The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-19
A SUSPENDED ELOPEMENT,

A SUSPENDED ELOPEMENT.
had loved Bella for more than q
year. When l say that l was over
twenty-five, my readers of the sterner
sex will, l am sure, be impressed by my
cOnstancy.
Bella had money. Not that this had,
of course, anything to do with my ex-
traordinary devotion, but it served for a
time to be the barrier in our happiness.
| first met and fell victim to Bella's
charms when her mother was alive
Her father had then been dead several
years. The old lady took to me- l
have knack of getting on with old
ladies. This is a very useful gift when
they are well off, and are the mothers
of lovely daughters. l advise all young
men to cultivate it. The main point is
always to be more attentive to the
mother than the daughter. It's well to
throw in occasional remarks about the
apparent degeneracy of the age, and al
lude to the superior constitutions and
characters of the preceding generation
All was working smoothly for Bella
and me, when cruel fate, in the shape
of drunken car-driver, crushed the
mother under its Jugger-nautian wheels.
We prosecuted the driver, and an in
telligent jury, largely influenced by the
wealth of the car company, decided
that pedestrians have no lights which
car-drivers are bound to respect.
1t turned out, by her fathers will,
Bella, in the event of her mothers
death, was, until her twenty-first year,
to be placed under the guardianship of
an uncle, who was farmer in Vermont.
This same uncle was an admirable spec
linen of the typical Vermonter. He
could freeze to the chance of making
dollar harder than a Holsters claw to
small boys investigating finger. He
had two great hulling sons, and deter
mined that Bella should marry one or
the other Indeed he believed he was
acting most kindly in giving her q
choice instead of insisting on her taking
the first-born. When old Green found
out that l had come into the neighbor-
hood and was hanging about the prem
ises he sternlv warned me OFF, and even
limited at the ficrceness and number of
the dogs which populated his yard at
night. | took his word for the dogs
it was about the only THING | would
have taken 1t for.
Bella was virtually prisoner. The
old farm house was three stories high
very unusual thing in that part of the
country-and she was locked in at
night in her room on the top floor.
With great difficulty managed to get
one or two letters to her; but SO closely
was she watched and guarded during
the day that speech with her was i'm
possible. was in despair. There was
yet year to run before she could claim
release from this guardianship. Was
there no means of escape possible?
While was pondering over this ques-
lion in the little hotel where had now
been staying for some weeks, heard
strange voice addressed to the proprie-
tor in loud tones, and l distinctly heard
the words portable tire-escape." In
stantly an inspiration flashed through
my mind. L joined the party, and in
doing so heard these words:
Its just the simplest thing in the
world. A two-year-old babe couldn't
hurt itself. No sir, it 'ud like to have
one for plaything, and 'ud amuse it
self all day hauling itself to the top O.
the house and lettin' itself down again.
They're so light and easy, that when
folks don't want escapes | often sells
them as baby-jumpers. jest try one;
it's only $3.50. Make it for you, as an
advertisement, sein' you keeps hotel,
and you'd ought to have one for the
protection of your guests"
Guess not. My place is only two
stories high; and if we have fire, they
can jump out or burn, just as they durn
please" And the careful hotel-keeper
strolled off.
"What have you there, my friend?'' l
asked of the stranger.
"a portable fire-escape. Simplest
thing in the world. But was fooled
to come to this section, anyhow. There
isn't a house high enough for man to
hurt himself much if he rolled Off the
roof, and Vermonter 'ud sooner take
chances on his life than spend a dime,
any day"
''rll tell you how you can sell one
escape for 800 and no trouble either"
"You will! I'm your oyster.'
l unfolded my plot, and found SYM
pathetic listener. He was to go up to
Bella's uncle's house and try to sell an
escape. Of course, we knew that would
be perfectly hopeless. So, after being
rebuffed, he was to insist on leaving
one on trial for week or two, till he
came around again. He was also to
try to smuggle a letter to Bella, ex-
planning that she was at night to get
possession of the escape, attach it to
her bedstead, and slide down into my
waiting arms, which would be waiting
as near as the dogs would let them. On
the night she was ready. she was to sig
nal in certain way with a candle at
| the window.
The peddler started off, and soon re-
| turned, having been successful in get
ting the letter to Bella, and having
| given an exhibition of how to use the
escape. For several nights waited in
vain for the signal, but at last it was
| shown. l did not hear the dogs about,
and L geutly crept nearly under the
window. 1t was opened
..Are you there, Bella?" whispered.
| yes"
you're not afraid, dear?'
..Not very. I've tied the end around
the bedstead, and l don't think l can
slip out of the loops. Have you bug
gy waiting?"
Eyes, dear; at the first turn of the
road"
Very well. am going to try now.
Ohr'