The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-27
AN ELOPEMENT.
By SUSAN ARCHER WEISS.

It was while on summer excursion
among the mountains, not very many
years ago, that l met with my fate, as
my readers will learn if they have pa
tlencc to hear my story.
I had just concluded my college
course and my fond parents, proud OF
their s;n, but ureasy on the score of his
health ,thcy never kew, nor did the
professors. how much paid poor Jack
Harding for those Greek and Lat Il ex-
ercisesy insisted upon my 'recuperatiug'
before entering upon my low practice.
So up into the mountains we went, and
Sancho. for fortnight's enjoyment OF
country air and hunting.
Sancho was my dog. fine, handsome
fellow, who, from a certain sturdy OBJ
stinacy, which formed one of his traits,
must have had a strain of bull dog in
him. l had purchased him in my col
lege DAYS from student friend ard had
taught him many clever and interesting
tricks, such as 10 reel across the room,
to howl in chorus to song, and what
was more useful if not SO ornamental, to
guard any article entrusted to his keep
ing, such as a haudker. hef, book or a
letter, and tierccly resist any attempt to
Interfere with the same. This accom-
plishmcnt I now found useful, as in my
bathing and swimming excursions could
feariessly leave my clothing, gun and
watch in Sancho's charge, sure Of finding
them safe on my return. Only once had
any one dared Interfere with the dog on
these occasions, and he had borne the
marks of Sancho's teeth for many q day
after.
had been about week in my country
retreat, a dull little village in mountain
gorge, when l e day set forth on q
cunning excursion, now and then max
ing succc sful shot, which Sancho
hailed with tho widest enthusiasm. At
length, while passing through sunny
glade of beech wood, my eye was
caught by small object bobbing in and
out behind huge tree trunk, and which,
on loJkin5 closely, I discovered to be \
bird of peculiar colors s--whitc, black and
crimson. Lager to secure this ornitho-
logical prize, raised my piece, took de-
liberate aim and fired, when instantly
the report was followed by cluul Of
feathers, and-a womau's shrek Run
ming toward the spot I discovered a
beautiful young girl, pale with fright,
while at her feet lay sketchlng port
folio and q straw hat, the latter orna-
mcntcd with the remnant of stuiled
bird, which at once explained to me the
nature of the catastrophe.
Overwhelmed with confusion, l stood
dumbfounded, while the young lady, af-
ter bestowing upon me one reproachful
look, sank upon the messy bank and
burst into tears.
GLOW could you have been so crucl?"
she so5bed. II am sure I-I--never
harmed you" .
Indeed, beg ten thousand pardons, '
said, earnestly. 1T was most stupid
and unfortunate blunder on my part; but
you were hidden behind the tree, and l
only saw the bird on your hat"
''Are you sure that you didn't do it to
frighten me2" she answered, looking up
doubtIully.
"Certainly. Good leayens! you can't
possibly imagine that could have been
50 brutal2 only saw the bird, which I
took to be live woodpcckcr, and"
"a woodpeyker!' she interrupted dis
dainfuly. "Why, it was an oriolc. AS
If I would wear q woodpccker in my hat
And you came near killing mc'' she
added, with fresh burst of tears.
These words and the sight of her dis
tress went to my heart. In fact, they
brought me to my knees, literally.
pumped down in the moss at her feet,
intent upon pouring out my contritior
and imploring forgiveness. lut unfor.
.unatcly the moss concealed shallow
pool, and I came down with a splash
which sent the mirey drops flying on al
sides. Here was Il second awkward
bluuder. l felt the blood rush to my face
as | realized The lud crousness of my
position. My fair companion relliked il
also--lor she broke into rather hystcri
cal fit of laughter, iu with was pres
emily compelled to join. So there were
we, two entire stran. crs. facing each
other and laughing away, I must say it.
in the most id otic mann r.
Twas the first to recovrr composure
picked up the scattered sketches, took
from Sancho the remains of the unfort
unate oriole, and placing them by thci
fair owners side seated myself on root
of the tree to await her recovery. There
upon she wiped her eyes, pushed back
her disheveled golden ha;r, and said
half apo'ogetically:
You must think me very silly, but il
is all zoo funny"
Then she noticed Sancho, who had
stretched himself at her feet, and praised
him and askcd his name; and SO by de
grees we got into an easy talk in which
we learned Il great deal about each other
] let her know who / was and that had
just honorably passed my college exam
ination, and she confided to me that hel
name was Cora Madden, and that she
was ward of her uncle, Squire Madden,
upon whose gro nds it appeared was
at this moment inadvertently trespass
ing. and that she was Just home from tho
Mis- cs -pcks' Select Academica! School
Sho hal lilted th2 place, but would pre-
fer returning there to living at Madden
Hail, where was no society nor amuse-
mcnt of any kind. Of course I sympa.
thized with her, and before parting had
asked and obtained permission to call
upon her at the Hall.
From my landlody 1 that evening
learned something more about Miss Mad
den. She was an heiress-''a real heir
ess" Mrs. Chubb assured me-and hel
uncle was doing his utmost to secure he,
and her property for his only son, 6
young man of no great brilliancy, but Of
very expensive habits, who resided in
A. 4n,,r, ,rith .nlf TLia ,,rn