Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1891-06-06
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
Farmer Stebbins' Experience at
Preventing an Elopement.

Preventing an Elopement.
Farmer Stebbins stood by his farm
yard gate one bright June morning
looking up and down the road that led
to Bewlcyville His wife stood beside
him. the wind playing wild pranlss with
her great slit sunbonnet and the stray
wisps of reddish hair that blew from
beneath it. just behind them the fat
old plow horse stood harnessed to Farm
err Stebbins' high water buggy pa
tiently waiting to make the tri-weekly
trip to town.
"Waal, Reuben" Mrs. Stebbins broke
the silence with her harsh. high pitched
voice, dew make up your mind; either
go or don't go, one or the tother."
"Be there any great rush, Cynthia?"
Farmer Stebbins drawled.. Its all
night till mornin', amt it?''
But Mrs Cynthia was watching an
approaching phaeton too intcntly to re-
ply. The warm June sun blinded her,
and she shaded her eyes with her long
hand that she might see better. Her
husband, whose attention had also been
attracted, did the same, and so they
stood gazing until a great black horse
drawing comfortable little phaeton
and driven by n rather pretty young
woman, came suddenly to halt in
front of their very gate. The girl bent
forward and begged to inquire if she
were on the right road to Bewleyville.
Her manner was impatient, her voice
anxious, and a look of relief came over
her face when Farmer Stebbins assured
her she was right.
And how far are we away?" she
asked in her clear, pleasant voice.
But two miles, and them short ones,
miss"
oh good" she exclaimed. Then
looking at very tiny watch: "Wc
shall make the down train from Chica-
go. shall we not? have driven my
poor horse too hard, fear
"Oh, you needn't hurry none now;
you'll make it right enough" Mrs. Stub
bins said, with Il queer look in her
keen. sharp face.
Come, then, Chester, we must be GO
ing. Thank you for your information.
! am SO glad to know we are all right.
Good morning." and with a smile and a
nod of her pretty head she was gone.
.'Eeuben," Mrs. Stcbbips jer>cd
"sonethin's up; sure as you Give there
is"
by Jove, Cynthia Ann, believe you
air right. That's Doe Lcland's girl or
miss my guess. and cayent be fooled
on his blacl. horse Chester. and I've
heard tell that his girl is wantin' to
marry some chap She met when they all
was in Europe last summer, and | bet
you. Cynthia. she's runnin' off to meet
him now. Like cs not they'll take the
Chicago express, Cynthia Ann
hn lltrllt Of Wi -..l~i inI,
shone on the mans thin face.
YES, an if you could stop EN-,
Reub," his wife gasped. like es not
ones doctorin'ed never cost us another
penny; it's worth worllin' for. sides the
glory; git IN and make Billy fly; that S
I. man: and law, Rcub Stcbbins. won t
folks like to hear you tell about it"
This settled it with Farmer Steb-
bins. lie ciambcrcd into his old buggy,
his wife opened the gate, and down the
road they went as fast as Billy, whose
natural gait was not flying, could take
them. The little phaeton looked like a
speck on the long, white road ahead OF
them, but BILLY and Farmer Stebbins
came into Bcwlcyvillc in time to see it
disappear in the .'red front livery
barn" Billy was tied to a post near
by, and his master, seeing the fair
driver appear and hurry up the narrow
street. rushed into the barn, and, con-
fronting the iovial and rotuud little
keeper, asked:
Nv nat did she say?"
Say" the astonshed man replied,
"who say?"
why she-the girl that just drove in
What did she say?"
Are you daft sStcbhins?' Stevenson
drawlcd.
No, man." Farmer Stebbins fairly
yelled; then taking the little man by
the arm he forced him out on the street
and, hurrying him along, poured in his
ear as they went his wonderful discov-
cry, made him repeat every word the
girl had said to him, and then took him
as partner in the scheme to thwart the
runaways-
Down the street the girl went with
her long, swinging steps, and down the
street behind her went Farmer Steb-
bins and Liverynan Stevenson. At the
rickety little railway station the girl
stopped, looked around, then went into
the telegraph Office; her followers
backed up against an open window, out
of sight but within hearing, and lis
tened to all she had to say to the oper-
ator. bashful youth, very susceptible
to female charms.
Have you message here for NJ. D.
Grey SOM"
Farmer Stebbins nudgcd Liverynan
Stevenson and whispered:
Assumed name, see?''
Yes, mann. Are you that-hem-
individual, ma'm?" Jarter inquired.
YES" the girl answered, in quick,
eager voice. please give it 10 me-"
Receiving it, together with bewtl-