The Portland daily press., 1896-10-23
:. ,,arpre mad nnished my obiect,o,, !,

small man as | am, new backward tn the
floor with such force as to partially st.,n
me. When recovered my senses, fonnd
myself OH the hind seat of the wagon with
a man at either side, and Henry fpnder
his sweetheart clinging to him, before me
madly lashing the mules.
"sHe has come to, one of the men " bis.
pered.
"Kate Springhouse gave little scresrn
of Joy, which was followed by another of
fear and an involuntary seizure of her low
er's arm.
asI hear them, he said, but we will be
married before they catch us.
Gas sat there in that rough, rushing
bounding wagon hatless, with noprotec.
ton from, the autumn winds other than n
light horse blanket my kidnapers had
thrown about me, the words OF an old ser
mon of mine came back to me, brinoipo
endless comfort. 1t was from the first
clause of Proverbs, /, II, Better is a dry
morsel.' In that discourse l made point
of the fact that anything is better than
nothing; that as we arc Is better than not
being; that better is dry morsel than no
morsel. Now if you refer back to Kings
ii"-
EXCUSE mo for interrupting, doctorl'.
I exclaimed. "But shall certainly attend
church in Huntington to hear your dis
course, but for the prescott about this
elopement.
Pardon, pardon!'' said the minister,
relighting his cigar. II was wandering to
be sure The young people lost no time in
explaining what was wanted, and l. realiz-
ing that the quicker it was done the coser
to home they would leave me, was notun-
willing to begin. We had by this time
struck into this road that we are follpw-
ing and were swinging along at a steldy
run. The light wagon swayed to and fro
SO that / had difficulty in retaining my
feet when I stood up to perform the csre-
mony. The bride and groom remained
seated, for the latter was busy withthe
driving. Scarcely had the first words left
my mouth when we heard behind Us q
faint call to stop, and turning I sew a
blackboard, drawn by too dashing hoses,
just appearing into vie& over the broy of
the hill quarter of mile behind. Isaw
the moonlight CLEAN on something that
savored of guns, and cold chill orspt tyer
my frame.
ftIt's pal exclaimed the bride. But
go ahead, Mr.. Buckle. 1t will do no god
to let your teeth chatter.
My teeth did chatter, and with cause,
for, besides the soantiness of my garb the
persons following us fred gun. heard
the report and duoked, and am posifye
that bullet whistled few inches above
my head, with that peculiar sound we rad
SO much of in war history. The marriage
ceremony is really very short, but perform
od conditions =
endless. But at length it was done.
/" 4 suppose you will let me off now, I
said, for could hear clearer than ever the
olatter of horses feet behind us and knew
that our pursuers were closing. did rot
want to witness the meeting
mot just yet, doctor, said one of the
big fellows at my side. The marriage cor
tificate next, and the heaviest signs first.
"And with that he drew from his pocket
the needed paper. Mary Springhouse put
her name in the proper place, and then
young Bunder signed. The rattle Of
wheels came louder, but we were in the
woods and could not see the pursuers.
Ny turn next, says I, Selling the
pencil from the groom.
g Not on your ife' yells the big fellow
who held me. Heaviest FIRST
'tAnd with that he seized the certificate
and pencil and witnessed the paper. Then
he leaped off behind and disappeared in
the woods. We had emerged into that
clearing where you saw the bridge when q
call to stop came to us again. I dared not
look back, but saw the whip fall on the
mules, and they plunged forward with a
lightened load, for the second witness had
signed and left US. There was a report.
and again seemed to hear the whistlinp
bullet intended for the groom, fact that
caused me to involuntarily start to jump,
to find my escape baked, for the bride
clung fast to my blanket.
Sign the certificate, she screamed.
II signed-a very peculiar signature to
be sure, but 1t satisfied her, and she ex-
pressed her satisfaction by giving me a
push that sent me flying from the vehicle
into the road by the bridge.
when I regained my Senses was "
Ing in the ditch at the roadside, my feet
partially immersed in the waters Of the
creek. My position was such that my pros
trate body could not have been seen from
the road, and the pursuers must have
driven by the spot, little suspeeting that
one of the chief and most unwilling actors
VI oAo oloAAa AoJ Ul66ulu$ WlbQ1Q q Few
feet of them. For bleeding was. NV head
was badly cut, my back and sides bruised
SO that every step caused me misery. I
listened attentively, but heard no sound
of hoofs or wheels and so determined that
the pursuit was now far away. Weary.
GOLD and wounded, set out for homo, Ave
miles back along the dreary road and
through those lonely woods. The sun was
just rising when dragged myself up the
steps of the parsonage and fell exhausted
into the arms Of the agonized Mrs.
Buckle
Ibid Henry and Kate get away safely.
doctor?'' asked.
"Yes, they did," was the reply. "That
was why got away too. The little affair
created such enmity between the two fam
lilies and myself that they refused to con-
tribute longer to the church. But as Solo
mon says in Proverbs v, and''-
"Punk-ing-ton!" bawled the brakeman.
banging the door open.
did not hear the verse from nv COM
panion, for it waAlost in the changing Of
bells, scrape of brakes and the scufie Of
passengers feet.
"I've enjoyed meeting you immensely.
SIR" said the divine, Selling my hand. II
hope We will see Won at orr church ;f -.