The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-01
tanned a coyiy given promise that she

became engaged to Vivian Jellicoe; on
Tuesday, Vivian begged her to name day
for the wedding. and she refused; and on
NedneSIay, Vivian. knowing the peculiar
sentiments of Miss Martina Marrable, and
doubtful also, perhaps, whether his father
would throw impediments in the way OF
his early marriage, proposed an elope-
ment; and Amy, with some hesitation.
consented.
When she returned from her secret
meeting with her lover, she of course con-
hded her plan to her cousin. 'How fool
ish you are" said Lucy; 'you know that
your father would not have YOU do that
for the world; and you will make an
enemy of Aunt Martha. who is like a
mother to US girls"
but she would never agree to our mar
rying, If We consulted her, !" objected Amy
land If she knew anything of our plans,
am sure that she would manage to frus-
trate them. She is a dear old thing, but
- Well, she is peculiar on those points"
have told you what | 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 inf1u-
ence OF counsel. She persisted in her inten-
ton, 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 watchfulness of a man-hating spins
ter lady OF middle age, numerous prepara-
tons have to be made; and in the case of
Vivian and Amy the making of these prepa-
ratlons involved correspondence. Amy,
therefore, bribed one of her aunt's maids
TO act as go-between, and the maid in
question, with fidelity tina is rare, and
at the same time treacherp mat, l fear, is
nm ha.
ian's first letter to her mistress.
Miss Martha Marrable, w: shout scruple
tore open the envelope and aLgrily peruse1
its contents. my OWN ANY ;" ran the au-
daciouS communications" 4et us settle,
then to go on Wednesday. at nine o'clock
in the evening a 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, ana on Thursday
by midday we shall be married, and,
trust, never afterwards parted again. We
can arrange the details between this and
then. But write and tell me that YOU agree.
Your ever devoted VIVIAN"
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 q grand stroke at the final
moment. She went, however, at once to
Lucy, in whom, as l have said, she had
great confidence, and told her all.
"How foolish of her." said Lucy.
"Yes, my dear, how foolish, and how
wicked" assented Miss Marrable. 81 feel
it my duty tn prevent the CARRYING out of
this mad plan, and also to make Amy
suffer for her folly. l shall therefore send
her this letter; and allow the hair-brained
pair to mature their schemes.-Aud what,
Lucy dear, do YOU think that l propose to
do? You will never guess. Listen! Amy
and are of much the same height. l shall
personate her by concealing-ahem-m
face, and drive away with this vile young
man; and then, when he believes that he
has left me far behind, 1 shall overwhelm
him with shame and confusion"
Lucy could not help laughing. "That
would really be good fun, aunt" she said.
Eyes, send the letter TO Amy; and by all
means let matters take their course for the
present."
Amy duly received it, unexpectedly; but
five minutes later Lucy revealed the whole
plot to her, and threw her into the deepest
trepidation.
Here, however, Lucy's superior GOODNESS
came in most usefully. "You need not
despair" said the elder cousin. 'If aunt
thinks of having fun with you and Mr..
Jellicoe, why nor 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 of
course fall into aunt's hands. You must
mislead her, and then"
But" objected Amy, show am l to make
matters turn out properly"
"ListenW said Lucy. "Aunt proposes to
personate YOU. Very well. Put off the
time of your elopement. say, for half an
hour; and meantime Mr.. Jellicoe must find
some one to personate him. My idea is for
aunt to elope with the billiard-marker, and
so give you time to get away. Do you
see?"
Amy could not at first grasp the sig
of this bold proposition; but
when she succeeded in doing so she was
delighted with it.
AZ shall tell Mr.. Rhodes" said Lucy,
when she had sufficiently explained the
plan; "for know that he will gladly help
you: and Mr.. Jellicoe can talk it over with
him and have the benefit of his advice"
Bat what will aunt say whea she discov-
ers how we-how you-have deceived herr"
asked Amy.
"Ahw said Lucy. silly, 81 must talk
about that. too, with Mr.. Rhodes. But
never fear" And she went off to rejoin
Miss Marrable, who was still much Hurried.
Later in the day Lucy met Robert on the
beach and told him what had happened.
"And now," she said in conclusion, 81 am
going to make dreadful proposition to
you. We must also elope together!"
az am sure l don't mind" said Mr..
Rhodes. "After hearing your news l was
going to propose as much myself. It
would take you out of the reach of your
aunL'S reproaches, when she finds out the
trick that has been played upon her."
"You are dear old lovew cried Lucy
with enthusiasm. 81 wouldn't for the
world have Amy made unhappy; and /
feel that must help her, although I don't
approve of elopements. Now go 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 Joneses, Ehoever they
may be; or perhaps, after all, we had bet
ter not go there, since aunt knows of that
part of the scheme"
Il daresay," said Robert, shat / can
arrange for both of you to sleep at the
Browns at Llanyltid. They have a large
house, and, curiously enough, my sister
Dora, whom you have often met in town,
is staying there with them; so you will
have a companion and sympathiser. And
now 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 communica-
ting 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 at
nine O'Clock p. m, and two at half-past;
that the billiard-marker at the Cors-y
Gedol, a spruce young fellow of some edu-
cation, was bribed, at considerable cost, tn
Vivian Jellicoe and to run away
with Miss Marrable.
At length, Wednesday morning arrived;
and with it came the last of the billet-doux
that were to fall into the cunning spin
ster's hands. One of them had been com.
posed by Vivian and Robert, and written
by the former on pink paper, folded billet