The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-08-05


patiently to the old clock ticking out the sec
onds and to Betsey's peaceful snoring, unit
she was assured the household was at res
for the night; then she stole softly from hel
bed and by the faint light of the moon pro
ceeded to array herself in a green delaine
gown which had been her SUNDAY dress
time out of mind. She was just doing hel
back hair when Tiger gave growl, then 6
loud bark on hearing what sounded to hin
very much like the wheels of rickety
chaise rafting some distance down the
pike.
'''We are diskivered," said the agitated Ma
ria, to herself, in great alarm.
But no; Tiger stopped TO listen to the neal
approach of the wheels, but either he had
been mistaken in the noise or the chaise hat
stopped, for all was quiet. He gave sew
eral low dissatisfied growls as much as tt
say;
ut may be all right, but L will wait ant
see.''
Maria went on with her dressing. Final
ly the last touches were added to her mid
night toilet; she had tied on her head co
quettish bonnet of a previous fashion anC
all was in readiness save her front teeth
These were artificial; having been made by {
bungling artist, we're exceedingly uncomfort
able and always laid aside by Maria in pri
vate. She was sure she bad put them in the
right hand corner of the stand drawer. Bu
mol Clearly they we're not there. Maria's
heart sank. She stole softly to the mantle
shelf, and felt around among the brass can
dlesticks, and came near knocking over the
plaster cast of Little Samuel but no teeth
were there, Heavens She remembered
now. She had left them in the pocket of hel
palm leaf figured gown on the occasion Of
the deacon's recent call, and the dress was
hanging in the ''big press in Betsy's
room.
A chill of dismay crept over Maria. But
the teeth must be had. To appear without
them was not to be thought of. She sal
down on the floor and removed her tan col
ored CATERS, then, with stealthy tread
sought the "press" in Betsey's room. 1t was
a desperate act, but what will not roman
tic maiden venture, when love stands ready
which stood the 'press," opened the door,
and cautiously felt for the dress. 1t was
hanging ON the peg where she had left it
and she rummaged round in the folds for
the pocket; the dress slipped from its peg,
and came sliding down, the hooks an deyes
ON the waist scratching against the side
of the wardrobe with noise like that OF
rats working their way into Betsey's apart
ment.
Now rat was the one thing on earth of
which the stout hearted Betsey hak fear.
She started up in great alarm, exclaiming:
''there's them rats again! Shoor' Maria held
her breath, and in trying to escape Betsey's
sleepy, vacant stare, leaned too far back
ward and sat down noislessly on the floor
of the 'spress," MASKING in the crown of her
coquettish bonnet and knocking it forward
on her head 10 rakish way.
Fortunately Betsey was too much afraid
of rats to venture out on the floor in search
of them so she merely reached out and pick
ed up one of her carpet slippers, lying con-
veniently near, and threw it at the supposed
intruders with warning to them to Shoe.
The missile few in an opposite direction
from the object aimed at, or Maria's bonnet
might have suffered yet more severely. AS
it was, Betsey supposing from the intense
silence which prevailed that she had fright
ened away the rats, lay down again and was
soon peacefully sleeping. In the meantime
Maria sat breathless till assured of Betsey' s
oblivion, when she pulled herself out of her
uncomfortable position and made off with
such haste as was consistent with cramped
limbs and utter silence, taking the palm leaf
dress with her to the seclusion of her own
room. There by the ray of the moon she
hastily searched the pocket and secured the
teeth which were hidden in the depths.
These she placed in her mouth and then re-
placed the tan colored CATERS and opening
the door into the 'entryway'' glided out and
passing through the kitchen to avoid the
watchful Tiger, soon found herself standing
under the blue canopy of heaven.
And here let us explain. On the occasion
of his recent call, after the tender scene of
wooing described above, Deacon Skeels had
ELECTED from the romantic maiden promise
to meet him at the end of the s'cow pasture"
on the present night and go off ''quiet like"
and be united in the holy bonds in the little
sitting room behind his shop. Whether he
was prompted to this course by the dread of
encountering Elizabeth, or of facing the
wrath of some of the other sisters in the
neighborhood, who had had their eyes on
him since his bereavement, does not appear.
AT al events, he wished the deed to be done
quickly and quietly, and this midnight
elopement SO pleased Maria, SO far exceeded
her widest hopes, her most romantic wish
es, that she readily consented to the plan
and hence we find her tonight skipping along
the cowpath to meet her waiting lover with
all the blithesome agility, if not the grace, of
young girl.
She hurried across the pasture so rapidly
that when she reached the tr Isting place by
the lane fence, where the deacon, the chaise
and the old mare were awaiting her, she was
entirely out of breath and had to lean for
some minutes against the fence for support,
while her lover embraced her through the
rails. AS soon as Maria recovered some what,
she mounted to the top of the fence with
what little assistance the deacon could rem
der her through the openings between the
rails, and prepared to leap into his open
arms. She did spring, or rather dropped,
but the skirt of her gown caught on the end
- fInrn oh hmm nd
The tan colored CATERS, with attendant an
kles and hose, dancing wildly in mid air, in
a vain effort to find resting-place for their
soles, while the recreant bonnet fell on her
shoulders and her fatal teeth, insecurity
fastened, few out with the violence of the
Jerk she received. The agonized deacon
stood below. uncertain whether to fly or re-
main. Gallantry however, overcame his
modesty, and with the encouraging admo-
milton to his love, ''Hold fast there, Maria,
and Z unhitch your clothes," proceeded to
release her.
Maria was likely to ''hold fast" She re-
NAMED miserable fxure until the deacon
hoisted himself to the top of the fence, and
by dint of great effort succeeded in ''unhitch-
ing' the dress, when Maria fell to the ground
in heap, nearly fainting in dead earnest.
Only the sight of the moonbeam playing
on the silver plate Of her front teeth saved
her from a deep swoon. She clutched wild
ly at them, and before the deacon descended
from the fence had them in their place again
That worthy person backed slowly and eau
tiously down, and when certain of standing
once more on level ground looked around
for the luckless bride who stillilay in the cor
ner, an object of pity as well as of admira-
ton to q bridegroom.
81 hope you amt noways hurt, Maria.
Chirk up, and don't be cast down at SIGH a
time" said the deacon, lifting her and lean
ing her against the fence, while he wiped
the perspiration from his purple face. Plac-
ing his arms about the slender form of the
agitated Maria, by slow degrees he dragged
her to where the chaise and white mare
were standing in the moonlight awaiting the
love-lorn pair, and induced her to exert her
self enough tomount the chariot, with assist
ant boosting from him.
Finally they were off, Maria leaning help
Iessly against his bosom, and declaring vague
ly that she would ''rather a. died." referring
no doubt, to her lover having seen her stock
ings and underwear and false teeth. The
moonlight was soft and mellow, the all
sweet and balmy, the deacon tender and at
fectionate, and by the time the old mare had
turned her head round the corner of the lane
on which stood the deacon's house, Maria
had Welded to the softening influences
about her, and looked quite hopeful and
bride-like.
When the happy pair entered the little
cIo,, Human saamed to smile on them and