Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-05-23

and to know that ct the bottom
there's Q s,od and true woman'a
heart. Cassie. / doubt but you've
driven the poor child of. /"
Mrs. Blake burst into tears.
whats to be done. Jose phP God
knows. Lizzie IL as dear to me as II
she was my ownl And / did hope, .
she added. In q lower tone-"i did
hope to be able to call her mine
somo time. Tom"
And here she choked and burst in.
to fresh sobs.
"Yea, veal Tom will be dread.
fully 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, for until
he comes hardly know what's to be
DONE"
Hadn't we better send over to
Cynthia's? Maybe they'd know
something that would serve for q
clew, since Lizzie was there last
night. No doubt she took the IL
o'clock train for the city. Stay, I'll
write line to Joe, and ask him ia
step to the hotel and find out
whether Parker has left there"
The hasty line was written and
dispatched by Patty. who had all
this time looked on with wide open
eyes and mouth.
Nov, Patty, run for your life, u
said her mistress, as 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. &C.
companied by Mrs. Blake's sister,
Mrs. Cynthia Harden. and hel
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? Patty says
Lizzie's run away to get married; but
/ can't believe it's 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?"
mo, ma Tom and she quarreled
the first part Of the evening, because
she danced with-with Mr.. Parker !"
And Elvira James voice trembled
as she spoke the name.
II thought so. They've undoubt-
eddy run off together, or perhaps he's
helped to get her of to the city"
II wouldn't have believed it OF
Elizabeth" said Mrs. Harden, with
indignant emphasis. Il wouldn't
have believed it of any girl that she
could play such an underhand part.
Why she knew that Elvira Jane was
as good as engaged to Orville Par
ker"
At this Miss HWdep'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 fellows
capable Of acting in this way. he
amt worth shedding tear for"
'There'll be something to shed be-
sides tears when Joe comes to hear
of it," said Mrs. Harden savagely.
He amt one to see his sister put
upon in this way, Joe isn't"
Just here there was knock at the
outer kitchen door, which. being
opened, admitted two or three of the
nearest neighbors, who had come to
obtain information and administer
consolation TO the family in their
trouble.
For by this time, thanks to Patty,
half the village knew that Deacon
Blake's pretty niece, who had made
his home so bright in the few months
chat she had lived with them, and
who everybody had decided was to
marry his son Tom, had run of and
got married to the dandy dry goods
clerk, lately imported from the city.
"WeH, Pm awfully cut up about
it, I'm sure" said Mrs. Peters, the
wheelright's wife, as she folded her
hands on her ample chest, and SOL
emily shook her head. II wish !
could say something to comfort you,
Mr. Blake, but I've always noticed
that them as you're kindest to has
the least gratitude, and adopted
children are sure to bring trouble on
the family"
"As for me, I've been expecting 1t
ell along" said Miss Tucker, who
was president Of the Female Mission
and Charity Association. II noticed
the way Lizzie Gray and that Mr..
Parker looked at each other in the
church Sunday night; and Tom
Blake noticed it, too, for he appeared
awful glum, and got up and went
outbefore anybody else-almost be-
fore the blessing was spoke. I re-
member l said to myself, IL Eliza
beth Gray and Orville Parker don't
make runaway match before long,
then I'm no saint.
IF some folks would attend more
to the sermons in church, and less to
the looks and doings Of other folks, y
said Mrs. Harden, addressing nobody
in particular, but looking straight
before her with stony gaze, they'd
be considerable more OF saints thar
they are likely to become other
ways"
Mrs. Tucker glanced appealingly
at Mrs. Peters, and put on a martyr
! like EXPRESSION.