The Russellville Democrat., 1880-10-21

the aunt. The strickly honorable didn't run much in Sam family anyhow. Sam's plot was like this He got Charley aside one mornin' and told him everythln was fixed, an he was goin' to marry the gal that night. Now l know what you love her for sad Sam, in his cool style: 'but know that for old friendships sake you'll give ln to me, so the gal can be happy with 1 the man she loves"
 How do you know she loves vou?r asks Charley, as gloomy as dyin' mud. | turtle.
 This day" says Honest sam-which they used to call him so because he was so trlcky--"this day she giv me her promise" an he perjuced lock of hair an ring with her name on. Now, Charley" he continued, 'I tell you this, first, on account of our old, sweet friend ship, an, second, because I want you to help me by takin. care O Jed Billings while l git away with the gal. He watches us like weasel, and might kick up fuss. If he tries to foller all you've got to do is to pick up muss with him so's to give us chance"
 T don't see how that's a-gom' to pay me, ," said Charley.
 "lf marry her tonight said Sam. solemnly, ~ shall take her to Boston to live, an you'll step into my practice here"
 So Charley said agreed, and so forth, but he knew Sam was deep, an kep' askin' himself why should Sam be afraid ot Jed if he was really engaged to Jen- nie, as ne said; an why should he run away, anyhow. So he kep' on puzzlin' but couldn't git it out.
 Jest a leetle, Jonas, this time, thankee make 1t hot
 Well, as soon as it got dark, Sam hitched up an took Charley down near Jed's farm to keep watch on him, an then turned round an took the back road up to Jennie's.
 The girl was considerably surprised for Sam to ask her out ridin' on dark night, an no party or dancin' to go to; but she warn't afraid O nothin' an was allus fully O live curiosity about fun. So she made up her mInd to see it out. most perfectly as her cunnin' old aunt made believe she didn't want her to go.
 Then the way Sam Parker put that old plug O kis through to Eatonville was caution. What was said on the way amt known, but it's tolera- ble certain that marvin warn't spoken of till the two got to work eatin' supper. Then Sam said how he loved her, an how this was an elopement, an the par son was ready. an all that. Then he goes down on his knees an pulls out the ring. But, in pullin' out the ring, out come long lock of hair, the same that Sam had been playin' of on Charley for hern.
 ''Oh, you dreadful, dreadful flirtl" hol- lers Jennie, makin' b'leeve mad, and then she burs:s out into just the tallest laffin' that's been heard in the Adams House for forty years.
 Then Sam pitches in an gits wild as to what he'll do to her or say about her if she don't marry him, an then the door opens sudden, an who should bounce in but Charleyl
 You see, Charley had got tired awatch- in Jed; so he concluded to hire a hoss and jest foller Sam an Jennie up, to see for himself how things was. He'd been a listenin' at the door till Sam got ugly on Jennie, and then he see hls c,,cnce an bounced in.
 My preserverl my preserverw sereached out Jennie, an she goes over to Charley an he gets out with the gal before Sam-who is a kind of sneak nyway-recovered from hls surprise.
 We'll, they took the road to Starboro' fiyin'; but it wasn't ten minutes be- fore they hears wheels behind 'em an Charley cries:
 That's that rascal, Sam Parkerl''
 So he puts on the gad an goes tearin' over the road wuss than ever till he brings up at the minister's house in Starboro'. with the horse all a-foamin' an nigh dead.
 Then they both got out of the wagon, an Jennie all of sudden begins to cry.
 You see, she enjoyed the fun all along like everything; but at last it began to look serious even to gal with her nerve. It was mighty late at night, am there she was standin' afore the minist- CTS house in Starboro', fifteen miles from home, an with no more idea of marvin Charley Clifford than you or l hev this mint of marvin Queen Vic toria.
 But Charley put on steam an talked away to her at tremendous rate on ac- count of Sam's bein' behind 'em. Then the gal got all broken up again in the narves, an while she was a-cryin' and wringin' her hands, the other wagon drew up.
 But the man that jumped out wasn't Sam Parker. It was Jed Blllngs-Jed Billings, gentlemen, as good felier as ever met an the best man with pitch fork in the two counties,
 Then the gal strengthened up an went right into Jed's arm, as straight as slips into holler tree.
 Of course this was war, an after lovin' embrace, Jed lets her down on