The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-01-25
M i 8 @ ella IN Q O N 8.
Old MIR. Doves Story.

l am an Ol6i man now. folks uSeu TO be
more romantic when l was young. They
used to fight 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.
1t wasn't so curious about Miranda Bates
clipping, but things that came of it 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 creep.
| ing down stairs softly, not to awake any
| one, when she saw some one else in Il 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 behind
the door, and old Mrs. Bates went potter
ing about looking for her herbs, and up
drove the carriage. She didn't hear it
she was as deaf as post; but it SO hap
pened Grandfather Bates did, and up went
his window.
"Who is there ~ beloved he, and Jere-
miah Jones scared to death, and taking old
Mrs. Bates for Miranda, jumped out, caught
her by the waist 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 gate2" he yelled
"Oh, Grandpa!" screamed Miranda
Jeremiah Jones has carried off Grandma
Now Mrs. Bates had been very pretty
and old Mr.. Bates had been very jealous
and it all came back. He stormed and
swore and got his pistols and wouldn't lis
ten to word that Miranda said, and
mounted his horse and rode after the car.
riage.
Inside it was pitch dark, and old Mrs
Bates was deaf as post, and thought rob
bers had carried her of.
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 didn'
dare to speak, but only sobbed and cried
and when they got out on the road apiece
CHATTER, clatter came the horses heels be
hind them, and
stop" yelled old Grandfather Bates
"Stop | demand that lady ~
jeremiah looked out of the window.
"Neper !" said he. ....
| IN IL I.4 4 a.
him.
The ball missed him.
"Drive faster" said jeremiah to tn
coachman.
Then he pressed old Mrs. Bates to hi
heart.
Don't weep, Miranda" said he. "H
shall not take you from me. Oh, that
were only daylight, that might see you
sweet face"
II liant got any money with me" sobbe
the old lady, but he didn't hear her.
On they drove. faster and faster, and al
ter them rode the old man, faster and taste
too. At last, on the high road, in lionel
5 place, with nobody near and the parson
5 house miles away off came one of the Cal
. riage Wheels over went the carriage, all o
( one side, and there was an end of the rur
0 ming away. AS soon as he found there Wa
0 no help for it, jeremiah jumped out of til
; carriage, shut the door on poor old CRANE
. mother Bates, and stood out in the roa
:, with pistol in his hand, ready to meet oil
:. Bates. Up came the old gentleman, MOI
v furious than ever, and jumped down frol
his horse, and stood facing him with h
= pistol.
"Villain /" cries he, 81 demand thu
lady,"
Sir" replied jeremiah, "sbe is mine.
respect you, but will never yield"
= await moment. Does she go with yo
of her own free will Don't dare to lie
"Yes, sir, of her free will and choice" i
piled jeremiah. "Do you think me higl
wayman, to carry off a lady against h
= wish 2" '". t,t'.9
And now they were yelling 80 loudly TIL
even deaf old grandmother Bates, who la
managed to get the window down, heal
every word.
Out came her head over the door. I'll
!, hood of the cloak fell of, and under it WI
v her cap. don't knew what the moon hs
been doing before, but now she shol
bright and clear, and everything was