The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-11-05

picture ofdistress. Mine was more so.
"Ethel." l groaned as we dejectedly
rode along on our wheels, chow con
we live without each other?"
1--WE can't and we won't t, "she brave
ly exclaimed. "Pa is just too horrid
for anything. I'm mad enough to
elope."
.'Hurrah!" shouted. I'm with
you-rain or shine. Let's elope on
our bicycles. Never was done before.
Strictly original. Patent applied for.
Well be famous tho world over, and
your pa will be proud OF us.
"Yes-but," thoughtfully spoke
Ethel when she recovered from the
shock, ''how can We manage about my
five-year stock of dresses. You won't
be able to buy me any till you're in
the firm, you say"
Easy" answered. "You can
smuegle them in tho barn, wearing one
at time under your everyday dress,
and place them in q trunk I'll have
hidden away in the hay. Then I'll put
wheels on the trunk and we'll tow it
behind when we elope. What team
we'll make"
"And what capital contriver you
are" cried the dear, innocent girl;
"but you'll have to pull the hardest
though"
"Never fear" laughed, only name
the happy night"
At the appointed time I stood in
the shadow made by the full moon
under Etheps window. AS the clock
struck midnight Ethel poked her
sweet face out and whispered
softly. Quickly / raised ladder to
her easement, and with Romeo's ar
dor helped my fair Juliet to the
ground where our glittering, iron
steeds stood waitingimpatiently to be
of. The loaded trunk on well-greased
wheels was down by the gate ready
to hitch behind us, and the minister
in the next town was waiting accord
ing to arrangement to tie the $40 knot
when we arrived.
Although Ethel said that both her
pa and ma were snoring when she lett
her room knew it wasn't safe to ling
er, so wasting no time in saying
''good-bys" to the old homestead, up
we leaped on our gallant steeds and
away we flew down the carriage drive
to the front gate almost forgetting the
invaluable trunk in our mad haste to
escape. Stopping and slippingits rope
harness about my waist and working
like q steam engine to haul it over the
smooth, macadamized road, we fled
in the direction OF my friend the par
son. Our brave cycles needed no whip
and spur to make them 60. They
seemed to feel the awful responsibility
thrust upon them and did their level
best.
Still the trunk handicapped mine to
such an extent that soon / wished l
hadn't urged Ethel to secure so many
new dresses, but it was to late to re-
pent.
On we went with long ten miles
between us and victory, and Ethels
pa, who might wake up at any mo-
ment to pursue and capture the trunk
and-horrors! a clatter OF advancing
hoofs from behind told US the
threatened danger had arrived. On
the straight, moonlighted road, not
half mile of, man on horseback
Ethel's furious pa without a doubt
was in full chase.
ely, love, hy!" I cried to my
frightened sweetheart, as l leaped
from my wheel and pushed the heavy
trunk into roadside thicket. ely
for your life!" / shrieked when J
gained her side again, 1--WE must get to
the minister first"
How we flew. Our wheels never
touched the ground, they bounded
through the air like lightning, like
skyrockets they wkizzed. At the
same time our pursuer-Etheps pa to a
certanity-wasn near enough to yell for
us to stop and gaining, for it was up
hill for. us.
But we reached the hilltop ere he
caught us, and away we flashed like q
pair of cannon balls fired from q
dynamite gun and followed by q
tornado.
One mile, two miles, three miles we
raced, pursuer and pursued, neither
losing nor gaining, as in silence we all
streaked past woods and fields and
scattered farm houses lining the
dreary way.
Twas the greatest test OF speed and
endurance ever known between horse
and bicycle. All records were broken
and--hurrah. The wheel kept ahead
as usual.
At the sixth mile the horse kept
falling behind in spite OF its riders eff
forts. At the seventh mile EthePs
pa was out OF sight.
Two miles more OF the cycles light
ming speed and We reached our tenn
porary haven of safety, the minister's
where it's sleepy owner was sitting up
and praying for our safe arrival.
In we rushed and in ten minutes our
+ trimonial knot was tied. Then
went ont on the piazza to look
for pa"
He soon came along on his tired
horse and seeing our wheels at the
parsons gate stopped to find out
what it meant.
Ethel. aided bv me and the parson,