Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-08-23
AN ELOpEMENT.

hkea hash-she realised foy the first time
that she had a task on her hands such a.
she had not contemplated
Mrs. Pilsbury was shortly moved to ao-
tion by the recalling Of the taunt Of that
hateful Mrs. January, that "she would
soon settle her husband, II he had eioped
with the servant girl, with something more
effective than tearsY
Mira Pilsbury waited moment till the
busy ticket agent seemed TO have q SEQ
ond's rest from the inquisitions Of the ever
inQuiring public, and then approached him
timidly with the direct question;
"Did you see tall, dark looking gentle
man, with side whiskers, get or the early
morning train from CidervilleH
accompanied by rather pretty looking
young lady-tall, and blond and''-
Mrs. Pilsbury had to catch her breath
"Yes" was all she could gasp, though she
wanted to deny the ''pretty looking" part
-"and wearing light blue hat, with
q large ostrich feathsrf"
"Yesp' gasped the poor little woman
again, and this time harder.
"And did she haves very pleasant smilei"
asked the ticket agent. evidently interested.
This was too much.
'The hussyl" exclaimed the indignant
little Mrs. Bob Pilsbury, very much to the
astonishment Of the man Of the ticketA
Before he had an opportunity, however,
to elicit further information than the mere
fact that the tall blond young lady was.
according to the sweet faced distressed lit
tie woman al the window, q "hussy," MIRA
Bob had disappeared through the door.
A sudden rush of the throng and some
ths - %,
Of 1t had caused her to run suddenly out
excitement was
Flames were bursting out Of the upper
windows OF large chair factory on the
block below, and engines were tearing
down the street, followed by the usual
crowd. Soon the street was black with
headA
One Of these heads belonged to the hus
band Of Mrs. Bob Pilsbury. Though only
a rear view was obtainable, the excited,
enterprising little mistress OF Rose Cottage
succeeded by hard pushing In getting 80
good a rear view that she could almost
have thumped Mr.. Bob with the end Of her
parasol.
But her moment of triumph bad not yet
come. The derelict husband disappeared
from her field of vision quite as suddenly
a. he had appeared thereon, and Mrs Bob
was bewildered.
The fire belched forth from the third
story, and-horrorsHthree girls faces came
for an instant to the windows of the fourth.
and then drew back.
MIRA Bob was all of q tremble. She had
never witnessed such sight before She
admitted. when afterward abe recalled this
scene, that her graceless husbands esca-
pade did not exclusively absorb her
thoughts and emotions for that one mo-
ment.
But a chance remark of benevolent
looking old gentleman beside her caught
her ear. and Mr.. Pilsbury and the prepos-.
sessing servant girl quickly and exclusive
ly infamed her imagination again.
1--WE must hurry" said the old gentle
man to a young preacher who seemed to be
his companion, ''or the happy couple will
grow impatient An elopement. you
know"-
But the crowd swayed back before the
clubs Of three policemen, and Mrs. Pills
bury was pushed out Of hearing, and the
benevolent old gentleman and the preacher
were pushed out Of her sight.
She soon caught glimpse of them again,
however, on the opposite side Of the pave
ment and swiftly followed them toward
the center of the town. She saw them enter
q gate next to q church and mount the
steps of quiet red brick house, which she
was sure was the parsonage. How her heart
beati
There were several persons in the street,
and she was unnoticed as she crossed over
to the church. Mrs. Bob was prepared with
her speech for the denouement Every word
of It was choice, dramatic and burning 1t
would wither any man. Robert Pilsbury
would know the stuff she was made of.
She moved cautiously within the shadow
Of the house Of God, continually going over
her speech. She could see into the parlor
through side window.
Minnie was therel Theimpudent, shame
less mink, dressed up in stylish brand
new blue cashmere, with hat and trim
mings to match, stood with her back to the
window. Mrs. Bob caught herself a mo-
ment to regulate her breath.
The next instant the form of Mr.. Pills
bury appeared in the parlori Poor little
wifei There are sudden crises In life when
indecision paralyzes us for an instant.
Then, without the guidance of reason, we
do exactly the opposite Of what our reason,
our determination and our impulse had
agreed on, and we ever after wonder why
we did SO. Such experience came to poor
little Mrs. Bob.
She dismissed her choice speech, her in
dignation and her courage, and with a
bosom swelling with emotion and two
great tears in her eyes faced squarely about
and started away.
"Maryl Maryi Maryp
Now she quickened her pace and fell into
. run.
"Maryl Maryl Oh, Maryp'
She knew that vsice we'll enough, and she
aed from It like deer. But the strain had
been too great, and she had not gone a
block when she sank down on q doorstep,
fainting.
Her husband was at her side at the same
moment.
Yes, Minnie had eloped. So had Mr..
Pilsbury. That is, he had gone to Ports
mouth the same time his pretty servant
girl had and was there concerned In an az
fair Of the heart with q marriage license
and preacher as the sequel. But he didn't
marry anybody. He only assisted his pref
ty servant girl, whose hard hearted parents
had wrongfully attempted to interfere with
her happiness In union with very worthy
young man-said young man having been
In the employ of Mr.. Pilsbury In New York,
and looking very much like him.
"Women can never be trusted In such
matters, you know" said Pilsbury, excus-
ing his conduct, "or I should have told
Mrs. Bob. But there wasn't any time to