Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-10-02

HOusSs liS " aS vi IiSutSN ~ thS eu1i
and flogged by the great. At last hC
came to the knot-hole one day, furious
unutterably wretched, and told Jane
that he was going away.
"GoiEg away!" said Jane.
"Going to run away" said Tom. Ell
they catch me and bring me back III
hang myself to the hook over my bed
but III try first. I'll CO."
Jane burst into tears.
$50 away :" she sobbed. "And III
never, never see you any more, Tom !"
81 didn't think about that" said Tom
'Don't cry, Jane"
But she sobbed faster.
Don't" said he; "don't! l say.
Jane, you come, tool Pm going to be
a farmer; shall want wife. Come
with me-"
whats wife?"
YOU" answered Tom; "you shall
be my wife"
"W hat would have 10 DO
"Why, you must call me Husband
! instead of Tom, and | must call you
Ma instead of Jane | must work
and get you things, and you must cook
and mend my Clothes
GIVE a ball Of cotton end big nee-
de-" said Jane. "She gave 'em to me" "
you'll come, then?"
Eyes. I'm afraid; but, if | could
never see you any more, should cry
all the time.''
"i'm going to be farmer, " said Tom,
"We'll go to where there's land, and
I'll plant beans and corn. l've got some
put by in Il paper bag. l took it one
day. When they grow I'll pick them.
I'll build a house big enough for us out
of boards or something, and We'll never
come back here again -nerr."
"Never! o, dear!" and Jane began
to cry. After awhile she said, softly
"Of course, / shall bring the Child?''
80, yes" said Tom, land all your
clothes"
Then they decided how they were to
escape, where they were to meet, how
Jane was to make bold to ask for All eX-
ira "piece" that day, pretending the
dog had stolen hers, and how Tom was
to hide half his dinner in his cap.
Then, as some summoning bell rang,
they parted-Tom, bright and brisk
with bis new ambition; poor little Jane,
limp with fear and remorse, but deter
mined to follow Tom, whatever his for
tunes might be.
At ten that night Jane, with tear
swollen face, little bundle Of calico
frock end red flannel pettcoat under
her arm, and the "Child" clasped to her
heart, met Tom at the big tree outside
the poor house fence. There was moth
! ing to steal in the establishment; so, as
no one ever wanted to get in, il was not
very hard to get out.
Besides the Child and the frock,
Jane had her bread in bit Of newspa-
per, and Tom had made quite bundle
of possessions. He had his little bag OF
corn and beans, fire-shoyel, a shirt,
his old shoes and long stick with a
hook at the end, once the handle Of an
umbrella. On this he slung all their
joint property, except the doll, and adj
dressed Jane as follows:
"Remember now, you are my wife,
and must do exactly as | say-that's the
law; and must be good to you aud dc
all the hardest work; but you must cook
and mend for me, and I think you'd
better begin to call me Husband right
away" .
eyes," sobbed Jane. 90, isn't il
dark?"
"No," said Tom; "besides, If it is
all the better. We'd get into the woods
before they catch us. We shall be out
of the town by daylight"
Then they walked on-poor Jane
stumbling often, but Tom held her hand
and did not let her fall. At length the
! last little white house was passed then
came the church with its tall spire, and
then long paling fences about bits OF
meadow-land. They were in the coun-
try, but not yet in the woods, and both
children were growing very sleepy and
very tired-so very tired that finally
there was nothing for it but to sit down
on the grass under hay-stack, with
Toms head on James knee, and go fast
| asleep.
Sunrise awakened them. They ate
their bread and butter, started OIL again,
and in few hours the woods were all
around them.
"We're safe at last" cried Tom
"Nobody can ever find us here. I'll
build house and plant my corn right
away. Do you know how long it takes
corn to grow? And beans?
"No," ventured Jane, doubtingly-
"not long, l guess"
81 guess not" echoed Tom, "but
wish we had some more bread and but.
ter"
By and by the two explorers came tc
nice little spot in the woods close to q
pretty brook. 1t was very damp, but
| there was clearing which iL was easy
to plant. Tom dug it over with his fire
shovel, and put in his beans and corr
in straight rows. Then, with an ole
knife that was his creates treasure, b,
cut underbrush aud low branches
enough 10 make queer kind of leafy
hut big enough for both to creep into.
1--WE can eat outdoors. We shall on
ly want home at night and when !