Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-01

hearing, it may be. But it was true. Dear
old Pickley (just forty. He was happy
that we knew 1t, because there was more
Joy in his heart than one heart could con-
tain; and so he poured his surplus happi-
ness into our willing ears.
We did not suspect the depth or in
tensity of his love. All nature seemed re-
modelled, as it were, and dressed in bright
and happy combinations of color and form
which came straight from his heart. The
dreary places became bright; the rough
places smooth, because he painted every
thing with the brush of love and the colors
of his happiness. He had been making
wonderful progress, when we had least sus-
pected it. He had sized-up Mrs. Mertys
and shrewdly Judging there was no hope
there, had boldly stormed the citadel of
Liddy's heart and won complete victory.
But this could not wholly escape the eye
of such woman as Mrs. Mertys-at bare
suspicion of it the whole household felt the
shock of her outraged feelings-and she
promptly gave notice that she had one too
many boarders, and that she should re-
quire the room occupied by Pickley. OF
course he understood that all the room he
occupied in the house was required, as
well as his bedroom.
How far she could control Liddy, in
this matter, we did not know; heretofore
she had been controlled by her mother
something in the manner man controls
horse, not literally with whip and spur,
but with rein that guided in everything,
and with a will that swept every individ
ual inclination away with the dust of the
household. She was twenty-four, it is
true, but she was her daughter, as well.
Tom and | held a council OF war, and
the decision arrived at was unanimous that
there must be an elopement and marriage
very soon.
We sought out PicEley and, like Barkis,
he "was willin';;" and, unlike Micawber, he
was quite ready to turn up something to
attain desired end. By consummate
strategy he obtained an interview with
Liddy and, to his great Joy, she readily
consented to an elopement. Love had
driven out the mild and plant nature, and
installed the heroic in its place. 81 am of
age" she said, "and question in which
all my future happiness is centered must
be decided by myself. am not afraid 10
take the risk"
"Here is a Simon-pure heroine" said
Tom, with affections stronger than leather
and courage enough to fill meeting
house"
Tom and | Immediately undertook the
management of the whole business, dis
playing the utmost caution. Notwith-
standing that, Mrs. Mertys' suspicious
were aroused, and we greatly feared she
would take Lrddy away bodily. So we
decided to act at once. The next night
Liddy was to retire to her room at nine,
as usual, Immediately dress and descend
from her chamber window by ladder
which would be placed for her, enter a
carriage in waiting near and with Pick
ley, drive to the residence of Metho-
dist clergyman living in mining camp
two miles away. By this simple plan we
hoped by leaving as early in the even
ing as possible our movements would be
less suspicious There was Justice iv-
ing at Mudville, but Liddy would on no
account consent to be married nearer
home than two miles. Tom and l talked
the matter all over the night before in
our room.
| spent the eventful evening with
Liddy and her mother in the little sit
ting-room Mrs Mertys' manner was I'M
usually cold and naughty to me and short
and severe to Liddy, and her eyes cleaned
in manner that made me SILVER.
My suspicious were quickly aroused.
Promptly at nine both went upstairs to-
gether. / felt there was trouble in store,
and gently opening the door leading up
Al I hood H. Mortr,j
not loud but with fierce intensity, saying !:
"Elope, would you? Elope, and with that
internal dragonl l ought to tear you in
pieces for giving one thought to that
one-eyed monstrosity. IL there with you :"
tken Liddy's voice appealingly, Mother,
mother" but the door of Mrs. Mertys'
room closed and | could only distinguish
hum of voices. After few minutes the
door opened again, and footsteps sounding
in the little hallway, hastily closed the
door and caught up book. She did not
come down. ran back to my post again,
heard the door of Liddy's room open aud
shut again; then all was still.
Our plot had been discovered. We
were beaten; there was no doubt of it.
Liddy was prisoner in her mothers
room. A thought occurred to me. l took
a pencil, wrapped paper around it, went
out stealthily, fastened it to stick and
gently tapped at the window where | was
sure Liddy was confined. In a moment
the curtain was drawn aside and face APP
peared which the light within showed was
Liddy, then seeing the pencil and paper
dangling near she raised the window
slightly and grasped them. In few mo-
ments the slip Of paper came dancing
down. Selling it l ran off to find Tom
and Pickley. 1t did not take me long.
On getting to light the note read;
We are found our am frightened to death
and prisoner in mothers room. She is going
to get out OF my bedroom window on the LADDER
and go off to the minister's with Mr. P1ckley.
''just to get at him . she says. She Is awfulIy
angry. What shall do? am afraid she will
kill him. LIDDY.
GThe woman is a WITCH" said Tom. 81
know it. We're done for" Pickley was
gazing at Liddy's note. His eye had a
queer glare. Suddenly he cried out,
"We're not beaten yet. See, here. Tom,
YOU put on my overcoat and hat and go to
the window while | place the ladder. l
will speak to her as she comes down, then
slip away in the darkness and give her up
to you. Take her in the carriage without
word and drive to the minister's. Wen
release Liddy and do the business here
Involuntarily we cheered Pickley for
his mastery plan. He had proven him
self the greatest General of the trio. In
stantly we set about putting the new plan
into execution. Pickley adjusted the lad
der and almost Immediately the window
opened and a closely-veiled figure crept
slowly and cautiously out into the dark
ness.
"Yeu are brave GIRL" said Pickley, "a
thousand blessings on your head, my dar-
ling, for this courageous act"
The ladder shook, and we thought the
figure was about to spring off.
"Sh-sh ~ came from the figure, which
finished the remainder of the descent al
most recklessly.
Pickley darted aside and Tom, with
many tremor, took charge of the bold
and determined widow.
As soon as the sound of the carriage
wheels died away We ran to relea3e Liddy.
The ladder was brought around and she
was soon rescued from the tower in her
mothers castle. l then fastened to the
office of the Justice of the Peace. He had
retired and refused to arise for any busi-
ness that could be as well transacted on