Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-12-20


notes between us, but her unnatural
parent detected our correspondence,
and it was intercepted
"My poor boy. said Grayson, with
sympathy.
''For weeks / 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 a widower. | OBJ
| tanned leave of absence from the bank
on the ground of i'll health, and fol-
lowed them. Yesterday | saw my
darling for the first time, and to-day
received this letter, in which," con-
tinued Jack, kissing it rapturously,
"she assures me of her undying devo-
ton, declares that no force can COM
pei 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 l can give her of the best, most
| earnest and most faithful love-
Eyes, no doubt" said Grayson, re-
| hectively. Well, | should think.
Jack Turner. that you had got your
self into very interesting situation.
1t would do for the plot of a novel,"
1--WE not told you all, replied his
| friend.
Good gracious. What else -
'During the period of our clandes-
| tine correspondence we arranged All
elopement. | had my plans an per-
fected; my dear girl consented to ac-
company me, and in another day she
would have been my bride, when
"When paterfamilias stepped in and
spoiled the plot, interrupted Grayson.
"Why can't you elope now, if you
are bound to have her? You have
| found means of communicating, ]
| see.
Impossible" replied Jack. 1.-THE
villa is situated way out of town, on
| Bateman's Point, and is surrounded
by a brick wall twelve feet high. Ever
since the discovery of our plan of es-
cape, Clara has been under the super
vision of a maiden aunt-a perfect
| sleepless Cerberus-who occupies the
same room, and always accompanies
| 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
bulldog,
"Hold-enough" said Grayson.
This is worse than the Princess in
the enchanted tower"
80, 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 actual
ly issued cards for the wedding with
out her consent. Now, Tom" ex-
claimed Jack, tiercely, THAT girl
must be mine. There's no time to
| lose. She must be my bride before TO-
morrow night; and you must help
me-
"All right" said Grayson. "Y on
take care of the military parent, and
the maiden aunt, and the blood-thirsty
butler, and the ferocious bulldog, and
III carry off the girl. Then you can
follow at your leisure
"Don't make light of it, said
Jack. gloomily. Its too serious a
matter. Can't you suggest some plan
| for me-
Let ne put on my thinking cap"
| said the other, land ruminate for
| moment
He went to the bureau and took
| therefrom q small, black velvet skull
cap, which he put on. Then, lighting
a 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 ceiling Jack watched him with
impatience.
did you tell me that the young
lady bathes on the beach p asked Gray
son, after a silence that seemed to his
companion interminable.
Eyes. daily replied Jack; "but
! the maiden aunt Is always with her
on shore at least, and sometimes her
! father. She cautions me in this let
| ter not to meet her there, for if
We're seen there once, she might be
! forbidden even that innocent pleas
ureS.
Il have it, exclaimed the young
clergyman, jumping up.
i" You must meet her there to-mor-
/ row in the water, mind you. not
on the beach. Leave the rest to me.
"Youmean to carry her off by force, p"
said Jack, "that wouldn't do. We
| would be caught before we could leave
/ the island.
You haven't IN inkling of what
mean said tirayson. "Clara is
yours. Now go home TO your board
1 ing-house. and sleep serenely. This is
| the most atrocious case ! ever heard of,
and YOU have my sympathy. No
thanks. Goodnight. Fine business
for minister of the gospel; but | will
help you, my boy. Goodnight old
! follow" And GraYson fairly showed