Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-12-21

"Our acquaintance soon ripened
into friendship, and speedily into love.
We became betrothed. | asked her
father, who is a retired army officer,
for her hand He put on his Buena
Vista manner, asked me if l supposed
his daughter was going to marry
miserable bank clerk on $4,000 year,
and then showed me the door,"
"Ah," exclaimed Grayson, with an
appearance of great interest.
'After | left him." continued Jack,
"there was a scene, as | subsequently
learned, between him and my dear girl.
who bravely declared that she would
never marry any one else, and besought
him on her knees, with tears, to con-
sent to our union. But the old fellow
was obstinate and said he had other
views for her. Pretty soon these views
came along in the person of the mushy-
faced old patriarch whom you saw just
now in the carriage. He, too, is re-
tired hero of the Mexican war, and
very rich. My darling shut herself
in her room and refused to see him.
She grew thin and pale, and nearly
cried her eyes out. bribed one of
the servants, who carried daily notes
between us, but her unnatural parent
detected our correspondence, and it
was intercepted"
"My poor boy" cried Grayson
with sympathy.
"For weeks | could obtain no COM
| rnunication from, bar Al Loot learn
ed from friend of the family that
they were all coming to Newport to
visit at the villa of her proposed hus-
band, who is a widower. / obtained
leave of absence from the bank on the
ground of i'll health, and followed
them. Yesterday | saw my darling
for the first time, and to day | receiv-
ed this letter, in which," continued
Jack, kissing it rapturously, "she as
sures me of her undying devotion, de-
clares that no force can compel her
to marry the old army general, whom
she detests, and that she is mine, mine
only, and mine forever. Dear, true,
faithful girl She deserves all | can
give her of the best, most earnest and
most faithful love-"
eyes, no doubt" said Grayson, re-
fiectively swell, | should think,
Jack Turuer, that you had got your
self into very interesting situation
1t would do for the plot of novel"
GIVE not told you all, "replied his
friend.
"Good gracious! What else ?"
During the period of our clandes-
tine correspondence we arranged an
elopement had my plans all per-
fected my dear girl consented to ac-
company me, aud in another day she
would have been my bride, when ="
"When paterfamilias stepped in and
spoiled the plot" interrupted Gray
son. "Why can't you elope now, if
you are bonnd to have her? You have
found means of communicating, |
see"
"Impossible,' replied Jack. "The
villa is situated way out of town, on
Bateman's Point, and is surrounded
by brick wall twelve feet high. Ever
since the discovery OF our plan for
escape, Clara has been under the
supervision of maiden aunt--a per-
feet sleepless Cerberus-who occupies
the same room, and always accom-
panies her when she goes out to walk
or battle There's savage old butler,
with orders to shoot all suspicious
characters seen lowering around the
place after dark. There's ferocious
bull -dog-"
"Hold - enough !" said Grayson.
"This is worse than the Princess in
the enchanted tower"
60, that's not all either" said Jack
"The old curmudgeon is bound to
marry his daughter to old Red nose,
whether she will or no, and has actu-
ally issued cards for the wedding
without her consent. Now Tom," ex-
claimed Jack, fiercely, that girl must
be mine. There's no time to lose.
She must be my bride before to-mor-
row night, and you must help me-"
GAIL right" said Grayson. "You
take care of the military parent, and
the maiden aunt, and the blood thirsty
butler, and the ferocious bull dog,
and I'll carry off the girl. Then you
can follow at your leisure"
sDon't make light of it, said Jack,
gloomily. It's too serious a matter
Cant you suggest some plan for me !"
''Let me put on my thinking cap"
said the other, "and ruminate for
moment"
He went to the bureau and took
therefrom a small black velvet skull
cap, which he put on. Then lighting
fresh cigar, he resumed his seat by
the window and sat for long time
silently smoking, with his head thrown
back and his eyes fixed upon the cell
ing. Jack watched him with impa-
thence.
'Did you tell me that the young
lady battles on the beach ?" asked
Grayson, after a silence that seemed
to his companion interminable.
eyes, daily" replied Jack but the
maiden aunt is always with heron
shore at least, and sometimes her
father. She cautions me in this let
ter no. to meet Der there, for if
were seen there once, she might be
forbidden even that innocent pleas
ure."
Il have it, exclaimed the young
clergyman jumping up.
"You must meet her there to-mor-
row-in the water, mind you, not on
The beach. Leave the rest TO me-"
"You mean to carry her off by
force" said Jack, "that wouldn't do.
We wonld be caught before we could
leave the island"
"You haven't an inkling of what |
mean," said Grayson. Clara is yours.
Now 60 home to your clearinghouse
and sleep serenely. This is the most
atrocious case / ever heard of, and
you have my sympathy. No thanks.
| Good might. Fine business for min
lister of the gospel, but l will help you
my boy. Goodnight, old fell wv. And