Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-03-17

that you ever saw, notwithstanding
that old MeStiverS is her father.
He saw her first at a picnic, danced
with her, kissed her in the ring, and
walked home with her at night. Ire
member the evening very well. 1 was
5 tting in my library, smoking n cigar
and thinking of the late Mrs. McStiv-
ers-Oh, those apple dumplingsl my
mouth waters every time / think of
them-when. the windows being open,
l heard vOices AT the door. 1 knew
it was Julia. and 1 knew she had a
young fellow with her. and, tear my
wig. il lie wasn't begging for kiss.
How silvegy sweet sound lovers Tongues by
night.
l remarked eonfidentially to McStivers.
In about five minutes Julia came in
blushlng like a ten-aere flower garden,
and looking rs lOvelya as a fairy queen.
"Oh. papal I've hal such splendid
timer said she. throwing herself into
my arms and kissing the cuticle off
from my right cheek.
Yes. 1 should think 50. particularly
during the last i've minutes" 1 re-
marked.
~Oh. fatherr' and she hid her face in
my whiskers.
"Who was il, my dears" 1 inquired.
Mr.. Thomas Bunsby."
"TOm Bunsby,r' l yelled, sprlnging
to my feet. while my eyes rolled fear
fully.
Ny daughter fen at my feet the pic.
tnre of terrified terror or hOrrifed
hcrror. can't tell which e-at
'-Girlr said /, in a voice of thunder
and lightning. did you know Tom
Bunsby'S fatherg'
"NO-O."
"Or his mOthers
mo"
"Or his grandfather2"
NO
~I'm sorry" said l, making terri
BILE effort to calm myself. ~Fm very
sorry that you didn't know his grand
father, very sorry. indeed: becanSet the
old gentleman Kicked me out of his
front door once for daring to make
love to his daughter; and, by Jove,
girl. if young Tom BunSby comes here
to see you I'll serve him IN the same
manner. oh. revenge is sweet-'tis
sweet"
Julia got up then
sCan I go now. fathery" she asked.
"Yes: but remember. no more Of
Tom Bunsby. Goodnight"
Time passed on and Julia seemed
the same as usual Whether She saw
Tom OF not l did not know at the
time, Though have since learned that
they were in the habit Of meetingquite
frequently. Ne. 1 did not know that
they met, but suspected that they
might, and to prevent any chance of
an elopement / never allowed Julia to
60 ont in the evening unless l went
with her. and at 1OO'elock every night
the doors and windows were all made
fast against burglars and lovers, and
we slept secure until morning. You
perceive by this that am not one of
those who wait until the mare is stolen
before locking thestahle. Well. it was
one night about a month after that.
after lIcking up the house as usual, l
retired to my rOOm, and, disrobing this
lovely form of mine. erept into bed. l
had Just finished my first nap. and had
turned over for the second. when the
dOOr-ben rang. And how it did ring.
Egadl / thought they'd pull itdown.
Was it fire, burglars. OF did somebody
mistake my house for the doctors. l
didn't stop to think. but throwing on
my clothes in. the shortest possible
time. 1 rushed downstairs and threw
open the door, holding my revolver
Straight out befOre me rs l did 50.
. A note for you. sir" said small
boy. handing me a folded paper. My
first thought was that it was a'tel-
egraphic dispatch.
. Anything to pay?" l asked.
ssNc. sir" and the boy vanished in
the thick darkness. Clnsing the door,
/ tore open the note andsread:
Mn. McSr1vEEs-Yeur daughter wiz elope
tO-nirhf with Ton Blnsby. If she has not
alrradr. II yoa iind her not in her room,
run 10 the hotsl-rOom fifteen. first flight.
Adieu. Jon kERR-
All the tiger in the McStiverses
was aroused. / dashed madly upstairs,
and, throwing open Julia's door,
rushed in. Alas / was too late.
She was gone-the bird had flown.
She had not been in bed that night.
1 ala not continue the search there.
but flew On the wings Of the wind out
Of the room. out Of the house and
along the street til reached the Tad
mouth hotel The clerk was dozingin
the Office and did not see me when l