The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-05-17

81 have told you what l think, said
Lucy, with an assumption of wisdom that
was perhaps warranted by her superior age.
''Don't be foolish
But Amy was already beyond the infu-
ence of counsel She persisted in her in
tention, and even claimed Lucy's sympathy
and assistance, which, of course, Lucy could
not ultimately withhold.
Ere an elopement can be successfully
carried out, in the face especially of the
Jealous watchfullness of man-hating spin
ter lady of middle age, numerous prepara-
tions have to be made and, in the case of
Vivian and Amy, the making of these prep
arations involved correspondence. Amy,
therefore, bribed one of her aunt's maids to
act as a go-between; and the maid in ques
ton, with fidelity that is rare, and at the
same time treachery that, l fear, is COM
mon in her kind, promptly carried Vivian's
first letter to her mistress. .l
Miss Martha Marrable, without scruple,
tore open the envelope and angrily perused
its contents. "My own Amy" ran the
audacious communication us settle,
then, to COON Wednesday. At nine o'clock
in the evening carriage and pair shall be
ready to take us to Harlech, where you can
stay for the night with the Joneses, who
are old friends of ours and on Thursday
by midday we shall be married, and, trust,
never afterwards parted again. We can
arrange details between this and then.
But write and tell me that you agree.
Your ever devoted VIVIAN"
CHATTER III.
Miss Marrable, who, when she received
this love-letter, was sitting in her bedroom.
was thunderstruck At first, she thought
of going to Amy and charging her with
baseness and ingratitude; but after some
reflection she decided to let matters, for
the time at least, take their course, and to
confound the schemes of the rash couple
by means of grand stroke at the final mo-
ment. She went, however, at once to
Lucy, in whom, as | have said, she had
great confidence, and told her all.
"How foolish of her. said Lucy.
'Yes, my dear how foolish and how wick
ed y assented Miss Marrable. II feel it my
duty to prevent the carrying out of this mad
plan, and also to make Amy suffer for her
folly. I shall therefore send her this letter,
and allow the hare.brained pair to mature
their schemes. And what, Lucy dear, do
you think that L propose to do? You will
never guess. Listen Amy and l are of
much the same height l shall personate
her by concealing- -ahem-my face, and
drive away with this vile young man and
then, when he believes that he has left me
far behind / shall overwhelm him with
shame and confusion.
Lucy could not help laughing. "That
would really be good fun, aunt" she said.
ayes, send the letter to Amy, and by all
means let matters take their course for the
present"
Miss Marrable did send the letter; and
Amy duly received it, unsuspectingly; but
five minutes later Lucy revealed the whole
plot to her, and threw her into the deepest
trepidation.
Here, however, Lucy's superior coolness
came in most usefully. "fou need not
despair said the elder cousin. IF aunt
thinks of having fun with you and Mr..
Jellicoe, why not turn the tables and have
fun with her? You must find some other
way of carrying on your correspondence
but at the same time answer this letter by
the old medium. Your answer will, af
course, fall into aunt's hands, You must
mislead her, and then
"But," objected Amy, show am 1 to
make matters turn out properly 2"
''Listenr' said Lucy. "Aunt proposes
to personate you. Very well. Put off the
time of your elopement, say, for half an
hour; and, meanwhile, Mr.. ,Jellicoe must
find some one to personate him. My idea
is for aunt to elope with the billiard marker,
and 50 give you time to get away. Doyou
see p
Amy could not at first grasp the signi6-
cance of this bold proposition, but when she
succeeded in doing so she was delighted
with it.
II shall tell Mr. Rhodes" said Lucy,
when she had sufficiently explained the
plan; for I know that he will gladly help
you and MIR. Jellicoe can talk it all over
with him and have the benefit of his advice
"But what will aunt say when she dis
covers how we-how you-have deceived
her ?" asked Amy.
"Ahr' said Lucy, slyly, II must talk
about that, too, with Mr.. Rhodes. But
never fear!" And she went off to rejoin
Miss Marrable, who was much furried.
Later in the day Lucy met Robert on
the beach and told him what had happened.
:And now" she said in conclusion, II am
going to make dreadful proposition to you.
We must also elope together!'
II am sure dont't mind said Mr..
Rhodes. CATER hearing your news, ] was
going to propose as much myself. 1t
would take you out of the reach of your
aunt's reproaches when she finds out the
trick that has been played upon her"
"You are dear old loveP' cried Lucy,
with enthusiasm II wouldn't for the
world have Amy made unhappy, and l
feel that l must help her, although don't
approve of elopements. Now 60 and talk
to Mr.. Jellicoe, and don't forget to have
the licenses ready. Perhaps Mr.. Jellicoe
can arrange for both Amy and me to sleep
that night with the Jopeses, whoever they
may be pf perhaps, after all, We had bet
ter not go there, since aunt knows that
part of the scheme"
II dare say" said Robert, ''that can ar
range for both of you to sleep at the
Browns, at Llanyltid. They have large
house, and, curiously enough, my sister
Dora, whom you have often met in town,
is staying there with them; so you will
have companion and sympathizer. And
now l will go and talk to Jellicoe.'
l need not follow in detail the progress
of the new scheme of double elopement.
Suffice it to say that the bogus correspond
ence destined to mislead Miss Marrable
was steadily kept up; that Amy and
Vivian found other means of safely COM
mulicating with one another; that the
Browns were written to; that the licenses
were obtained; that three carriages and
pairs were engaged, one to call at the hotel
n II