The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-10-02

yelled, stepped from the darkness un-
der the trees and stood dimly revealed.
care you ready darling - ,whis-,
pered j Johns.
Yes, was the whispered response,
| "but I thought you said YOU would
come in a carriage
You must have misunderstood me,
sweetheart, replied John, for | don't
remember saying how l would come.
eLet me assist you to mount.
Il don't know whether l can ride
or not, l feel so queer and foolish.
THAT is natural under the circum-
stances. You are nervous, dear, and
will soon be all. right Wempss 3sar-
ry, for I have hired the ferryman to
wait for me.
Ina minute later the-two were fly
ing down the road. Soon the sound of
carriage wheels came to their ears.
For few minutes John said nothing.
but it was not long before he was con-
vinced that some one was following
him
Don't be frightened, DEAR" he said
in loud whisper, but let us ride
faster
Why:
'sI think we are pursued, and if not
I do not care to have the carriage be-
hind us overtake us. :"
The LADY caught her breath: and ln
moment they were going at top
speed along the level river road to the
landine place Of the ferry.
The carriage still kept within hear,
ing distance, but did not seem to gain
on them. Presently they came to the
ferry. and hastily tying the horses
Johu:fifIed the lady down add stole g
kiss from under her veil as he did so.
The ferryman was waiting. but II
seemed 10 the flying lovers that he
would never be ready to cast off
Make haste" said John to him -un.
der his breath I'VE are followed, and
our pursuersiare drawing near. =:
The stupid boatman made a desper'
ate effort to hurry, and in so doing
upshipped one of his oars and it flew
from his hand and was lost in the dark
waters of the river.
Just then theiuriously driven car
riage drove up and gentleman
I Jumped out; without Seeming to; OBJ
serve the three at the boat side.
Hello cried the newcomer in 8
stentorian voice. Where in blazes
are you, you lazy lubber?"
Here 1 be, sir, if you are means in
me-" answered the boatman.
4 AS the newcomers voice rang out
there were two exclamations in unison
from the ladies, and each lore her vel
from her face. just as the moon broke
through rift in the clouds, and there
was such a tableau as is rarely seen
anywhere: At the sile of the boat
stood John Brown and Mrs. Jones,
while near the carriage stood Genera
Brown and Jeanette
For a space the length Of which
none of the parties present have ever
tried to computc these four stood as il
transfxed, while the boatman looked
with wondering eyes from to the
other.
The general was the first to recover
himself.
':John-madam," he said, will
you please explain yourselves4'.
To this very reasonable request
neither replied.
1T seems, resumed the general,
after solemn pause, that some mis-
take.has occurred. "
Mamma, were you going to elope,
too?" inquired Jeanette, whose mind
had gone from cause to effect and
back again, and aided by woman's in
tuition began 20 divine g.. dim way
I what had happened.
| Then' explanations followed; and it
was discovered that there had been
two elopements planned for the night
instead of the one We know o. -;
We're discovered" said the general
gravely, after the. matter had been
fullK-exnlained:: Shall we go on like
fools or go back like sensible people
and get married each to the woman of
his choice, like men and women and
Christians ought to:''
That is ALL. They went back and
were married, and the writer hereof
sets it down as his own conviction
that they have lived happily ever
Since. And; so the .feud ended
Memphis Commercial Appeal.
| A--