The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-06-03
VOL. XXV----NO. ~.
How He Won Her.

school teacher, had kept company in Cincin-
matt for many years. The former got to be
fifty years old and the latter forty.fve, and
still the counting went on. The parents of
the lady began to think of this thing They
were not very young themselves and when
they saw the gray hairs of their daughter
and witnessed the continued interviewing go
ing on between her and the professor with no
satisfactory results, they became indignant
They forbade the professor the house in
dignlied but firm language, and had it in
timated in proper quarters that Huldah was
free. The professor for his part was much
puzzled. He had always behaved himself
What could he the matter ? He became in
dignant in turn, and declared that he would
see Huldah and changed TO the old people
He did see her and in her own house, too
and the received him with her accustomed
sweetness. The old people found it out, and
assisted him in the work by absence. He came
again, and they shot blank cartridges at him.
Still again, and the boys of the neighborhood
pounded him with fence rails Several times
more, and finally he carried away with him
in his flight n charge of shot.
1t was comfort to him through all his
trouble that Huldah loved him. Nothing
could change her fnithfulness. She wept
with him over the prosecutions ola hollow
hearted world and vowed that nothing could
change her affections. But there was no such
thing as privacy in his relations with her
The old couple learned of everymeeting in
time to make trouble. lfthey didn't the boys
did. If the boys didn't somebody else did,
1t was most remarkable He made appoint
ments that he knew were known only to
IIuldah and himself; yet they invariably be-
came public. He knew he was not given to
sleep-walking or slcep-talking. He asked
Huldah if she was thus afflicted, and she
demurely said "no. Ii was extraordinary"
The only thing certain about 1t was that it
babe fair to continue, and there would evil
IDENTIFY be no place for the living couple in
the wourld. One day Il bright idea struck
the professor.
"IImw he remarked thoughtfully caress-
ing his whiskers and wiping his badness
with handkerchief, "sec here Huldah We
must crcumvent EN-. | have it, the very
idea !"
eyes, sir" said Huldah, smoothing down
her dress and looking respectful and interest
ed.
There is but one way. Wemust get mar
ried, lIuldah"
ooh, sir" said Hudah, blushing and with
great apparent surprise.
There is no other way" said the professor
shifting one of his thin limbs with great de
termination. at must be done Now |
think of it, | wonder didn't think of it be-
fore. 1t is the only channel through the
difficulty. declare will not be persecut-
ed in this manner any longer"
"But, sir" said Huldah, with some hesita-
ton, sis not this rather sudden ~
at is, admit returned the professor
frankly, " but consider the difficulty of these
meetings, my dear. Reflect how we have been
prosecuted these-these ten years back, !
think" The professor made slight calcula.
ton, and found he had the time about right
"This cannot go ON. lcannot DO without you,
lluldah, and these annoyances would drive me
into the grave IN ten years more. No, HUI
dab, there is really no other way. 1t must
be done"
VERY well, said Hullah resignedly, and
the night Of the elopement was Immediately
selected. The professor, by some special in
terpostion in his behalf, got Oft without be
ing disturbed by the old people or the boys,
and went home happier, for some reason,
than he had been since a boy. "Shc is really
pretty" he said to himself II never saw
her look so nice as she did to night, and there
was Il twinkle in her eye that was surely new
to her. | never saw such twinkle. And
think she laughed after came away
could almost swear it was laugh am Ger
tain il emerged from her room and it seemed
to me that she was jumping and having a
great deal of .surreptltious fun about some
thing. All, WELL she will tell me about it
herself, | dare say"
The clopcment was perfect success. The
old people We're rs sound asleep as ifthey had
entered into n conspiracy themselves. There
were no boys around. The carriage made a
great deal of noise, and the rope ladder was
as awkward and noisy as n brass band, but
nobody awokc.
"Forune flvors us, Huldah,' said the pro-
fcssor as they rode away.
"lcs sir" said lludah who was as calm AS
II June morning and so happy and good ma
tured that she almost forgot to he entirely
respectful.
Some days thereafter the professor propos-
ed n visit to the old people AS my wife
you will be saved from any annoyance by
them he said proudly. DO not be alarm
ed Huldah. They dare not hurt you. That
little ceremony has changed things n good
deal my dear
"Ycs sir" said Huldah, smiling confident
tly, and looking as if her happiness wanted
her to smile more.
To the professors unhounded surprise, he
was kindly received. The old gentleman
shook his hand nearly off, and the old lady,
had tears in her eyes and kissed him on both
cheeks
This is very odd remarked the professor
looking from one to another in profound as
tonishmcn; "Iou-you are perhaps not
aware that IIuldah and | are maTicd?"
when did this happcn?' asked the old
gentleman, apparently with some studied
curlouSity
"Thrcc nightsago, sir" said the professor
promptly.
"Three nights ago, hcy?" roared the old
gentleman "And why didn't it happen ten
wears AGO Won stupil old nrOcrastinatnr ="