Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-04-30
UN1ATA COUNTY, PENNA WEDNESDAY APRIL 30 1879

just then, 10 Miss Bells great vexa.lon
some one en- tered and interrupted him; bu
the next day she did great deal of shop
ping, and began making her trousseau inn
mediaiely
The afternoons of Diamonds were devo-
ted to business visits downtown, so he
said, and as he liked a walk for a constitu-
uonal, he generally managed to pass Nell's s
school just as it was being dismissed, and
had the pleasure of escorting her home
During these walks he so ingratiated him
sell in her favor, and dazzled her by de
scriptions of his wealth and his home in
California and of the magnificence he in
tended TO lavish on his wife, that she finally
consented to elope with him, partly because
ii was romantic.
''Dear mamma will be sure 10 forgive
me, she thought. And she pictured her
self coming with her husband, in her own
elegant carriage, To ask her mothers for
giyeness and receive her blessing, and of
then carrying her off with her to her home
in California, which her lover had so glow
ingiy described.
The evening assigned for the elopement
arrived The day following was To be the
much-talked-of birthday of Diamonds, on
which he was to make known to the house
hold his betrothal to Mrs Lee, and on
which also he had, in a tender, significant
tone, requested Miss Bell to grant him
private interview.
The household We're all assembled in the
parlor as usual, engaged in merry chat.
Diamonds, Miss Bell, Nell, and Mrs. Lee
| formed the liveliest group; and the hearts
of the ladies were beating high with their
varied emotions. Little the three imagined
what was passing in each others minds.
Poor little Nell trembled like frightened
bird at the dreadful thing she was about TO
do, and began to repent her rashness.
''In another hour, she thought. growing
dizzy as she looked at the clock, 1--WE must
start
She dared not look at her lover; she half
thought she hated him, and fervently
wished she had some girl friend who could
90 with her in her flight She was growing
more and more nervous. and had just
thought:
''Oh, how | wish something would hap
pen to prevent il :" when there was a sOusd
of strange voices in the hall, and after a
slight commolion, man walked coolly into
the parlor, with the exclamation:
''Ah, here he is"
And walking up to Diamonds. he slapped
him familiarly on the back with one hand,
and then Jingied a pair of handouts in the
other.
Diamonds turned pale, but made no at
tempt to escape.
''Was going to bolt to-night, wasn't you?'
said the officer, for such he was. ''l'ye
been up to your room, and saw all your
duds packed.
The excitement was dreadful.
''What is the matter. What does il all
mean I" cried everybody. in breath.
1T means this" said the detective.
''After a long chase have arrested him for
shooting man in Colorado, and abscond-
ing with his money, besides leaving a wife
and two pretty children into the bargain"
1.-The duCfH Urctch - exclaimed Mrs.
Lee and Miss Bell simultaneously, clasping
their hands in horror
''Oh,' cried Nellie, family, dropping
into a seat.
Diamonds turned on them with l. ficndish
grin. kissing his hand and bowing TO
them in turn, he delivered hiaself AS fol-
lows:
my sweet Nellie, our elopement will
have 10 be postponed for a while-sorry to
disapp0ini you- In half an hour we would !
have been off.
..Dear Clara, we will have that little talk
ONE other time.
MY own Helen, goodbye" bowling
very low to the widow. II am sorry our |
marriage cannot take place quite as soon as
we intended "
''The man must be crazy, cried the lady. |
''What on earth does he meant
Nellie buried her face in her mothers /
lap and sobbed Historically, but was finally |
comforted by Fred. Hall, a young gentle
man who had long been attached to her, |
but as he had no diamonds, it is TO be sup |
posed that he had been slow to find favor |
in her ewes.
The door closed on Diamonds for the last |
time, and he lefs three wiser, if not better, |
women behind him.