs, and out of the house by
an unfrequented door.
She had not taken dozen steps,
when young Wallrudden appeared in
the path before her. Zale screamed,
and turned to fee but he audaciously
put his arm around her; and when she
lifted up her blushing and indignant
face, seeking an explanation, he stopped
and kissed her.
Zale screamed louder than ever, and
struggled desperately, while behind the
blinds of window just above her were
two persons acting more like crazy peo-
pie than the sedate Billings and the
miserly Birkenhead. They laughed,
and shouted, and danced, and declared
it " capital )" and when they SAW Wall
rudden bringing Zale back to the house
they repeated their strange antics, and
snapped their fingers at an imaginary
Alec Poor, waiting and hoping.
Wallrudden's audacity seemed for
time to be productive of no good, for
Zale positively refused to leave her
room again while Wallrudden was in
the house. She did not adhere to her
determination, however, for the very
next time that Billings neglected to lock
the door-Billings had grown very for
getful-she ventured out again. Wall
rudden was on hand to welcome her,
and ignoring the existence of such a
parsonage as Mr.. Alec Poor, he made
love to her in a way that was start
ling.
The same scene was enacted almost
daily after this, for Zale rather enjoyed
this love-making. 1t was so charming
ly original to be taken by storm. Not
that she had forgotten poor Alec, but,
you know, he couldn't expect me to
forego all pleasures.
at will be match" said Billings.
"And he hasn't said word about the
rents" said Birkenhead.
"Nor Zale about that Poor"
"She'd better not I knew I could |
cure her."
"Poor mani" sighed Billings, for
there was soft spot in her heart. She |
hadn't forgotten another man who came |
so very near changing her name to
we'll, it wasn't Poor.
Birkenhead paid no attention to her
mood, for he was reckoning,
for the hundredth time, the expense of |
Wallrudden's visit, and the loss, should
that gentleman fail to unite his destiny
with the Birkenheads. The sum total
was fearful-absolutely appalling, and
the old gentleman trembled at the dread
But he was borrowing trouble; for,
that same evening, Wallrudden made
formal demand for Zale.
Birkenhead was so elated, that he
showed the predominant trait of his
character, selfshness, by consenting at
once, without so much as thought of
;he injustice he was doing to Zale's first
owe, poor Alec Poor.
"What does the girl say!" he asked,
With an attempt at indifference.
+" "Zale is here" said Wallrudden. "She
hall speak for herself"
"Well, out with it (" commanded
without looking up.
Zale, thus adjured, replied, quite de-
nurely:
If you are willing, I guess I'll not
'bject."
"Then you have forgotten that
Poor Z"
"Oh, no, father; but I'll not wait"
Sensible at last" muttered the old
nan. You might have waited until
Ioomsday, and then lost him"
Birkenhead was no laggard. Any
hing in hand he always pushed to the
Utmost, and this wedding he was de-
ermined should not be delayed. And
he young people offered no objections
o the wedding was set for the first day
# the following month.
Time Dassed swiftly For nnca Rirl- |