The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-18

P'SSS gang IOrcoQ TO rlQ0 tnlrIy niles
ana more on winters night across the
cold and rainy fells married willy nilly
IN the morning without church or parson
and this when she had not once, but many
times, refused so much as to listen to pro
posals of marriage from the man All
were agreed that this was thing not to
be permitted Yet. what could be done?
10 run away with girl of her own free
Will and accord. and when she would
AIRY the man but for wickedness OF
guardians, is a different thing many a
MAIDEN has fed across the Border with her
lover. amidst the sympathy of her friends
But In this case it was like the carrying
away of the Sabine women, and no words
could be found by the morallsts too strong
to condemn the act
While everybody talked about it. that
is to say for whole week, there was so
much Indignation that if Mathew had ap
peared ii would have gore hard with him
among the men. tc say nothing of the
women. who would think of no punish
ment too bad for him The tow nsfolk
talked of ducking in the river. of pillory
and stocks and | confess that the thought
OF Mathew in the pillory was not disagree
able to me Yet considering the way of
! the world perhaps if he had been young
handsome and of pleasant speech. he
might have been forgiven the attempted
abduction on the plea of love inOrdinate
One man. we know. may steal horse
but then he must be comely and gener
GUS While another. if be is churGsh ard
harsh is clapped into jan for looking over
hedge While however they talked
Mathew kept away nor did he return for
three or four weeks leaving his private
affairs neglected. and no one knew where
he was in hiding
We had. however q visit from Barbara
She came. she said not out of any love to
me or my mother who had used words so
injurious as regards herself but to express
her adherence of the crime which her
unhappy brother had attempted. and
her thankfulness that this madness
Of his was defeated She said that
she knew nothing whatever of him
where he was or what he was doing but
she hoped that when he returned he would
be in better frame of mind. and feel the
remorse which ought to follow such an
action AS for the pretended marriage
with the old woman she said that was a
thing not to be considered seriously My
mother received her excuses coldly. and
she presently went away after another
attempt to discover whether | knew any
thinn froch ho, ho box Cho
to know. she said. not out of curiosity
because she was not curious person as
everybody knew. but because she feared
that | might. by representing the late
affair in its worst light. bring about
hostile feeling and even a conflict between
her brother and the boy which could not
fail OF being disastrous to the latter My
mother treasured her on this point. be
cause she said Mathew was already well
acquainted with Ralph cane and having
shown 80 much bravery in the late affair.
which took two men to carry off one
woman. would now most certainly
have the courage to turn submissive
tack to the chastser when be should ap-
pear Barbara thereupon went away
Though | loved her not | could not but
feel pity for woman who had done and
suffered so much on behalf of this thank
less brother She was grown much older
to look at during the last year or two. her
face was pinched. and wrinkles had null
tiplied round her eyes with her constant
cares This is All age when gentlemen of
exalted rank think it 10 sin to be put to
bed helpless after debauch of wine or
punch, | hope that more sober customs
may shortly prevail. else one knows not
what will become of us all Yet, though
drunkenness is in fashion think nothing
to sit. as Barbara sat daily knowing that
the only man i'll the world she cared for
is slowly getting drunk 10y himself in an
other room which is what Mathew did.
AS to the idle talk about the other will
and the rightful heir | know not what
she believed in her heart, or how far she
joined in the wicked designs of her
brother. which were about to be frus-
trated
Then Mr. Carnaby ACCOMPANIED BY his
lady and by the vicar came N person to
express his horror Of The cri lie and his
satisfaction that it was & ,,=entially pre-
vented
I'VE have discussed" said his worship.
1.-The action which we should take in the
matter At present all we have to 20
upon is the evidence of Nan. whs is, she
says. Mathews wife. so that if such be
veritably the case she cannot give evi
dence in the matter at ALL and that of the
boy Cuddy. an ignorant. half wild lad.
who knows not the nature of all oath.
Abduction is great crime. but then
Mathew. whatever were his intentions,
my child. did actually only run away with
an old woman. sind she makes no com
plant. but rather rejolces. while he is
rendered ridiculous. To kidnap a young
girl is a hanging matter but then. my
dear. you were not kidnapped In short.
we feel that TO bring Mathew to Justice
would be difficult and perhaps impossible.
To he sure. one would not wish to hang
any man for the worst of crimes. and we
had no desire to bring Mathew before any
court of law or justice. being quite con
tented that the offender should feel Ger
oain of sharp and speedy justice if he
made another such attempt.
Can we not see him at least" asked
my mother. placed in pillory2"
Il would place him in pillory." his
orship went OIL. If the old woman who
low calls herself his wife-heaven knows
With what right would lodge a com
plant But she will not He deserves
pillory at the least And as for the rotten
eggs. would myself bring even basket
of new laid eggs. so that he should want
for nothing And ! would condescend to
shrow them But she will not complain.
She even laughs and boasts that she has