The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-09-29
TURNING THE TABLES.

TURNING THE TABLES.
Royal Courtney was in love with Bessie
Leland. Bessie Leland was In love with
Royal Courtney. SO far. so good. The course
| of true love uever did run smooth, however,
and Bessie Lelard'a father hated Royal
| Courtney bitterly. Yet I do not think, had
he been asked, that he could we'll have given
any reason for such hatred. That he
lid hate him was plain from what he told bis
daughter, when Royal had frankly asked him
for permission to address her.
"Never speak his name again, he said.
''L"t him marry you. indeed! Id rather
you'd live single MI your days than marry
such simpleton!"
"But had rather marry him, said Bessie,
quite demurely,
well, you WON'T" 80 there's the end of
it" And Bessie's father brought his foot
down with an emphasis that made the win
dows rattle. John l. alana waA q household
tyrant, and when he put his foot down"
in that tremendous way, no more words
were needed.
| No more words word said. Bessie Leland
cried little, and then dried her eyes, and
fvo minutes was laughing as gayly as
ever. Thcreupon John Leland heartily
congratulated himself that it had gone no
| further, and then dismissed the subject
from his mind.
But Bessie, when she dried her eyes and
allowed the natural brightness of her dis
position to again bear sway, was thinking
of plan whereby Papa LelaDd's cruel pur-
pose might be circumvented; and if he
had but known it, thele might have been a
scene mot nominated in the bond. AS
he did not surmise it even, exceeding self
complacency barred out all thoughts of
watchfu!ness.
There we're clandestine interviews and
tender billet dour, which Papa Leland
innocently enough brought home in his
authorship or contents, and then they plan
ned an elopement!
"Where shall we 60, my darling?"
queried Royal, in despair; for the law was
rigid, and Bessie lacked a year of eighteen
"Oh, across the line into Rhode Island, y
said Bessie, promptly.
That settled it. There came moonless
night, and with it Royal and carriage, and
in the darkness Bessie Joined him.
The good Rhode Island clergyman, sum-
moned. from his bed at midnight, cross
and sleepy, married them in haste; then
back they went and took room at the no.
tel, where they stayed till morning. Then
Bessie went home t" make her peace with
papa, while Royal waited at the inn to learn
with what success she met.
Only few minutes after her departure,
while the happy, yet anxious. bridegroom
was waiting in the hotel parlor, in came
napa Leland himself, and, without word,
Royal found himself grasped by the collar,
while his captcr thnndered out.
l & do ,ffo
sir? Speak, villain, or I'll break every
bone IN your contemplate body!"
And the threa. was accompanied by a
shake which ought to have loosened every
tooth in Royals head.
Eve married her." said Royal, very
family.
Married her? The demon! Why, she
is not If lawful age"
II can't help that" calculated Royal.
We're married, sir, and You can't stop it "
where were you married?A
"In Rhode Island-by minister"
Aba" cried Papa Leland in great exulta-
ton. Married in Rhode Island, were you?
tell you. sir; hat marriage isn't worth a
straw. Where Is she, noodle?"
"Gone home, said Royal, turning scar-
let.
And that's the last you'll see o. her"
cried Papa Leland, savagely, and disap-
pearcd.
Papa Leland hurried home. He found
Bessie just asking the forgiveness Of her
mother, and went for her ut once.
"You think you're married, do your" he
vociferatcd. III have you know, Miss
Dsobedience. that Massachusetts Inv won't
recognize such marriages, aud you are n6t
Royal Courtney's wife any more than
arr.
But papa" commenced Bessie.
II won't hear word. You are not mar
ried to the BOBBY, aud You shan't bel"
Bessie turned red and pale by turns, and
then she faltered:
But THAT is VEL mean that Royal
and I-got back to the hotel about mid
night"
A light began to dawn upon Papa Le-
lands mind.
Good Moses! Do you mean that you
and he occupied"
"Yes," said Bessie sobbing.
death and destruc.ion!' And Papa L.
land turned and ros.ed back to the hotel,
| in much less time than he had come there.
Royal was walking dejectedlv up and down
the parlor floor, and groaning in agony of
spirit.
"Come with me said the old gentleman,
Selling him by the arm with grasp of
iron.
"Where!" asked Royal utterly bewild-
cred.
Home"
''Home! whose homer"
"Why, Bessie's, stupid"
"But we amt married, are WEI" stam-
mered Royal.
"Well, you shall be if you ANTI" roared
Papa Leland.
BY this time they were in the street, and
the cool morning air speedily cleared Roy
ais brain, so that he could think. And after
he had thought moment he stopped short.
"What ais you now?" growled Papa Le-
land. "Have you forgotten something's"
no." said Royal, stoutly, Il haven't for
gotten anything, but I've concluded not to
marry Bessie"
Not marry Bessie? Scoundrel, you shall
marry her!"
$50 you said BEFORE" muttered Royal,
''but I wont-and I'll call the police if you
put your hands upon me" he added, no.
| ticing hostile movement on the part of
his companion.
There was an awful pause, Papa Leland
seemed to be considering. Finally, in
very humble tone, he said:
Name your price"
1t was Royals turn to think.
"That you will settle twenty thousand
dollars Oh her." be replied.
Cant do it," Papa Leland said, de-
cidedIy.
cali right" And Royal made as if to go
away.
"Hold on, you graceless rascal-call it
ten, and it's bargain"
"N~, you don't" There was no sign of
yielding.
Call it twenty, then, and be hanged to
you! I'd give that much to give you one