Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-05-21
Old Mr.. D0yer's Story.
BY NJ. K. DALDAS.


I am an old man, now, folks used to
be more romantic when was young
They used to fight duels instead of going
to law, and they used to elope instead of
waiting and waiting till they got sick of
waiting, or giving up and marrying to
suit the old folks.
It wasn't so curious about Miranda
Bates eloping, but the 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 not be
couldn't have Miranda. And SO she lust
packed up her bundle, and he was, to
have carriage at II 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 wake
any one, when she saw some one else in
a cloak and hood creeping down before
her.
It 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 thst 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 but it so happened Grandfather
Bates did, and up went his window.
"Who is there?" beloved he, aud
Jeremiah 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 so did old Rates.
Miranda shrieked; old Hates believed
down stairs he rushed and met Miranda
coming up.
who was that at the gate?.n he yell
ed.
| "Oh, Grandpap' screamed Miranda
| Jeremiah Jones has carried off grand
ma
| Now old Mrs. Bates had been very
pretty, and old Mr.. Bates had been very
| Jealous, and it all came back. He storm
ed and swore and got his pistols and
wouldn't listen to word Miranda said,
and mounted his horse and rode after
the carriage. 49,
| Inside it was pitch dark, and old Mrs,
Bates was as deaf as post, aud thought
robbers had carried her Off
jeremiah kept her wrapped up 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't dare to speak, but anly
sobbed and cried and when they got
out on the road piece, clatter, clatter
clatter, came the horse's heels behind
them, and.
'Stop!' yelled old Grandfather Bates.
STOP demand that lady?
Jeremiah looked out of the window.
'Never?' said he.
'We'll see,' cried old Bates and fired al
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, if il
were only daylight that I might see youl
| face.' "
I han't got any money with me- sob
bed the old lady, but he did not heal
her.
| On they drove, faster and faster and
after them rode the old man, fastel
and fasten too, At laat. on the high
road, in a lonely place, with nobody
Enear and the parsons house miles
away, off came one Of the carriage
wheels, over went the carriage, all or
one side, and there was an end of the
running away. AS soon as he found
there was no help for it, jeremiah jump
ed out the carriage, shut the door on
poor old Grandmother Bates, and stooc
out in the road with pistol in his hand
ready to meet old Bates. Up came The
old gentleman, more furious than ever
and Jumped down from his horse, and
stood facing him with his pistol.
'Villain' cries he, Z demand tha
lady, ~
Sir, replied jeremiah, 'sha is mine.
respect ypu, but will never yield
Walt moment. Does she go with
you OF her free will? Don't dare to lie |!
Yes, sir, of her free will and choice,
replied jeremiah. DO you think me
highwayman, to carry off a lady agains
her wish? p
ana now they were yelling so loudly
tnst even deaf old Grandmother Bates
VINO had managed to get the window
down, heard every word.
Out came her head over the door. Yht
hood OF the cloak had fallen off; anG
under it was her cap. I don't know
what the moon had been doing before
but now she shone bright and clear, ant
everything was as plain to be seen as a
MONDAY. Out came the old lady's heat
into the moonlight.
'Ihats dreadful falsehood, said she
ala not come with him of my owl
VIII. He picked me up and carried M
OH Wnlle L was picking herbs in tn
garden Tor the lotion for your rheuma
tism, squire. I've been screaming al
/ The WAW 1of.. L L.. u.