The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-31
THE STORY OF AN ELOPEMENT.

It commenced by Mrs. Sawyer's arri-
val at Mrs. Muflit's early in the fore
noon, evidently in state of great excite
ment, and full of news. With an air of
profound mystery, she drew Mrs. Muffit
from the wash-tub to the sitting room,
and said to her:
What do you think has happened r.
Now Mrs. Sawyer was well known in
Myrtleville as "newsy," as one who lost
no opportunities of collecting the most
reliable and startling items of informa-
tion regarding the sayings and doings of
the Myrtlevilians. Accordingly Mrs.
Muffit prepared her mind for tidings of
moment:
"What is t9" asked she, drying her
hands on her apron and settling down
in chair for "good talk"
"Youll not tell told you ?"
"Never."
"Because it wasn't intended for me
TO hear. L just happened over to Mrs.
Seymour's this morning, and Mrs. Kitely
was in there, and the door stood open,
and l couldn't but hear what was said,
you know, and"
"But what was it?" cried Mrs. Mufit,
as Mrs. Sawyer paused for breath.
"Fred Seymour and Belle Granger
have eloped."
"Eloped!"
"Mrs. Seymour was telling Mrs.
Kitely as 1 went in. AS soor as they
saw me coming, they began to talk about
the news in the mornings paper ut
you can't throw me off the track in that
way"
"Oh, my goodness" cried Mrs.
Muffit, suddenly, as if some inspiration
had seized her.
"You've heard something too," cried
the widow.
"No, but 1 saw Belle Granger this
morning, quite early, passing by here,
in the direction of the depot, and she
had on her travelling dress, and her
waterproof, and carried her satchel."
"Going to meet him on the 8 o'clock
train. Oh, the sly, deceitful thing.
Think of her poor father"
"And her sick mother. 1t is awful.
And everybody knows Fred Seymour is
as good as engaged to Susy Bellznap."
"Therel I'll go right over to Bel
knap's," cried Mrs. Sawyer. "Some-
body ought to break it gently to poor
Susan. Poor girl. No wonder they
went off slyly."
And away hustled Mrs. Sawyer to
find Mrs. Belknap and Susan in the sit
ting room, sewing. 1t was keen salts
faction to tell the news there, for Mrs.
Belknap, being in delicate health, and
possessing ample means, kept servant
and lived in style of refinement that
Myrtleville generally condemned as
&C ~, o..a M &oI,, I,a,. q 4 l~,x-,,
a peg" as Mrs. Sawyer mentally re-
solved to do, was vulgar triumph she
enjoyed greatly in anticipation. But it
was In anticipation only. Mrs. Belknap
and her daughter received the news in
quiet way, as if the gossip possessed
no special interest for them, asking no
questions, and manifesting no chagrin.
The story had grown little on its way
through Mrs. Muffits sitting room, nd
Mrs. Sawyer had now full description
of the runaway brides costume, and the
train was specified upon which the
young couple travelled.
But after Mrs. Sawyer had gone to take
her news elsewhere, Susy turned pale
face to her mother, asking pitifully:
"Oh, mamma, can it be true 2"
"I will go over to Mrs. Seymour's,
dear, If you wish it.
Not for the world. II il is true,
we must never let any one know how
we feel 1T" and her lips auivered.
Fortunately, no one knows we are
actually engaged. If it is not true
"It seems to come very direct" said
Mrs. Belknap, as she drew her daughter
in close, motherly embrace. "Mrs.
Sawyer is terrible gossip AMI busy
body, but never knew her to he guilty
of absolute falsehood."
"Mrs. Kitely is very intimate with
Mrs. Seymour. I have heard Fred say
they were schoolmates. So il is quite
natural for her to be telling Mrs. Kitely,
and speak of something else when Mrs.
Sawyer went in"
"I can scarcely believe it of Fred, =
said Mrs. Belknap.
"Nor /. And Belle, too, who has
been my friend 80 long, and her only
intraest in Fred seemed to be in his
love for me. Oh, mother / can't be-
liave IL +"