Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-02-26
taix Mr.. Doves $St0ry.

7 am an Old man now. Folks used to
be more romantic when [ was young
Thev used to ight duels instead of going
to law. and they used to elope instead OF
waiting and waiting until they got sick
of waiting, or giving in and marrying
to suit old folks.
Tt wasn't so curious about Miranda
Bates eloping, but things that came OF
lit were funny.
You see, Grandfather Bates wouldn't
have anything to say to jeremiah Jones
when he asked him whether or no he
couldn't have Miranda. And so she just
packed up her bundle, and he was to
have the carriage waiting at the gate at
twelve O'Clock to carry her off to the
parsons.
Well, she was all packed up, and
ready in big cloak with hood, and
was creeping down stairs softly, not to
awake any one, when she saw some one
else in a cloak and hood creeping down
before her.
1t was her grandmother old Mrs. Bates
going out to pick herbs. Some herbs, as
folks knew in those days, wouldn't do
any good as medicine if they weren't
picked at midnight.
So that was her idea but, of course,
Miranda was scared back, and hid be-
hind the door, and old Mrs. Bates went
pottering about looking for her herbs,
and up drove the carriage. She didn't
hear it; she was as deaf as a post but it
so happened Grandfather Bates did, and
up went his window.
"Who is there ?" beloved he, and
jeremiah Jones scared to death, and
taking old Mrs. Bates for Miranda,
/ :, hxr ho osct
crammed her into the carriage, and was
driven away like wild.
Miranda saw it all and so did Bates.
Miranda shrieked old Bates beloved
down stairs he rushed and met Miranda
coming up.
"Who was that at the gate ?" he yell
ed. Jeremiah Jones has carried of
Grandma"
Now Mrs. Bates had been very pretty,
and old Mr.. Bates had been very Jealous,
and it all came back. He stofnled and
swore and got his pistols and wouldn't
listen to word that Miranda said, and
mounted his horse and rode after the
carriage.
Inside it was pitch dark, and old Mrs.
| Bates was deaf as post, and thought
robbers had carried her off.
jeremiah kept her wrapped in her
cloak and called her his sweetest, and
his duck and dove, and all the while
she thought he was threatening to kill
her, and didp't dare to speak; but only
sobbed and cried, and when they got
out ON the road apaee, eiatter, ciatter.
came the horses heels behind them,
and
"Stop!" yelled old Grandfather Bates,
! "Stop!u demand that ladyw
jeremiah looked out ofthe window.
"Neuer :" said he.
"We'll see," cried old Bates and fired
at him.
The ball missed him.
"Drive faster" said Jeremiah to the
coachman.
Then he pressed old Mrs. Bates to his
heart.
"Don't weep, Miranda" said he, "He
shall not take you from me. Oh, that il
were only daylight, that I might see
your sweet facet
II han't got any money with me,
sobbed the old lady, but he didn't hear
her.
On they drove, faster and faster, and
after them rode the old man, faster and
faster too. At last, on the high road, in
| a lonely place, with nobody near and
the parsons house miles away, off came
one of the carriage wheels, over went
the carriage, all on one side, and there
was an end of the running away. AS
soon as he found there was no help fo1
it. jeremiah jumped out of the carriage,
shut the door on poor old grandmother
Bates, and stood out in the road Win q