The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-01-26

"All this Is not to the purpose. VIII
you marry me, like a sensible woman, as
you promised ?"
'sYou make a great deal of that prom
ise- Il was promi.e made to you, when
| was only twelve. You wish to marry a
woman when you do marry. As far as
this woman is concerned, | say NoI /,
the woman, Lena Morgan, have become a
woman. / put away childish things l
ignore them
"Quibbles bubbles ! VIII you dare
to utter falsehood, and tell me that you
do not love me ?"
81 dare to claim ownership Of myself,
and say | viii not marry YOU
''If you love me, you belong to me-so
long as there is nothing to hinder our
union"
"There is something to hinder And
as for the belonging part, that has been
overdone by men in the past.
"Really, Lena, | shall begin to think
that there IS a more interesting man about.
If you do not stop this nonsense, I viii
proclaim through the village that you have
Tilted me-
"Well, indeed, that viii be frightful
Do you know the ouly result viii be to
make me nine-days wonder ?" Nobody
will believe that the cause Of your explo-
sion is at all creditable to me. IF you
really love me as much as you say you do,
you will let me alone"
Day after day Ernest persisted in his
suit-but in vain.
Finally she said to him, ''If you cannot
cease this persecution, you will find me
missing some day."
81 suppose you viii visit the gIimpses
of the moon p
Il will be where you will not visit me.
And it was so. One day Lena was gone
from the village. Even her mother could
not tell her destination. Ernest was in
despair. '-She must have gone to the city
But one might as well look for needle in
a haystack, as seek her there"
Her mother received money every week
from the city, but it could not be traced
to any locality there.
''I will search for her until / find her"
said Ernest II will be masculine
Evangeline."
He betook himself to the city. Every
week he stayed in a different hotel. He
was particularly struck, in some out-of- the
way inns-adjacent to tenement houses
with the curious way they have in squares
made up of such houses, of drying their
clothes. Great poles are erected through
the center of the square, along the rear
division fences of the yards. Pulleys are
fastened to these, at level with the va
rious flats of the tenements. Then each
fiat in each tenement has its double rope
running out to its especial pulley. 1t is in
teresting to observe, on special washing
days, the ropefuls of wet clothes creeping
out Of the windows. When a tenement
square wash day is in full blast, the rect
angle looks like some Arctic chasm, filed
with gigantic seabirds,
''Their white wings Tapping to and fro
AS Ernest stood in the courtyard of ho-
tel, one evening, observing such scene in
moody silence, he suddenly observed an
insecurely fastened handkerchief slip from
its rope, which ran from the top story of
an adjacent tenement house. He watched
it in its huttering uncertainty, and was
finally amused to see it drop at his feet.
His amusement was changed to exclama-
tions of astonishment when he saw the
name.
HCau / believe it? Lena Morgan
Now, my fair young friend, if you get
away from me this time, let all men call
me spoony" He ran to the room of a
young clergyman, who boarded there
"Your reverence, can | get you to pro-
cure a marriage license (giving the names,
and to wait here till come for you, if it's
twelve o'clock?'
"Why, you are crazy. You have said
nothing about the marriage before.
at is little singular, but you act as l
direct, and | win explain to your full sat
isfaction afterwards"
He dashed into the tenement house, up
stairs two steps at q time Instinct led
him to knock at the right door. He
raped. Silence, brief silence, and the
door was opened by Lena. She started
back, with her hand to her heart, and
would have fallen but for the aid of the
door handle. Ernest's eye noted the con-
tents of the room at glance. 1t was
neatly, but poorly furnished. A young
girl, whom he recognized as formerly of
their village, sat there in dumb amaze
ment.
"Hol ho: Miss Lena Did you think
to escape me? All, this blessed little
cambric 1t must have been your guar
dian angel that brought it futtering to my
feet in the hotel yard
"Hast thou found me, oh mine enemy?"
Enemy, pshawl Your best friend
I'll tell you what I'll do with you. I'm
not a betting man, but I'll bet you a soli-
taire diamond ring against kiss that you
will marry me before twelve o'clock to-
night"
The friend who had always laughed at
Lena's scruples, now broke in. "Good
good Mr.. Norwood I'm your friend.
There's no help for you Lena-submit
gracefully"
What absurdity is this p cried Lena,
Indignantly. Do you mean to insult me
Mr. Norwood? Even were willing to
marry you, and | am as far as ever from
that, would not be forced to it,
"Well, well, suit yourself It's free
country. But, mark my word The min
lister will have the license ready in few
moments. And he is going to sit up all
night, if necessary, waiting for your lady
ship to submit to this nice little arrange
ment And so am l" and sitting down
very comfortably, he nodded his head de.
family.
"This insolence is insufferable, Mr.. Nor
wood said Lena not rery defantly-the
ludicrousness of the situation inclining
her to mirth.
"Call me what names you plcase-until
we are married. But you must either send
for the police, to put me out, or for the
minister to marry me. You may have
your choice"
"Excellent!' criend the friend. (which
shall l 60 for, Lena ?" Speak quickly.
am dying of curiosity to see this business
completed in some way"
"Come, Mr.. Norwood, this joke has gone
far enough. We are not in the habit of
entertaining gentleman visitors here, and
it is getting late"
"No doubt, no doubt, Lena but YOU