Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-07-27

And what did YOU say ?"

when she'd mind to but of course
she knew didn't mean it,
"How could she know that? Cas-.
sic, Cassie, Eve warned YOU more than
once or twice that your impatient
temper would bring trouble at last
Elizabeth is like her poor mother
was-proud and easy hurt. And she's
not been long enough with us since
her mother died to get familiar with
your little irritable ways, and to know
that ut the bottom there's n good true
woman's heart. Cassie, doubt but
that you've driven the poor child OIL =
Mrs. Blake burst into tears.
whats to he done, Joseph ? God
knows, Lizzie is as dear to me as If she
was my own And | did hope. she
added, in lower tone Il did hope
to he able to call her mine some time,
Tom-"
And here she choked and burst into
fresh sobs.
YEA, yea. Tom will be dreadfully
cut up by this" said the old man,
slowly shaking his head as the two
proceeded down stairs. But | wish
he'd hurry home now, Tor until he
comes | hardly know what's TO be
done"
Hadn't we better send over to
Cynthia's? Maybe they'd know some
thing that would serve for clew,
since Lizzie was there last night. No
doubt she took the | / o'clock train for
the city. Stay, I'll write line to
Joe, and ask him to step to the hotel
and find out whether Parker had left
there"
The hastv line was written and dis
patched by Patty, who had all this
time looked on with wide open eyes
and mouth.
Now, Patty, run for your life, :
said her mistress, aud she gave her the
bit Of paper.
Patty ran-only stopping once to
tell somebody whom she met that
Miss Lizzie had run away to get mar
ried.
In ten minutes she returned, accom-
panied by Mrs. Blake's sister, Mrs.
Cynthia Harden, and her daughter,
Elvira Jane.
Mrs Harden, portly lady, was all
out of breath, and Elvira Jane, slender
and willowy, was pale and agitated.
"Cassandra,' gasped Mrs. Harden,
as she dropped heavily into chair,
"what is all this hear 2" Patty says
Lizzie's run away to get married but
| can't believe its true"
And then Mrs. Blake explained
what had occurred.
She left my house last night about
half past nine," said Mrs. Harden,
growing very red, while her daughter
became equally pale. Wasn't Tom
with her, Elvira Jane ?"
NO, ma. Tom and she quarreled
the first part of the evening, because
she danced with-with Mr.. Parker y
And Elvira James voice trembled
as she spoke his name.
Il thought SO. They've undoubtedly
run of together, or perhaps he's helped
To get her off to the city"
Il wouldn't have believed it oi
Elizabeth,,' said Mrs Harken, with
indignant emphasis. Il wouldn't have
believed it Of any girl that she could
play such an underhanded part. Why
she knew that Elvira Jane was as good
as engaged to Orville Parker"
At this Miss Harden's feelings,
hitherto suppressed, became too acute
for endurance and she sat down on the
kitchen settee and burst into hysterical
weeping.
Don't cry Elvira Jane.' said her
Uncle Joseph kindly. "If the fellow:
capable Of acting in this way, he amt
worth shedding tear for"
"There'll be something 10 she'd be
sides tears when Joe comes to hear o
it," said Mrs Harden savagely. "He
amt one to see his sister put upon ii
this way, Joe isn't.
just here there was knock at th,
outer kitchen door, which. being
opned, admitted two or three of theil
nearest neighbors, who had come t,
obtain information and administer con
ISOLATION to the family in their trouble
For by this time, thanks to Patty
half the village knew that Deacon
Blake's pretty niece, who has mad
his home so bright in the few month
that she had lived with them. and VIII
everybody had decided was to MARI,
his son Tom, had run off and got mar
ried TO the dandy dry goods clerk
lately imported from the city.
We'll, I'm awtully cut up about
I'm sure" said Mrs. Peters, the wheel
wrieht's wife, as she folded her hand
on her ample chest, and solemn
shook her head. IL wish could sa
something To comfort you, Mrs. Blake
but I've always noticed that them a
you're kindest to has the least graf
tude, and adopted children are sure
bring trouble on the family"
AS for me, I've been expecting