The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-08-24

out with himself. Was his duty to the
lodge less important than his duty to his
daughter?
Then visions of the society in session and
the frightened candidates came before 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 apologize mind said, lone 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 initiated" He hestated and
was lost and after seeing Penelope securely
locked in he set off for his lodge.
But love has won the reputation of
laughing at locksmiths and embodied in
the person of Ned Holburn he went knock
ne at Penelope's window. Something in
the character of the tap or some subtle in
tuition which only love inspires, told her
who it was and she forgot her timidity
enough to raise the sash and open the
shutter little.
'It's me-Ned," said the ungrammat-
ical Holburn eagerly, and there was a
note of deep pleading in his voice DIS he
added
ats our only chance, darling. Get
your hat and climb out of the window.
I've got chain here for you to get down
on"
Penelope went away from the window
for moment, and when she returned she
had her hat tied on, and Il shawl thrown
about her shoulders. Her heart was beat
ing very swiftly as she stepped out of the
window on the chair and into the arms
of her waiting lover liolburn was a
thorough going fellow, and he had his
buggy waiting at the fence. They got in
he exultant and the girl all tremulous and
away they went across the river to the
old minister, who was already famous for
marrying runaway couples from Other
counties.
In the meantime the grocer, not finding
Holburn, who was regular and devoted
attendant at the lodge meeting, had grown
uneasy and suspicious. A vague forebod
ing, which gradually grew into a terrible
fear, filled his mind. When he could en-
dure this suspense no longer he was ex-
cused and started for home. He had hardly
entered the yard when an open shutter
tapping listlessly on its hinges arrested
his attention, and his heart sunk within
him. Penelope, he thought, would never
leave shutter that way under any con-
ditions. The key gave forth hollow,
lonesome sound as he turned it in the lock
and the sound Of his footsteps on the floor
was altogether too weird and unusual.
"Penelope' he called, with trembling
voice. ooh, Penelope"
But only the echoes answered him, and
the unwelcomed truth forced itself upon
him that Penelope was gone. He went
outside and, sitting down upon the step,
bowed his head in his hands Just then
the sound of wheels fell on his ear, and a
buggy was driven up and halted at the
gate.
Then Il man helped a woman to alight.
The grocer recognized her, and ran down
the steps crying
penelope, Penelope, amt you ashamed
you've been riding
But here the voice Of IIolburn broke in:
"We're married." he said.
well, well, Penelope Pain"
"Holburn,' said Ned, proudly.
penelope" went on the old man, ignor-
ing his son-in-law, 81 would never have
thought it of you"
The girl was silent, frightened and tear
full.
"And you, Ned Ilolburn, to think Of
you being a brother in the same lodge and
all of that and then playing me such a
trick
81 guess I'm able to keep wife," said
the young man.
cable to keep her, able to keep her
That amt it, it's the way you got her
Penelope Paine, and after all the raising
I've been giving you, do you realize what
you have done? You've been guilty o.
eloping do you hear
That's all right, flther-in-law, said
Holburn, ''Penelopcs past thirty now, and
she'll soon come to know her own mind
When she comes to know it | hope she
won't change; if she doesn't she'll never
regret this elopement," and he kissed her