Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-05-12

the road past John Mason two unusual
night incidents might have been wit
messed, the CLEAN OF light across the
fields swaying and flickerlng as though
carried by an excited, unsteady hand,
and u man leaning against the door Of
John Mason's stables, whiting a stick
and muslng over something which ev-
identity pleased him much. "He, he
I never helped take them out of here.
Can't prove it by me who's takln' to
stealth; b amt been behind the hay.
stack tryin' to hammer the bungin that
barrel? There's one consolation F.; if
them there horses have to go fur, they
have been well fed an every shoe is as
sound as a triggcr-ha, ha!
He's coming! Oh. hurry, Dick We
can not reach Mr.. Stilwell's in time
it's
Three miles yet, and
You know Flee.wood's gait: Mr..
Mason never had a horse that could
outrun him. What shall we do? Oh,
If only We were
Married. and I could call you my
own then l would not run step, but
could defend my right to you in the
eyes of the law. Listen What's that
ahead 2
The Corners are just down there,
you know, and some one may be coming
on the cross road
That is the direction from which the
preacher comes. What If it should be
bit no, he's going straight ahead
Of US. Yes, there lie turns! Whip up
and lets overtake him
A quarter Of a mile; halt mile !;
three quarters. The sound OF hoofs in
both directions are growing distinct.
Call him, Richard. lie may stop.
Oh. it it only is
But your father will hear, too, and
hasten Hello, there! Wait!
In moment the overtaken party
was seen, sure enough, to be the very
preacher they were riding hard and
fast to find Bat while the situation
was being explained, the footsteps Of
the pursuing horse were heard close by
and in a minute another Hello rang
on their ears, hoarse and Infatuated.
Stop stop, command you! Young
man, I'll horsewhp you on the spot ii
you don't give me my daughter /
The two looked at each other in dc.
SPAR. But the preacher, backwoods-
man that he was, was Il loan OF wit anu
resources, and of heart as we'll.
Keep on. said he, quietly. and ride
as fast as you can. Join your hands
and sit firm in your saddle when tell
you. l have it all on the top of my
tongue
Chatter. clatter-c link, clink rang
the sharp hoof beats. Nearer and
nearer they came together; but the
words rolled off the preachers lips, as
he rose and Sank in his stlrrups, faster
than the speed of the racers.
Nearer and nearer sped Fleetwood
until his hoarse painting almost drowned
the preachers words. But a few rods
separated them.
Join your right hands. came the
sharp command.
Halt, | command you, in the name
Of
Put spurs Forasmuch as Richard
W. Anderson and Annie Giinger have
consented to-
Hold up there! I'm an officer Of
the law demanded another voice.
drowning the rest Of the preachers
"forasmuch.
But the wild wedding party dashed
forward, and the preachers lips worked
fast.
In the name Of the Father
Halt, or you suffer the penal
And of the Son and
Give me my daughter, you villain.
And of the Holy Ghost. pronounce
that they are husband aud wife.
Amen
There was halt then. and explana-
tiCns that .lisarmed the man of the law
and sent old Joel Gring'r back to his
belated supper with vain cursings of
bis luck.
The supper at Stilwel's WAS favored
with pleasan;er reflections, and Ben
Stone had many all opportunity to won.
der aloud, III his sly way:
How in tarnation them hogs ever
did git into old man Mason's corntield
lest when Dick Anderson wanted to
steal Joel Gringer's daughter
Bangs cover multitude Of wrinkles.
The barber. we suppose, gets to Heav-