Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-19
A CLERICAL LOCH1NvAR,
The Adventures Of a Persistent ParsoH
and a Kentucky Belle Who
EIOped VIII Hin.
Cincinnati Enquirer.l

pOSlug-lOOklnB mONhONAos
Rev. John NJ. Oliver, aged about thirty
years, has been preaching to interested
audiences in Bedford, Trimble county,
Kentucky. on Sundays, and on week
DAVIS and evenings has been sparkling
Miss Emma f. Abbott, daughter OF a
well.to-do farmer of the vicinity.
Miss Abbott is a beautiful brunette,
only about eighteen years of age, Of
fine figure and more than ordinary IN
te~lligence, being a successful school
teacher and considerably gifted in
music and other accomplishments
which go to make up the requirements
of a Bluegrass belle. The Abbotts
had been among Rev. Mr.. divers
most regular attentive listeners, and
remained SO until it was discovered
that the clerical gentleman was grow
ing a little "spOoney, and was quite
too careful of Miss Emma's safety in
going home from evening prayer-meet-
ING and other church entertainments.
For protection he always insisted on
accompanying her. In proportion
however. as the religious zeal Of the
old folks Jagged that Of the young
lady became more fervid. Finally,
the old folks quit church altogether,
while Miss Emma didn't miss a meet
ing. The interest of the elder grew
more serious, and the prospective
father and mother-in-law grew more
1 desperate until Mrs. Abbott informed
/ Mr.. Oliver that he could see Emma
no more that he must never again
darken the door of the Abbott man
sion. Not at all discouraged, however,
with this
FORETAsTE OF MOTHER-IN-LAW,
the sutton continued to have clandes-
tine meetings with his sweetheart. He
would occasionally drop intothe schoo.
room and amuse the little ideas by re.
ferring to how some Of the boys might
one day become a great Daniel Boone
or Henry Clay, or some other greaI
scion of a great commonwealth. A
length even this privilege was denieC
bv the old man, the discovery having
been made that Mr.. Oliver was a Re
publican while the Abbotts wereDem
ocrats of the old roek-ribbed, noun
tain buttressed, Bourbon stock. The.
had one Republican son-in-laW in tn
family already, said the old man, and
"by the shades of Andrew jackson
they'd never have another. This las
denial was the elimination.
Last Thursday morning before 60
ing to her sohool-rOom Miss Abbot
had packed a part Of her toilet an,
wardrobe, and, through the aid of
/ mutual friend, had it hid in an obscur
corner of the fence, near the Abbot
!. home. BY a precOncerted plan Nj
Oliver was to get possession Of thes
articles necessary even in a rnnawa
t match, take them to the school-rooT
{ as school was dismissed, and togethe
o the pair was to
HE TO A CLERGYMAN.
I When the reverend gentleman w'
+ about to capture the coveted treasur,
to his r~everential horror he saw Mi:
Emma's big brother running aero;
the lots toward the Abbott HON,
7 closely hugging to his bosom the bur
d die of wedding clothes in which Mis-
Emma was to be adorned. There WI
no time to be lost. The big brothe
like a war-horse, had shifted the ba
tie from afar-or words to that effec'
5 Rev. Oliver knew that the neighbo
hood would quickly be aroused I
thwart his plans. The Abbotts wou.
soon be mounted for a chase. II
} steeds were already engaged. The.
y was no time to be lost. Almost b
fore big brother could reach the p
9 ternal roofwith the contFaband bund
of wedding clothes the clergyman vi
, in a neighboring stable saddling al
bridling two chatting geldings. QuicI
d er than we can write it, Mr.. DIV
was astride one of the steeds, an
! leading the other, was dashing off t
u ward the school-hOuse Quick {
with your hat and shawl, and dismi
h your school, for we must be of" we
the first words that greeted the pate
Il ears Of the school ma am, The love
command was quickly obeyed. W.
3 deringly and gleefully the sehela
le heard the announcement that th
le we're to have a short vacation. SchC
, was dismissed until Monday. Befc
" the last shout Of the liberated childr
&c had died away, before even the schC
ds door had been closed by the lit
he urchin who acted as %janitor, Miss A
III bott and Mr.. Oliver we're seated
their saddles and gathering doRn I
pike out Of sight. But a short d
" tance from the school building,
Dr.. sured that they were closely pursu,
Bat they turned, and, with one boul
we're over the fence, s%kuFrying scr
the lots at the mad rate Of ton
ny twelve miles an hour.
OF LOVE LAUGHED AT ALL oBsTACL
d. Fences we're cleared, hills W
mr. climbed, bitches jumped, forests
yaded, streams fOFded and pla
as skinned until sixteen miles had b
yer overcome and the nearest railroad
to ton reached. Fortunately, they "
3 Il just in time for the first train
,.n Louisville, where it was their int
ton to we'd. Splashed with wa
ca and spattered with mud, the plu
ger pair dismounted, handed their ia.
horses over TO an acquaintance, v
instructions to send them back
Bedford, and then boarded Che tn
the Fearful Of being ~oyerhauled by t
JOl graph a. louisville, the couple |
an. ceeded with extreme caution on d
,tlv arrival As they approached tbecoI
house, 10 their amazement, they
IRA Judge Abbott, a Kentucky lawyer
the uncle of the bride. There was