The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-08

| This is how 1t came about that, few days
after the Alderman and his household had
arrived at Torringwood Place, Master Jack,
accompanied by Tom and Dick and Harry
and VIII and Ned into the bargain, was snugly
established at the Grown Inn, fully determin-
ed to have wild, registering time of it. For
Jack, although he was madly in love, lost
neither his appetite nor his high spirits. He
moaned out his woes in his verses, and there
he made an end of them.
The inhabitants ofthe Wells were astonished
at this unexpected invasion, for they were pre-
pairing, like the moes, to 60 to sleep for the
winter. But they did not resent it, for the
unusual chance of turning an honest penny in
the dull season was acceptable to them.
Honest Giles Oldham, the landlord of the
| Crown-it would appear that all landlords
were honest in the good old days, very
remarkable phenomenon-wa delighted with
his guests, for they spent their money in fine
+ reckless fashion. He reflected with glee that
I he was the only man in the town who kept
horses for hire in the winter, and he made up
his mind that the young gentlemen should pay
roundly for their pleasures.
{ It was not so easy matter for Jack to meet
+ his beloved at Tunbridge Wells as it had been
I in London; for her guardian was never away
/ from Torriugwood Place, and that abominable
( old red faced Baronet was always laughing
about her. But lovers are not easily baked,
aud this couple soon found way to meet
( daily, nuobserved. When two old gentle
[ men, who don't take much exercise, eat
I hearty dinner at the fashionable hour ofthree
O'Clock aud finish it by companionably crack
ing couple Of bottles OF port together, they
are an, to be overtaken by drowsiness. The
Alderman and the Baronet might be trusted
TO be soundiy sleeping at Eve o clock, and
then-why then, il you had been watching,
you would have seen Ellen Tresidder, not
wiihs,andng the cold and the gathering dark
ness, walking along shady cypress avenue
ia the garden; and presently you would have
seen the head Of youth peering over the
wall that separated the garden from the road.
Ia another moment Jack Verinder would
have scaled the barrier and would be saunter.
ing ~ish his arm roaai the waist Of his mis-
,ress, While the expresses shivesed ia The nip
ping Wind. and the dry dead leaves Of the
ueiEhboriDg oaks danced on the path around
them.
When Jabez had been at Tunbr'dge Wells
for aboat month, he began to grow weary Of
tie monosouy Of his life there, and he came
TO the conclusion that SIR Ralph took more
interest 10 his port than ia the success of bis
suit for Mistress Tresidder's hand. So he
took an opportunity 10 reproaeh him for bis
negligence. The Barones pafed oas his fst
red cheeks and locked nervous
"Iis all very well to talk, be Erumbled;
s.bas shat am 10 do = have asked the girl
TO marry me dozen times, and she only
langhs ia my faee. Her guardian eoald maks
her TO do it il he liked, bat be wou't move
hager in the matter, although the match is
wogsh ive thoasAnd 70 him.
''ofcoarse uon' {, . regogied the Alderman
petaIantly. Il told yoa 50 much long axe.
People woaid ges taIkiag, and | should lose
I credit amoag my aeqaaiataaoeS. Iou owe
Z sne hvs Thousand. As yoa very properly OBJ
serve. Instead Of sending yea to the spong.
Z ing house, a. I might, keep yoa At free
F. quarters as great expense, AID give you the
+ chAacc of fmArrying pretty wench. A woman
will wed any man il be IS the oaly marriage
able one she ssss Yoa have had her TO
+ yourself gos month aow. and you are no
larther iorusrd Than when We hrss came to
the Wells It'sa scandal You are neglect
iag yoar laty, RALPH. Yoa dou'E 20 the right
way 10 wosk with the girl. She is young and
romantic. y0a 700 her as L she was dowa.
ger. Try to be Young and lusty aud romantic
yourself, aud yoa are bound to succeed.
Propose u runaway match; that IS an excite
mcat that no woman can resist. She Il Jump
al il. asa, take my word for it. Thea. one
fne nsght. order coach from Gsies Oldham 5
10 be waiting for you II the cross roads, steal
away With the fair one, and hey Cor Gretna
Green' Perhaps / shall give chase in the
morning. % convince the world that my ward
has acted against my will; bat shan's catch
you, promise yoa- :"
IL Was 40, a scheme that vas likely to fad
favor With 8 middle aged an4 rather stout
gentleman, who dearly loved ease and CON
fort; bot the Alderman stood in the same
relation to the Baronet a. q certain parsonage
ssho shall be namelezs, when be takes upon
himself the function OF Jehu, il the proveFh
Is tras. Sir Ralph had no liking for the task
thus laid upon him, bat he determined tc
essay il, SO that his creditor should have nc
cause for complaint On the following mora
ing be took Mistress Tresidder aside and pro
posed the elopemeut as calmly as i he were
Suggesting gameaat eribbage.
"Oh, Sir Ralph How wicked = cried
Ellen. What would my guardian say?''
lord, my dear" replied the Baronet
"you needn't fear him. 1t was he who pro
posed it"
The girl thought that the poor man must b,
joking, aud she could scarcely restrain he
laughter. His constant suit for her hand haC
become wearisome to her, but the novel idea
Of running away with the fat Baronet, aud o
her guardian knowing of and winking at til,
escapade had an elemen, Of absurdity in i
that amused her not little. She could no
answer this ridiculous lover seriously. 81
she made very fine courtesy aud said:
..0h, Sir Ralph, if ever run away with an,
one, it shall be with the man of my guardian
choice, assure you -
4 Sir Ralph was not over burdened with in
telligence, and he took this reply as an asseu
: to his proposal. He laid his hand upon hit
! lowered waistcoat, and bowling low, declared
/ that he was the happiest man in the world
| 1t could hardly be said that he looked it, 70
he was wondering what effect a long nigh
drive in the winter would have upon bis rheu
f. matism.
2 Sir Ralph reported his success to the Alder
y man over his port that afternoon, and a it'll
/. later on Ellen was giving her version Of tn
Q adventure to Jack Verinder in the garden
: And you may be sure that she did not forge
to tell him that her guardian was spurrin
1 this lukewarm suitor to attempt such des
e perate action.
: Jack raped out very big oath when h
. heard of his rivals impudence; and he swor
o that he would provoke Sir Ralph to a due
|. without more ado, and settle the diferenc
e between them in that fashion. But befor
# his anger had subdued a sudden thougi
o seemed to strike him. He took step or tw
away from his mistress, then he turned rounC