Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-10-16
A Runaway Match.
BY MRS. r II. HOUGH.

Aoo hON' ~ nhy 0hobhOh WIN
1t, Min, said farmer Brown, taking his
pipe from his mouth for q nom emit, and
bringing his foot down with an en-
pbaic stamp. say no, and there's
the end of it,"
Minerva Brown, pretty, wlllful and
seventeen, looked up with a defiant
Sob
You cant say single word against
lack A ustin. father. He's q sober,
steady young man, twenty six years
old, and has little money laid by"
"Don't care II he has % snapped her
father. "He'Il have good deal more
laid by, I'm thinking, before he gets
you to help him spend 1t ".a ..ea OF
Q chit of thing like you talking about
getting married Is ridiculous You're
we'll enough off here, and ! want your
help about the house. Things have
gone dreadful behindhand since your
mother died. two years ago, and can't
stand any more expense yet awhile
Five years hence will be soon enough
for you TO think of such foolishness.
It's time to put stop to this whole
margin business, in my opinion, and
gals was larned to stay at home and
m AXE themselves useful where they be-
long"
"Stay at home, indeed ~ echoed
Minerva resentfully. "I'd like to know
where thsre'd be any homes 70 stay In
il nobody got married? It's all very
nice for you to call it foolishness-I be-
lieve you would do 1t again yourself ii
you had chance"
"I'm not disposed To let you commit
any such folly, and that's all about 1t, "
said Farmer Brown, adding under his
breath, as he resumed his pipe: THAT
gal wants tonin' Go wn, and she'll have
it before long. She'll soon take the
foollshness out of her. But she IA ustn {
know a breath about it beforehand"
And with a curious smile minRling
with the wreaths of smoke that rolled
up from his pipe, Farmer Brown re.
lapsed into silent meditation, while
Minerva, after another spell of stormy
sobbing got up and left the room.
Several Days passed. In spite OF the
interdicted courtship, the clandestine
meetings between the lovers went on
with undiminished frequency. Mean
time, it became evident to Minerva that
her father was connecting some secret
scheme, with the view, in all Croba.
bility, of more ettectuslly preventing
their marriage.
But one course remained-the old
fashioned, time honored elopement-
and their very next meeting was de-
voted to planning It's details. As pre-
caution against recognition, it was ar
ranged that Jack should be disguised
as an elderly farmer. Minerva r-o
Soaed to conceal her idcsuu,r nna..s sn
old bonnet and veil tb..e had beon her
mothers, while ner youthful figure
would DO cue. tually hidden under the
P p. folds of a large green shawl
t1e, you'd take the cars TO the 1ex'
own, twelve miles distant, and there
be married.
THAT will do splendidly," Minervf
exclaimed, with a rapturous squeeze o.
jacks hand. "And wen decide upon
next Thursday night, unless something
should happen to make an earlier datt
, necessary, In which case l will manage
| to let you know
Minerva passed the next few days II
a tremor Of mingled excitement and ex
| pectation. Every time her fathe
opened his mouth to speak, che half ex
psctad to hear the announcement OF som
design that would Illustrate her cher
ishsd project; but nothing OF the kin'
occurred. Whatever his plans wer
Farmer Brown kept his own counsel
lappearing, II anything,a little less CRU
THAN usual, and even made one or Nv
lawkward attempts TO pet his daughter
while Minerva with some slishttwinge
lof conscience over her contemplate
capade, attended TO his comfort wit
Ifiliai care and assiduity, at the sam
time improving every leisure momer
in psrfecting her preparations.
The momentous evening arrived
last. Pleading headache, which wa
not entirely fictitious. Minerva wei
: to her room at somewhat early hou
, Her father made no demur at the To-
OF her company, and even neeiecfed
ask her to fill his pipe for him q s-con
time and, after bidding him good nigl
rather more demon stratiyely than usua
: Minnie withdrew.
Once in her own room, she attire
: herself with unusual care, remarkiI
I to herself, az she surveyed her pleasiI
Image in the glass above her bnrea
-ttbat "even if it was to be runawt
( M atcb. she did not intend to look Ill
a fright" Then doing up small bul
= Idle OF clothing, she waited for the a.
+ pointed hour-eleven O'Clock.
!. 1t came at last. With trembling d
lasrs Minerva arrayed herself in her d
= lgu,se, slipped down the stairs, al
lnnietiy making her way to side dot
: lnoiselessly drew back the bolt and g
Z ded out.
81 The night was dark, save for
!. faint tw lie Of the stars, or q light
d some cottage. and with bated bres
minnie hurried along to the place
\ rendezvous, q large oak-tree, abou
n mile down the road. As she approac
IL ed the tree, the figure ola man emery
3. from its .hado ", and came quickly
~ meet her.
" "A,l right ." he whispered nervo
"All right answered Minel
promptly.
! Icatch the trair"
Taking his hand, Minerva started
on a brisk walk, that was more like
run, to the station. They arriv
IN lust az the train was starting, hurri
Ion board, and in another instant W
no being whirled swiftly away.
IL Not q word was spoken by eitl
.er during tie brief ride, but the a
i'll abound Minerva held her with
for ardeutly determined grip that aim
m me- smothered her. In very short u
he the next station was announced;
so aliRhting, they bent their steps tow
itl the residence of the nearest minisi
nd not more than mile distant.
A light cleaned encouragingly fr
lone room Of the little parsonage; q
or ia answer to n vigorous bell-pulll
tidy matd-servant appeared, yawn
|. rather sleapily behind one hand: :.
ne. rIs the minister IMP" inquired
th, MES escort, in a low, cautious tone.
~ Yes, sir; please walk into the
t lor," giggled the girl, comprehend