The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-12-14
eyes, YES, I'll take all that for grant

who is a retired army officer, for her
hand. He put on his Buena Vista man
ner, asked me IL l supposed his daugh-
ter was going to marry a miserable
bank-clerk on $4,000 a year, and then
showed me the door"
"Ah!" exclaimed Grayson, with an
appearance Of great interest.
"After | left him." continued Jack,
"thero vas n scene, as | subsequently
learned, between him and my dear girl,
who bravely declared that she never
would marry any one else, and besougbt
him on her knees, with tears, to consent
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
patriarch whom you saw just o in
the carriage. He, too, Is q retired 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. 1
bribed n of the servants, who car
ried daily notes between us, but her un-
natural parent detected our correspond
ence, and it was Intercepted"
"Niy poor boy!" said Grayson, with
sympathy.
For weeks l could obtain no com
munication from her. AT last | learned
from a friend Of the family that they
were all coming to Newport to visit at
the villa of her proposed husband, who
is n widower. ! obtained leave Of alb
sence from the bank on the ground of
i~ll-health, and followed them. Yester-
day | saw my darlingfo the first time,
and to-day L received this letter, in
which," continued Jack, kissing ii rap
turously, "sho assures me of her undy-
ing devotion, declares that 40 force can
compel her to m%arrythe old 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"
"Ycs, no doubt" said Grayson, re.
aectively. "Well, / should think, Jack
Turner, that you had got yourself into
a very interesting situation. Il would
do for the plot Of novel"
"I've not told you all,n replied hi,
friend.
"Good gracious! what nextP"
"During the period of IL clandes.
tine correspondence we arranged al
%elopement. had all my plans perfect
ed; my dear girl consented to accom-.
pany me, and in another day she woult
have been my bride, when"
"When paterfamilias stepped in ant
spoiled the plot" interrupted Grayson
Why can't you elope now, if you are
bound to have her? You have founC
means of communicating, | see"
Impossible" replied Jack. eth
villa is situated way out of town, OF
Bateman's Point, and is surrounded b,
a brick wall twelve feet high. Eve
since the discovery of our plan Of rs
cape, Clara has been under the super
vision of a maiden aunt-a perfec
sleepless Cerberus--who occupies tn
sane room, and always accompanic
her when she goes out to walk or bathe
There's Il savage old butler, with order
to shoot all suspicious characters see
lowering around the place after dark
There's Il ferocious bulldog"
"Hold-enough!" said Graysor
"This is worse than the Princess in til
enchanted tower
"Oll, that's not all either" said Jael
"The old curmudgeon is bound to MAJ
ry his daughter TO old R~ed-nose, whetl
err she will Or no, and has actually il
sued cards for the wedding without he
consent. Now, Tom," exclaimed Jacl
fercely, "that girl must be mine
There's no time to lose. She must
my bride before tomorrow night, an
you must help me-"
GAN right" said Grayson. "Yo
must take are of the military paren
and maiden aunt, and the bloodtLirst
butler, and the ferocious bulldog, an
III carry of the girl. Then You ca
follow at your leisure
"Don't make light. OF it," said Jacl
gloomily. ats too serious u matte
Can't You suggest some plan for met
, "Let me put IN my thinking cap,
: said the other, "aud ruminate for
moment"
He went to the bureau, and toe
therefrom a small black-velvet sku
cap, which he put on. Then, lightil
a fresh cigar, he resumed his seat
the window, and sat for a long tin
silently smoking, with his head throw
back and his eyes fixed upon the ce
:, ing. Jack watched him with imp
tience.
. "Did you tell me that the young la,
battles on the beachP" asked Grayso
after n silence that seemed to his co
panion interminable.
=, ayes, daily" replied Jack; "but {
maiden aunt is always with her
shore at least, and sometimes her
= Their. She cautions me in this letter l
to meet her there, for, il | were Sc
D. there once, she might be forbidden eN
that innocent pleasure"
:. 81 have it," exclaimed the you
= clergyman, jumping up. "You M
meet her there to-morrow-in the wat
mind you, not on the beach. lie;
the rest to me-"
bo "You mean to carry her OF by fore
said Jack, ''that wouldn't do.
"a would be caught before we could 10,
the island"
"You haven't an inkling of whG
mean" said Grayson. HClara is yo,