Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-01-11
THE ELOPEM EST.

81 wo,' stay in this house day
longer IAN can help, said Aunt
Keturnh Green, jerking her knitting
needles emphaticallyint their sheath;
"no, WON'T"
Whats the matter, Aunt keturahf'
questioned Laura Green, a little alb.
sently.
Matter Well, it's ell matter |
don't care if he is your father, Laura,
and my own brother to boot, he's a
penuriOus old sarpent, and the way he
treats Mike Refill is enough to make
ones blood boil. Just because he owes
him "A little money, too Not but what
! like him well enough, Laura, added
keturah.
Then, Aunt Keturlh, " interposed
Laura, with an interesting glow of
crimson ON her cheek, why did you
use your influence with papa about
about Maurice Denycrsf
"Why did l. Because | thought
was dom my duty by you, child Mau
rice Dcnvers is an empty headed, con
ceited young jackanapes, no way
good enough for you, Laura Green,
and it's your fathers money he's ar
ter, and just nothing else under the
sun.
"IIow dare you speak so, Aunt Ke-
turah?" exclaimed Laura, suddenly
rising to her feet with rosy lips half
apart and checks deepening with
every breath she drew When"
She stopped abruptly. The next
moment Aunt keturah was alone.
"There she's gone" soIiloquized
Miss Green, stretching her neck to
watch the CLEAN of Laura's blue mus
lin dress through the hedge of lilac
and syringe; gone, and spose Mau
rice Dcnvcra is there to meet her
Love laughs at locksmiths, the old
provcrb says, and am sure it does at
old maids and cross grained fathers.
I'm glad warned Jonathan, though,
| KANT no faith in that airy chap,
with his big seal rings and his pcrfum
ed handkerchief and his black cu!s.
That piece of good advice clean balan-
eos this ere business about Mike Rel
~. It's all fair and square, and I'm
quits with Jonathan Green for once in
my life"
So soliIoqulxing the old maid went
upstairs topack her travelling acccsso-
raries, and brush up the snuff colorcd
bombazinc which was to be her robe
du voyage.
Meanwhile the stray smbcams,
pccklng their gold capped heads down
through the dense trails OF the wild
honeysuckles that grew by the river
side, were mute witnesses to the stolen
interview between Maurice DenverS
and pretty Laura Green.
you don't love me half SO dear
~ as | do you, Laura" he said re
"or you would consent.
"MamiccI' she looked up into his
face with eyes full of tender rCmun-
STRANGE. "Nou know that | love You,
Maurice"
''Then, dearest, why VIII you not
promise to be mine now!'
ooh, Maurice, ought wenot to wait
a little: Papa may relent toward
You
"Ncs !" he interrupted impatiently.
"the skies may fall. One suppositiou
is about rs probable rs the other. | tell
you, Laura, this suspense is killing
me-"
For Il young man undergoing the
process of being killed Mr.. Maurice
Denvers certainly appeared remark
ably hale and healthy, and most as
Suredly had trimmed his mustache
and curled his hair very deliberately;
but then Laura Green was too much
in love herself to judge the matter
very critically
"Oh, Maurice" she Sobbcd. don't
talk in that awful way"
Then don't drive me t0 it, Laura.
Consent al once, like the dear little
angel that you are. To make me happy
without any of these absurd DELAYS.
There is little church at Breutford
where we can he quietly married as
earl V as we choose TO morrow morn
ing. | Will have Il carriage under the
window at ; o'clock. Its only plea
SAINT drive be- ore daylight, and when
once you are mine your father can
but relent."
Laura hesitated The color came
and went on her checks in painful
ilushes.
"Think, dearest, urged the impor-
tuuatc lover. Remember that the
happiness of both of our lives hangs
III the balance. Once separated. who
knows how many years Of misery lies
before usi Say yes, Laura"
And Laura, blushing and CRYING.
did not withdraw the hand that Law in
his, and whispered, almost inaudibly.
YES"
We'll, said Aunt Kcturah. sol
EMMY, your gal has acted like she
was bewltched to day, lothian Here
she's put rock salt in the tea, and sot
the carving knife alongside the but
ter-dish, and poured water into the
padding, and done everything exact
ly knockerside foremost. Its my be
lief she's going TO have spell o fever
or suthin', lothian Green.
Il guess not, SAID Squire Green,
pulling away at his pipe, and pausing
in his mental calculation of how
much the wheat fields on the upland
were likely to yield him this year.
Where is shel Where is my little
gall" he demanded, turning suddenly
around in his chair.
But Laura had disappeared.
Gone up to bed, l s'pose," said
Aunt keturah, shortly; land I'm
goin' too I've got my things to finish
packing yet tonight
The door had scarcely closed upon
the lank figure of the retiring spin
ster when Mike Reilly came into the
room.
"A note, sir-frem the bank"
Squire Green opened it and glanced
over the contents.
Good Jericho!" he eiaculated, set
ting his teeth close together ana con-
tracing his brows into a dark frown.
II knew he was a villain, but didn't
think he was as bad as thatr
Following the first impulse of his