Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-30

by . brick wall twelve feet high.
Ever since the discovery Of u plan
| for escape, Clara has been under the
constant supervision of a maiden
aunt-a perfect sleepless Cerberus-
| who occupies the same room. and al.
ways accompanies her when b goes
| out to walk or battle. There's . saw
age old butler, with orders to
all suspicious characters seen hover
ing around the place after dark.
| There's a ferocious bulldog
sHold-enough said Grayson.
This is worse than the princess in the
enchanted tower
So that's not all either said Jack.
The old curmudgeon is bound to
marry his daughter to old Red-Rose,
whether she will or no, aud has actu-
| ally issued cards for the wedding
without her consent. Now, Tom,'
exclaimed Jack, fiercely, shat girl
| must be mine. There's no time to
lose. She must be my bride before
tomorrow night, and you must help
me-
All right said Grayson. You
| take care of the military parent. aud
| the maiden aunt, aud the blood-thirs-
tv butler, and the ferocious bulldog
aud I'll carry off the girl. Then you
! can follow at your leisure
Don't make light of it, said Jack
| gloomily. Sits toe serious q matter.
Can't you suggest some plan for me-
Let me put OH my thinking cap,'
| said the other, and ruminate for .
nom ent.
He went to the bureau and took
therefrom.a small black velvet skull
cap, which he put Oh. Then lighting
4 fresh cigar, he resumed his seat by
| the window and sat for q long time
silently smoking, with his head
thrown back and his eyes fixed upon
| the ceiling. Jack watched him with
Impotence.
Did you tell me that the young la
w bxthes on the beach p asked Gray
ron, after q silence that seemed to his
companion interminable.
Yes, daily, replied Jack; but tho
| maiden aunt ia always with heron
shore al least, and some times her
father. She cautions me III this letter
not to meet her there, for if | were
| seen there once, she might be forbid
| den even that innocent pleasure
Il have it, exclaimed the young
clergyman, jumping up. You must
| meet her there to-m0rrow-ln the
water, mind you, not on the beach.
Leave the rest to me-
If you mean to carry her of BY
| force said Jack, that would't do.
| We would be caught before we could
leave the island
you haven't an inKling of what l
mean,' said Grsyson. CLARA il yours.
| Now 60 home to your boarding.
house. and sleep serenely. This IL
| the most atrocious case l ever heard
| Of. and you have my sympathy. No
thanks. Goodnight. Fine business
for Q minister Of the gospel. but l
will help you, my boy. Goodnight,
old fellow And Grayson fairly
| showed his friend from the room and
| closed the door upon him. When he
had gone he turned the key, and sat
down by the window to think again.
II.
Miss Clara Monteith, stepped forth
from her bathing house, and
running acros the beach, stopped for
d moment to play with her little
white feet in one of the pools that the
receding tide had left, and then
plunging gleefu.ly into the surf, Was
q picture for q painter. Clad in \
bewitching bathing costume Of white
aud scarlet, aud with her beautiful
yellow hair streaming over hershoul-
ders, she looked to Jack Turner, poop
ing through the round window of his
clearinghouse, like tho poetic embod-
iment of summer sunshine, glancing
for q moment across the sand, aud
then slippingi into the cool wave and
riding upon its crest. Jack himself,
as he entered the water farther down
the beach, dressed in baggy blue shirt
aud trowsers, was scarcely SO pictur.
esque. At the waters edge stood
the terrible maiden aunt, and i'll q
carriage near at hand, sat the two
military gentlemen. Clara was GER
tsinly taking her bath in presence Of
q vigilant assembly.
Now then,' thought Jack here We
are. What's to be done next?'
;. As he padded farther out into the
surf, he saw, slowly swimming down
the beach, outside tho first line OF
breakers, q straw b~athing-hat, which
and occasionally disappeared entire.
|, ly. AZ the hat came nearer . human
head became visible beneath it, and
!, on reaching a point near Clare, il
stopped and evidently addressed her
, The lady on the beach and the gen
tlemen in the carriage became rest
less. So did Jack, and he swan to
ward the two figures in the water,
conversation.
Bless me!' exclaimed Jack - hs
came carer Il believe it's Grayson.
: The water where they stood wa
: nearly shoulder deep, and each hug
,roller that came iii from seawart
lifted then from their feet and ron
: dered conversation somewhat diff
ficult.
we must hurry up this business,
said Grsyson, a. Jack arrived. 'Pv,
explained it all to Miss Monteith an.
old whst's-his-name there in tho car
3 riage, and the the lady's aunt will b,
/ W~itnesses.'
n He removed his sconp.shaped bath
: ing-hat, and took therefrom . small
e book, which he held 1t arms length
above his head. Jack OWNED his in
tention at once, and seizing Clara
hand beneath the water, pressed it t.
his heart. At that moment . huge
Y wave swept over them, and the entir
r party disappeared from view.
e Dearly beloved said Graysor
s%pluttering, and reading from tn
book, which he still held In his hand
t though it was now reduced nearly t
a pulp. dearly beloved, we are gath
cred together herein the face Of
: this company, to join-together thu
b man aud this woman in holy matri
mony.
e He paused until the next wav
v passed, and then proceeded.
If any man can show just caus
why-they may not lawfully be join
S ed together (there goes my hat) le
him now speak, or else hereafter fol
ever hold his peace
The wild wash of the sea was tn
only answer to this challenge, althoug
Clsra's friends on shore were gesticu
b lsting violently. They were out @
hearing. however and Gravaou ron