Middletown transcript., 1894-12-01
inn In ow, 1 believe, private house


y was reached, where they had to wa
g three hours for fresh horses. Mi
t May had bedroom, but did not slet
9 wink (she said) while the nervol
r Jack paced up and down in front
s the inn, listening for horses in pursul
], and thinking he heard them every fis
s minutes.
s If a man can be too gentlemanly
{ that man seems to have been JAG
! throughout this escapade. Until b
, could claim her as his wife, be woul
, not take even what she called forma
liberties. He sat on the seat Opposit
her. He paid her no compliments, b
addressed her as Miss Gregory, whicl
had not been his custom. OF course
she admired this delicacy, but still
The journey was resumed with earl.
light, and row, as they stepped onc'
more into their carriage, Jth of thu
runaways looked hard at one of tht
eoachmen.
"Surely, you are not the man en-
gagged yesterday?" Jack said to him.
mo, sir;" answered the fellow COM
posedly, "he was too sick, and offered
me his place. No offence intended.
1 have been on this here kind of job
BEFORE"
"Ynu will do as we'll as another.
Drive on"
Miss May said nothing to the man,
but she thought good deal about him.
Despite his dark hair and sallow COM
plexion, despite his boorish manners,
she thought him very like Tom. 1t
was Tom in disguise. He had bribed
the real coachman, and here he was on
his way to the minister's with the
woman he wanted to marry, but by no
means certain how he was to get her.
Within twenty miles of the border
there is hillock which commands an
extensive view. 1t is close to the old
high roa1, and many man bound FOR
Gretna Green has run up it to see
whether his pursuers were in sight.
Jack was one of the number. He was
not gone many minutes, but in the
meantime Tom had found an opportu-
nifty of revealing himself to the lady.
"May." he said, appearing so sud-
denly by her side that she screamed,
"don't you know me? 1 am
Tom. May; dearest, you said you
would marry me if I could take you to
Gretna Green; am doing it,"
"Oh, Toni" walled Miss May all in
a tremble las she said afterwards), 81
never made any such promise, am to
marry jack"
"Neverp cried Tom: "May, darling
May"
"Tom. Tom," said Miss May, re-
proachfully, "why did you come to
disturb my peace Of mind, when every
thing was going on so nicely?"
Glove of my life," began Tom, then
kissed her hand, and resumed his seat
beside the coachman. He had seen
Jack lunning back.
"We are pursued" Jack said, as he
drew near, painting, ''by two men on
and one of them, am con-
vinced, is your father"
In vain were the jaded horses of the |
runaways whipped up. The pursuers
gained on the carriage until when the
latter was within half a mile of the |
border they were not four hundred
yards behind.
"There is only one chance for US,
May" said poor Jack, forgetting in
his excitement that she was not May
but Miss Gregory, 1--WE must leave the
carriage at the next turn of the road
which hides us from view."
"And be overtaken in moment!"
,ried Miss May, aghast.
Il hope not" said Jack. "Listen,
lear. to what 1 propose. At the next
urn 1 will stop the carriage, and you
will at once jump out with me. ! will
ell the coachman to drive on as fast
IS he can, and you and I will conceal
ourselves until your father and his
have galloped past. They
will pursue the carriage. In the mean
ime you and 1 will cross these fields
0 the village, whose lights see plainly,
nd there the blacksmith will marry
ls.n
"They will overtake the carriage In
few minutes" the lady said, land
hiding it empty, hurry on to Gretna
ireep. Why, we shall find them wait
ng for US there"
"We shall not" answered Jack,
liumphantly, with his head out at the
window, 81 see two roads before us, of
Which the one evidently leads to Gretna
ireen, and the other to the right. l
gill tell the coachman to take the lat
er; that will give US good start.D
Jack stopped rhs carriage, and as
listed his lady out, at The same time
houting directions to the two men. :
Stop" he cried to them, as they were s
irving off. "One of you come with {
le. We may need a witness" Tom
lmped down. The carriage drove on.
he two men and the woman hid. The
orsemen, of whom Mr.. Gregory was
urple with passion, raced by them.
"And now for Gletna Green on ,
oot," said Jack, giving Miss May his
rm.
They hurried on, but-the shoel Miss
fay had this time no maid to help her,
nd the shoe was but half on. She was
liding her foot along the ground
ather than lifting it. By and by, :