Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-08-22
EsfONY.

EMoNY.
| And as the second boat approached,
Mr.. Roche arose from his seat, and
ed,with string of oaths:
What do you mean, Dick Wilson, by
stealing my girl?"
I'm not stealing her." Dick replied.
"She comes of her own free will, and
with her mothers consent. You've
nothing against me in reason, and be-
sides, she's Of age"
This was followed by outbursts of
laughter and hurrahs from the boys in
the boat. The only thing Mr.. Roche
did was to glare and swear. After re-
covering himself, he finally said:
II have this against you, that you're
your father'l son, and you'll not have
| Nell. I'm the head of the house.
Come out of that boat, Nell, or I'll
shoot"
AT these words he leveled shotgun
at Dick. Nellie screamed with terror
'Oh! Dick, let me go to him or he will
kill you!"
He'd like to, no doubt" said Dick,
s'but he's afraid of shooting the rest,
and, besides, he's too much of cow
ard. Do you think I'll give you up,
darling, with the happiness that will
be ours so near!" The last sentence
was uttered to her alone, but the party
heard the rest, and cheered him as be-
fore. But though they laughed, they
did not cease rowing. Yet, they did
not increase their lead, for the Roche
boys pulled as Justify as ever.
"Once more say stop and give her
up or I'll fire in ano ther minute"
roared Roche again.
What the issue might have been it is
impossible to say, but in their excite
ment neither party had paid any at
tention-at least the Roches had not
to the fishermen's boat. For, just as
his sons had by extraordinary efforts al
most touched the bridal boat, his boat
dashed plump against their prov and
overturned their craft in a second.
"Now's our chance" cried Dick, and
away they sped.
Meanwhile Roche and his sons, who
all swan like fish, showered angry i'm
precautions upon the awkward fisher
men. The latter apologized profuscly,
and helped to right the boat. They
had no idea but what they could pass
between the boats; just did it for a lark,
etc. Roche threatened dire vengeance
on all of them, but his gun was now
TRANQUILITY reposing on the white sands,
twenty feet below. There was no time
to be lost, since the fugitives were now
nearly across, and Roche and his party
soon left the fishermen far behind.
The bridal party saw them coming,
and their triumph bade fair to be short
lived However, the parson took the
dilemma by the horns.
children" said he, "it's an irregular
thing to do, though perfectly legal
but propose to marry you right here
and now. That old fellow will not be
ten minutes behind us when we reach
the shore, and, besides, those boys
have pistols"
"Oh, parson, you surely would not
spoil a wedding like that" said the
younger bridesmaid.
MY dear, can bind their hearts
and hands just as firmly under this
blue sky as in the most holy church
ever built"
So Nellie was assisted to arise and
was helped in her efforts by the steady
ing arm of Dick. AS she stood in the
middle of the boat, under the clear
sky, she made a demure-looking bride
The roses came back to her cheeks,
and she was herself once more.
AS the good parson commenced the
ceremony, one of the bridesmaids man
aged to put the wreath and veil upon
Nellie. Although it was somewhat
ruffled, it made quite pretty appear
ance. The parson afterwards remarked
that it was the shortest marriage cere-
mony in his experience. When they
reached the shore carriage was wait
ing there before the church in which the
ceremony was to have taken place. 1t
was a work of few moments to get
into the carriage and drive to the
steamer, which was about to leave.
Just as the steamer pulled out, Mr.
Roche and his sons, looking little
the worse for wear from their bath,
struggled up from the beach. They
were just in time to sec Nellie waving
her handkerchief from the lower deck.
And the race for the bride had been
won.-St. Louis Republic.
Tho Teleph0ne's Rival.