The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-24

/ forbid you TO write or speak 10 my oaugnIor
a ain I have made her take her oath that
she will never marry you I did It gently.
though firmly, but she knows the value Of an
oath o RowLEx''
p S-She has begged me to permit her to
write you farewell letter Of explanation
have yielded to paternal weakness and per-
mitred this You must not reply. o r
Papa has told you all she said. i love
you and I never viii marry any else
When he got out the family bible said at
first. No sir, il you please. I don't wish to
be undutiful but 1 will not When he locked
me up on bread and water. still refused
but when he cot his pis tolls both OF them
loaded. and held at ca Oh OF my temples
and said he should curse me hrst aud shoot
me afterward- and mamma called through the
keyhoIe that she was dying of fright. I gave
Swear said papa. that you will not mar
~ this young Berzen long as you are upon
this earth or sail upon the waters thereof
Swear it. Caroline Elizabeth. II you wish to
live Otherwise GU die, with my curse on
your headl'
Tt was an awful scene. but put nv hand
on the bible. and said after him, 4 Will not
marry my Henry as long as I am upon this
earth sail upon the waters thereof but
will love him until die
% Just you please about that said papa
Then mamma had nervous prostraticn, and
she IS only just getting well. and wish I were
dead Your broken hearted, CADDTE"
/ read the letter over dozen times;
that clause about the waters of the
earth seemed to bar every way Of
escape.
Even mid-o ocean would not seem to
invalidate her vow to so conscientious
a creature as my little Caddie. I
wrote to Caddie, despite her fathers
edict, but no answer ever came to me,
and probably my letter never reached
her.
At last, however, the New York
Herald brought tidings which. while
they were tragic, were hopeful Mr..
Rowley was dead. There was a glow
ing obituary notice of him in the
paper, but 1 heard afterward that he
died in fl of rage, ca used by din
ner that did not please him.
As soon as it was possib BILE to do so.
I asked for a vacation, and returned
to New York Reaching the great
city, I flew at once to Madison
avenue, and was speedily ascending
the stoop Of the residence of the late
Mr.. Rowley. No one forbade me to
enter the door, and soon Caddie, her
eyes red with weeping, came to me
in a black dress. and threw herself
into my arms
Poor, dear, darling papa was just
getting the bible to make me swear
that wouldn't ever speak to you.
when the angels took him. she said.
1 looked as serious as possible, and
shook my head.
LAS he did not, you may take lit
tie walk with me tomorrow, may
you not?" I asked
She answered Yes. dear" and I
went away and made another call
II was upon a young clergyman. And
when he learned my plans and heard
my story, he agreed to my request.
It was the year 1879 COney island
had but rece ntly been transformed
from a print tive summer resort to
the land Of hotels, booths, showmen,
and concert halls that it has now be-
come.
It was to Coney island that took
Caddie, and there met the Rev. Mr..
Nutley, young clergyman, who
bowed and blushed and Introduced US
to his married sister and her hus band,
and his younger sister, who smiled
and showed her dimples, as though
she knew little secret
We walked about the island, Wis
tied Manhattan beach, had lunch to-
gether, returned to the more populous
West end, and bought milk Of the
7nilImaids. who Dire W it iced from the
monstrous effigy Of a COW, in the kiosk
There is the captive balloon" said
my friend, the clerg lyman, just then;
..let US all go up in her"
An ascent was about to be made A
short interview with the manager
won US permission to have it for our
selves for half an hour We stepped
in it. assembled the ladder. screamed
and chung to each other, and in a min
ute or two we saw the world far be-
meath US. We were no longer of it.
IF the rope should break" gasped
Mr. Nutlev's sister
Nobody made any addition to this
remark. Suddenly, i grasped Caddie's
hand.
MY dear betrothed wife, we are
no longer upon earth, nor are we
upon the waters thereof. Our posi-
ton absolves you fr ON the oath YOU
took upon the fam lily bible. You
pledged yourself to nothing concern
ing the air. 1t was only land and
water. I have consulted Mr. Nutley,
who is an expert in such matters. Be
ing a clergyman he is willing to
marry US while we are in this balloon.
He knows all the circumstances
MY dear Miss Rowley," said Mr..
Nutlev, Il feel that it is quite proper
of you to take a literal view Of an
oath you took under compulsion.
Your excellent father. l am sure,
would have it so if he could send
message from better world We all
have moments o f passion, in which
we do things of which we repent.
believe he has repented of Offering
YOU that oath, and / believe, being
what it was. you may marry in the
air with all propriety."
I'VE think so, toor' chorused our
friends.
Then Caddie. blushing and weeping.