The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-01-31
Select Sturg.
AN OLD TIME ELoPEMENT.

be more romantic when | was young.
They used to fight duels instead Of going
to law, and they used to elope instead Of
waiting aud Watching until they got sick
of waiting, or giving up and marrying to
suit the old folks
Ii wasn't so curious about Miranda
Bates clipping, 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 wheth-
er 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 Of to
the parsons.
Well, she was all packed up, and ready
in big cloak and hood, and was creeping
down, when she saw the figure of some
one directly before her.
1t was the grandmother, old Mrs. Bates,
going out to pick her 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 Mi
randa was scared back, and hid behind the
door, and old Mr. Bates went tottering
about looking fer her herbs, and up came
the carriage. She didn't hear il; she was
as deaf as a post; but it so happened that
old Mr.. Bates did, aud up went his win
dow.
"Who is there? beloved he, and Mr..
jeremiah Jones, scared to death, and tax :
ing old Mrs. Bates for Miranda, jumped
out, caught her by the waist, crammed her
into the carriage, and was driven away
like the wind. Miranda saw it all, and
so did Bates; Miranda shrieked, old Bates
beloved; down stairs he rushed and met
Miranda coming up.
"Who was at the gate 2" he yelled.
"0h, grandpa r screamed Miranda,
Jeremiah Jones has carried of grandma. ("
Now Mrs. Bates had been very pretty,
and old Mr.. Bates had been very jealous,
aud it all came back. He stormed and
swOre and got his pistols, and wouldn't
listen to word that Miranda said, and
mounted his horse aud rode after the car
risge. Inside it was pitch dark, and Mrs.
Bates was as deaf as post, aud thought
robbers had carried her of. Jeremiah
kept her wrapped in her cloak, called her
his sweetest aud his duck and dove, and
all the while she thought he was threaten
ing to kill her, and didn't dare TO speak,
but only sobbed and cried, and when they
got out on the road piece, clatter, clatter,
clatter came the horses heels behind them,
and
"Stop" yelled old Grandfather Bates.
"Stop | demand that lady" jeremiah
looked out the window.
"Neverl" said he.
"We'll see, cried old Bates, and fred
at him. The ball missed him.
"Drive faster" said jeremiah Jones to
the cOachman. Then he pressed old Mrs.
Bates to his heart.
"Don't weep, Miranda, said he. ale
shall not take you from me. o, that il
was only daylight, that might see your
faee."
81 ha'nt got any money with me, sobbcd
the old lady, but he didn't hear her.
On they drove, faster, aud after them
rode the old man, faster aud faster, too.
At last, on the high road, in lonely place,
with nobody near and the parsons house
miles away, off came one Of the carriage
wheels, over went the carriage all on one
side, and there was an end Of the running
away. As soon as he felt there was no
help for Il, Jeremiah got out Of the car
riage, shut the door on poor Grandmother
Bates, and stood out in the road with
pistol Ia 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.
"Villianp cried he, II demand that
lady,"
"Sir," replied Jeremiah, "she is mine.
! respect you, but l win never yield"
"Wait moment, Does she 10 Of her
own free will 2 Don't dare TO lie T.
eyes, sir, Of her own free will aud
choice" said jeremiah. aDo you think
me highwayman, to carry of a lady
against her wish p
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 aud under il was her cap. / don't
know what the moon had been doing be-
fore, but now she shone bright and clear,
and everything was as plain to be seen as
at MONDAY. Out came the old lady's
head in the moonlight.
"Thats dreadful falsehood,n she said.
81 did not come with him Of my own free
will, He picked me up and carried me
Of while ! was picking herbs in the gar
den for the lotion for your rheumasism,
squire. I've been screaming ell the way
aud he's been kissing me, the wretch
To think that this should have happened
to me at my age, when I've been 90 pro.
perly conducted sll my life r
lord have morcy on nsl" says Jere-
miah. "Is that you, Madam Bates 2"
He hew to the carriage door and opened L.
"Sir, said he to the 'sqaire, II am will.
ing 70 meet wherever you please You
have the right 70 challenge me. fhave IN
suited you; have issulied the lady; but
unintenlionally y-aniutentionally, sir. ! beg
ten thousand pardons. / believed that |
had arriad off vour or.nd d.uuhtar Nj.