Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-30
Gales mud skttfhes.
OLD MR.. DOVES STORY.

TO law, and they used 10 elope instead o
waiting and watching until they got sicl
of waiting. or giving up and marrying
TO suit the old folks.
1t wasn't so curious about Mirand;
Bates, clipping, but the things that came
of it were funny.
You see, Grandfather b ttes wouldnN
have anything to say to Jeremiah Jones
when he asked him whether or no ht
could 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 10 carry her of to the parson ;.
Well, she was all packed up, aud ready
in big cloak and hood, when she saw
her grandmother creeping down before
her.
She was going out TO pick herbs. Some
herbs as folks knew ia those days,
wouldn't do any good as medicine if they
wern'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 pottering about look
ing for her herbs, and up dove the car
riage. She didn't hear il; she was as
deaf as Il post but il so happened Grand
father Bates did. and up went his win
dow
"Whois there ?' beloved he. and Jere
miah Jones, scared to death, and taking
Mrs. Bates for Miranda, Jumped out,
caught her by the waist. crammed her
INFO a carriage and she was driven away
like wild.
Miranda saw it all. and so did Bites.
Miranla shrieked. old Bates beloved :;
down stairs he rushed aud met Miranda
coming up.
Who was al tie gate /" he yelled.
"Oh. grandpa" screamed Miranda,
Jeremiah Jones has carried OIL grand
ma"
Now Mrs Bates had been very pretty,
and old MIR Bates had been very jealous,
and i. all came back. He stormed and
swore aud got his pistols, and wonlda't
listen TO a word that Miranda said, and
mounted bis horse aud rode after the
carriage.
Inside ii was pitch dark, and old Mrs.
Bates was as deaf as a 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 didn't
dare to speak but only sObbed and cried
and when they got on the road apiece,
CHATTER, clatter, came the horses heels be-
hind them, and
''Stopr' 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
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 it
were only daylight, that might see your
face"
81 hant got any money with me, sobbed
the old lady, but he didn't hear her.
On they drove 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, Oft came one OF the carriage
wheels, over went the carriage all on one
side, ard there was an end Of the running
away. As soon as he found there was no
help for il, Jeremiah jumped out of the
carriage, shut The door on poor grandmoth-
er Bates, and stood out in the road with Il
pistol In his hand, ready to meet old h ties
Up came the old gentleman more furious
than ever, and jumped down lro,u lis
horse, and stood facing him with his pts
toll.
"Villain ~ cried he. Il demand that
lady"
Sir" replied jeremiah, "sbe is mine.
| respect you, but | will never yield.n
WAIT moment. Does she 90 with
you OF her own free will?" Don't dare
to lie "
Yes, sir, of her free will and choice,
replied Jerlmiah. "Do you think me
highwayman, to carry off a lady against
her wish ?"
And now they were yelling so loudly
that even deaf old grandmother Bates,
who had managed TO get the window
down. heard every word.
Out came her head over the door. The
hood of the cloak had fallen OF, and un-
der it was her cap. | don't know what
the moon had been doing before, but now
she shone bright and clear, and every
thing was rs plain to be seen as at noon
day. Out came the old lady's head in the
moonlight.
That's a dreadful falsehood,' said she.
| did not come with him of my will. He
picked me up and carried me off while
was picking herbs 10 the garden for the
lotion for your rheumatism, squire. I've
been screaming all tie way, and he's
been kissing me, the wretch. To think
this should have happened to me at my
age, when I've been so properly conduct
ed all my life :"
Lord have mercy on Us e. says Jere.
miah. Is that you, Madam Bates ?'
He flew to the carriage door and opened
it.
Sir" he said to the squire, Il am
willing to meet you wherever You please.
You have the right to challenge me. |
have iusulied you; ! have insulted this
lady, but Internationally
SIR. l beg ten thousand pardons. be-
lieyed that ! had carried off your grand
daughter, Miss Miranda, who had promis-
ed TO be my wife,"
And just then up ratified a little gig.
driven by Peleg, the hired man, with Mi
randa sitting in it.
20, thank heaven!" she cried, "no one
is killed. Oh, dear graudma-oh, dear
grandpa, forgive me. Jeremiah-Mr.
Jones' trust you have explained all p
MADAM, have, said Jeremiah, bow.