The free press., 1895-07-18

both, aud Philip Paine measured his
pickles and weighed his pounds in
blissiul ignorance of what was passing.
But the state OF affairs got to the ears
OF jealous rival of Holborn, and a
word to the unsuspecting grocer
brought him mp standing. The scales
fell from his eyes, aud shortly after
the lovers were surprised to see him
walk into the house in the midst of
one of their tete-a-tetes.
OF course there was n scene. Tho
old man stormed and Penelope wept,
but staunch Ned Holburn stood up
like man aud "taced the music" lie
told the old man that he loved his
daughter, that his love was returned,
and she had promised to wed him,
and the end Of it all was his dismissal
from the house and a peremptory
command never to return.
And Phineas Paine was grieved for
after all these years of confidence his
his system had proved at fault. In
spite of all his repression he found
that his daughter was not well brought
up, and when she had been put to the
test had fallen signally.
After this the old man was his
daughters shadow. He never allowed
her to leave his side. Necessity check
mated frugality and he hired a house
girl to take care Of his furniture and
get his meals.
In vain poor Holburn sought for a
chance to talk to his sweetheart. She
was as effectually shut away from him
as if she had been immured within the
four walls of convent Ned groaned
in spirit and the grocer chuckled with
in himself.
But no one state of affairs can last
forever, least of nil such straiaed
one as this. 1t has been said before
that Mr.. Paine was an enthusiastic
Odd Fellow, and it was his devotion
to the duties of that order that first
made him relax his vigilance. 1t was
to be banner night, with the initia-
tion of some ten or dozen candidates
as its leading feature, and in the
depths of his innermost soul the old
man longed to go. But prudence
said no. Painfully ho argued out
with himself. Was his duty to the
lodge less important than his duty to
his daughter?
Then visions of the society in ses-
sion and the frightened candidates
came befo re his eyes. He laughed to
himself, for this hardened old tyrant
had not lost all his taste for fun. But
Penelope, passing through the room,
made him sober again as he thought
of all the possibilities that might arise
from leaving her alone. Then his
apologetic mind said, zone night
can't do any harm. You can leave
her alone this one time and, after all,
Ned Holburn will be at the meeting,
too, he'll want to see the men initia-
ted" He hesitated and was lost and
after seeing Penelope securely locked
in he set off for his lodge.
But love has won the equation of
laughing at locksmiths and embodied
in the person of Ned Holburn he went
knocking at Penelope's window.
Something in the character of the tap
or some subtle intuition which only
love inspires, told her who 1t was aud
she forgot her timidity enough to
raise the sash and opened the shutter
a little.
"It's me-Ned," said the ungram-
matical Holburn eagerly, and there
was note of deep pleading in his
voice as he added
"It's our only chance, darling. Get
you hat and climb out OF the window.
I've got chair here for you to get
down on"
Penelope went away from the win
dow for moment, aud wnen she re-
turned she had her hat tied ON, aud
shawl thrown about her shoulders.
Her heart was beating very swiftly as
she stepped out of the window on the
chair and into the arms of her waiting
lover. Holburn was thorough going
fellow, and he had his buggy waiting at
the fence. They got in, he exultant ana
the girl all tremulous, and away they
went across the river to the old minis
ter, who was already famous for marry
ing runaway couples from three