Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-03-26

man before returning to the house. He
did not sec his son watching i'm in
these movements from an upper win
dow. Two hours later the two eat at
dinner, each at the end of large dim
ing-tablo set for their sole use, with
stately silver and china in elaborate
array and lighted with four tall candle
sticks, two Mt either end. Each was
dressed with unusual care, and seemed
In more companionable mood toward
the other than for some time had been
customary. Each deemed the victory
in their long battle at last his own.
II tell thee, Godfrey, best give up
| that girl" said the colonel, when the
wine had been passed; "shc is high
minded wench, and needs an older
hand than thine to hold her"
"And dost give her up thyself9"
"Not to-day, Godfrey; but to-mor
by this time thou shalt know my mind. :"
agreed" cried the son. ~ have
been thinking on it myself, and to-mor-
row by this time thou shalt know mine. !"
Come, we will drink to the fair dam
sell" said the father. Here's to her
and the man that wins her."
They drank the toast each smiling at
the others dcluson. The colonel was
thinking he soon should learn the secret
of the "trusty messenger that had
perplcxcd him SO greatly; for he be-
licved that Ellen once his wife by q
forced marriage, his masterful spirit
would quickly tame her to willing SUBJ
mission. The dinner went on slowly,
marked by the decreasing length of the
candles The Colonel drank heavily.
At length he took his seat by the
iircside, and finding it difficult To-
keep awake, yielded to drowsiness, ad-
monishing his son before falling asleep
to wake him when the carriage should
come round, rs he intended going out
that evening.
When young Godfrey saw his father
in heavy slumbcr new plan flashed
across his mind He noiselcssly and
quickly placed the lights in remote
corner of the room, and drew the house
keys from the pocket Of the sleeping
man. He listened moment; there
was not sound in the house. Hasten.
ing to the hall, he found lying there the
great travelling coat and hat placed I'M
readiness for his father, and had put
these GA Just as the noise cf the moving
carriage reached his ears. 1t required
but moment to unlock the great hall
door, and in another moment, aided by
the obscurity, he had relocked it and
jumped into the coach undctectcd by
the waiting coachman. The man shut
the door without word, having evil
dcntly received instructions in the aft
crnoon and drove away. 1t had all hap-
pcned in ten minutes. He was free
md Iritins tr thn hnnsn of his hp-
| loved.
Godfrey's emotion as the coach
J stopped before Mistress Dwight's door
may be imagined. Ellen was prepared
and came out speedily, accompanied by
a servant, who, throwing dim illumi-
nation from his lantern into the inte-
rior, enabled her to take a seat at the
remotcst angle from the supposed
colonel. The carriage moved off. God
frey said not word during some min
utes, though every breath in the dark,
close warmth of the interior where she
breathed also, was like perfume from
heaven. The wheels ratified outside
with dull noise; he looked into the obs
security without to satisfy himself that
they were following the Calvert Hill
road. At the next instant Ellen spoke.
What means this strange night
journey, Colonel Carter, if that is you
sitting there in the dark so silently?"
she asked.
ut means wedding, Ellen, if thou
art willing"
Godfrey here too?" she cried.
| None but | alone" he said; and in
n moment she was in his arms.
1t makes me young again, thinking
on these two lovers so joyouslv reunited,
even in the teeth of destiny (but perhaps
by the furtherance of a yet deeper des-
tiny); nor need l, having shown them
so we'll advanced in their good fortune,
follow them further along their jour
ney. Not until the end did their driver
discover his mistake, and they were
then at the minister's door on Calvert
Hill.
Parson MacFinster was much taken
aback when he found who awaited him
in his parlor.
"I have come to tell thee, Parson
MacFinster, that my father made mis-
take said Godfrey, without waste OF
words; "and see here, have brought a
double purse of gold to convice thee OF
it."
"a double purse of gold is a great
help to Conviction answered the par
son, recovering his countenance; land
since the proverb says all is fair in love
and war-and this seems to partake
somewhat of both-I am your obedient
servant, at your service"
Then marry me speedily" said
Godfrey, "to this young lady, Mistress
Ellen Edgeworth, and thank God she is
more willing bride than one or two
that report says have come here"
Months afterward Colonel Anthony
Carter forgave his son, and the family
were reunited at Christmas dinner,
where fair Ellen behaved in such adj
mirable spirit toward the colonel that
his forgiveness at once ceased to be
perfunctory, and became genuine. He
kissed her heartily, saying he liked her
better as daughter than as wife,
and from that day they were boon
friends.
And the Inexplicable Messenger 1t
is here, hanging over the desk at which
| write. Colonel Cartcr's sword-canc
has descended to me, his grandnephew,
with one thin little love-note actually in
place in that narrow cavity where the
sword cnters-thc same note that have
copied. Slipping out into the hall where
the cane stood, perhaps hundred years
ago this very night. fair Ellen or gallant
Godfrey would withdraw one little
missive and substitute another, then
hasten back with bated breath into tho
lighted room, thus making the unsus-
pecting colonel in his daily visits carrier
of the very mail he was so solicitous Of
intercepting.-XenoS Ciark, IN Harper s