The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-06-19
VOL. XLI---NO. %.

Will an OUNCE OF reason can geU over an
attack of love in a month, and do very
well without it, but money you must
have"
"And Stamford is to supply Miss
Machin with money instead of Ralph Sim
mons giving her love. That is very bust
nesslike. When do you expect to bring it
| off,"
1.-THE engagements" she asked
ono, the wedding Surely you've got
| beyond the engagement. Miss Machin has
| been with you six weeks
Eyes, but these things can't be hur-
riod," she said slowly. II think Mr.. SIAM
| ford is only waiting for an opportunity to
| speak"
Surely you give him plenty said.
with a laugh.
She blushed and said hastily: "You're
not at all nice today, Jim. 1 don't sec any
thing to laugh at. can't help it if the
man won't propose"
"Oh, is that it? He won't come to the
point?''
az wish you would DO nicer" she muir
INJURED.
Indeed, will DO nice," I protested,
| seeing she was really hurt. Tell mo
| about it,
"Thore's not much to tell. saw from
tho first he was just the man for Biddy,
and sho seemed to like him, and he is al
ways very ready to come hero or go any
where with us, and he brings flowers and
| sweets and things"
For herr" asked.
eyes, at least for us both, and they arc
very great friends, but-they don't get
any further. He sits here for hours, and
make all sorts of excuses to leave them to-
| gether, but when 1 come back l find them
| sitting opposite each other, just calmly
| talking, and 1 shouldn't have thought he
was Il shy man"
''Ho certainly never struck me as being
| shy" said.
"Then he must be fool,' she said
| GROSSLY. 81 am always talking to him
about Biddy and how sweet she is at
home. I've all but asked him to propose
| to her, and he only smiles and agrees with
| everything 1 say. Never mind. I'm de-
| termined he shall marry her, and 1 always
| got my way"
Like all pretty women" said l, "but
| take care! Matches are dangerous things
to play with, and some day you will get
your fingers burnt"
"NonsenseI l know what l am about.
man outside. For instance, over the
mountains to Brother
"Before had finished my objection tho
| girl screamed, They're coming! The big
| fellow on the porch threw his weight
| against the door with such violence that /,
small man as I am, flew backward to the
| floor with such force as is partially stun
me. When recovered my Senses found
| myself OH the hind scat of the wagon, with
| q man at either side, and Henry Bunder,
| his sweetheart clinging to him, before me,
| madly flashing tho mules
He hos come to, ono of tho men whis-
perod.
kate Springhouse gave little scream
| of joy, which was followed by another of
| fear and an involuntary seizure of her low
| er's arm
" Il hear them, he said, but we will be
| married before they catch us
'As l sat there in that rough, rushing,
| bounding wagon, hatless, with no protec-
| ton from the autumn winds other than q
| light horse blanket my kidnapers had
| thrown about me- the words of an old SER
| mon of mine camo back to me, bringing
endless comfort. 1t was from tho first
clause of Proverbs, /, II, Better is dry
morsel.' In that discourse l mado point
| of tho fact that anything is better than
| nothing; that as we are IS better than not
being; that better is Il dry morsel than no
| morsel. Now if you refer back to Kings
liz
Excuse mo for intorrupting, doctorp'
| / exclaimed. "But / shall certainly attend
| church in Punkington to hear your dis
| course, but for the present about this
| elopement."
Pardon, pardonr' said the minister,
| rclighting his cigar. 81 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 tho closer
| to home they would leave me, was not I'M
| willing to begin. We had by this time
| struck into this road that we arc follow
| ing and wero swinging along at steady
/ run. The light wagon swayed to and fro
SO that L had difficulty in retaining my
feet when l stood up to perform the core
mony. The bride and groom remained
| seated, for the latter was busy with tho
| driving. Scarcely had the first words left
my mouth when we heard behind us u
| faint call to stop, and turning 1 saw q
| blackboard, drawn by two dashing horses,
| Just appearing into view over the brow Of
| the hill n quarter of mile behind. l saw
| tho moonlight CLEAN on something that
| savorcd of guns, and a cold chill crept over
| my frame.
Its par exclaimed tho BRIDE But
| go ahead, Mr.. Buckle. 1t will do no good
| to let your teeth chatter
MY teeth did chatter, and with cause,
| for, besides tho scantiness Of my garb, tho
| persons following us fired q gun. / heard
| the report and ducked, and l am positive
| that bullet whistled few inches above
| my head, with that peculiar sound we read
| So much of i'll war history. Tho marriage
| ceremony is really very short, but perform
| ed under such conditions it seemed to mo
| endless. But ut length it was done.
"'I suppose you will lot me off now, 1
| said for l could hear clearer than ever tho
| clatter of horses feet behind us and knew
| that our pursuers We're closing. l did not
want to witness tho meeting.
| mot just yet, doctor, said one of the
| big follows at my side. The marriage Ger
| tihcate next, and tho heaviest signs first
| "And with that he drew from his pocket
| the needed paper. Mary Springhouso put
| her name in tho proper place. and then
| young Bundor signed. The ratio Of
| wheels came louder, but we were in the
| woods and could not sec the pursuers.
| "My turn next says 1, seizing the
| pencil from the groom.
" Not ON your life" yells the big fellow
who held NE. Heaviest first.
And with that he seized the certificate
| and pencil and witnessed tho paper. Then
| he leapcd off behind and disappeared in
| the woods. We had emerged into that
| clearing where you saw tho bridge when
| call to stop came to us again. l dared not
| look back, but saw the whip fall on tho
| mules, and they plunged forward with u
| lightcned load, for the second witness had
| signed and left us There was a report,
| and again l seemed to hear the whistling
| bullet intended for the groom, IA fact that
! caused mo to involuntariIy start to jump,
| to find my escape baked, for tho bride
| chung fast to my blanket
| tb,, cprtif Cbp cornaI11p6'
| 81 signed-a very peculiar signature to
| be sure, but it satisfied her, and she eX-
| pressed her satisfaction by giving me
| push that sent mo flying from the vehicle
into the road by the bridge.
when l regained my senses, L was ly
| ing in tho ditch at tho roadside, my foot
| partially immersed in the waters of tho
| creek My position was such that my pros
trato body could not have been seen from
| tho road, and the pursuers must have
driven by tho spot, little suspecting that
| one of the chief and most unwilling actors
| of the drama lay bleeding within few
| feet of them. For bleeding l was. My 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
tho pursuit was now far away. Weary,
| cold and wounded, set out for home five
miles back along tho dreary road and
through those lonely woods. The sun was
| Just rising when / dragged myself up the
| steps of tho parsonage and fell exhausted
| into tho arms of tho agonized Mrs.
Buckle"