Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-06-26
UNDER DURESS.

WAS TubUSF CDGGFlCSS.
Come, girls, come, said the deacon,
putting his head into the room, covered
by huge fur cap. Mothers all ready,
and it's high time we were off to Brother
Boggs for the meeting begins at Z.
Papa" said Kate, ''my ankle feels a
little sore yet. l don't believe had bet
ter try to walk SO far.
For Kate, usually the lithest and most
agile of Hates, had slipped on the floor of
the milkroom that afternoon and made
fuss enough, Dora declared, for dozen
ankle sprains.
"Well," said the deacon, perhaps you
hadn't better. Are you ready DoraS"
"Papa, II thought would wait until
Mary Pilkington came for me. She don't
like to go alone such distance"
"Oh, very well, said the deacon "you
will have to walk pretty fast thought"
Deacon Polberry's fur cap disappeared,
and ten minutes afterward Harry Syme
called to see Kate and Alonzo Smith
dropped in to see Dora. They had cozy
time, but the lovers protested they would
not stand the deacon's opposition any
longer, but would bring him to terms.
The girls begged them not to be rash, but
they insisted, and time flew so fast while
the girls coaxed them to be reasonable
that the clock struck 10 before they were
aware of it,
"Ten oclock!' cried Mr. Smith.
Harry, old fellow, we really must be 60
ingl"
And at the same instant, like an echo to
his words, there came the sound of pro-
digious knocking. Deacon Polberry and
his wife had come back from the prayer
meeting.
"The key of the back door-quickH p
whispered Alonzo.
ooh, Alonzo," cried Dora, all in trem-
BILE, "papa took it with him"
"The deucep' cried Alonzo. GLOW
ever don't care. I'd as soon face him as
not"
But Kate and Dora pushed their two
lovers with one accord toward the door.
''The garnet, quick; the garrett! We can
let you out after papa and mamma are
asleep!'
And Harry and Alonzo found them
selves stumbling over one another on the
garrett stairs, while Kate dutifully un-
barred the door.
ga cold night" said the deacon, rub
bling his hands together as he approached
the fire. Flows your ankle, Kate?'
Better, papa.
"Mary Pilkington was in the front seat
when we got there" said Mrs. Polberry
to her youngest born. "You'd better ha'
come with us!'
elbow provoking!" said Dora, biting her
lip.
"a nice fire you've got!" said tho dea-
con. "Mother, s'pose you just draw u
pitcher Of cider, and I'll go up garrett arter
few o. them shagbarks''
Kate gave little shrek.
$50 late, papal"
'Tain't late, said the deacon com
posedly. "Get me lantern Dora"
"Papa, the lantern is out at the barn."
said Dora, with chattering teeth.
"a candle amt safe in that drafty old
garrett, said the deacon. "Waal, guess
can find all want in the dark"
And up stairs he went, with a firm, res
olute tread, which struck terror into the
hearts of the fair conspirators sitting
breathless below,
But the deacon was considerably more
terrified when, STOPPING to fill his tin pan
with the treasures heaped under the caves,
he felt himself seized by the throat and
something j"e cold and slippery placed
against his temple.
MAKE but an effort to resist and we
shootp" enunciated voice of stern mean
ing.
"And who's we?" questioned the deacon
Harry Syme and Alonzo Smith"
What do you want" said the deacon
pluckily, 'and what is that you're hold
ing ag'in my head?'
"a revolver-and we want your daugh-
ters!''
Hold on, hold on, my young friendsW
said the deacon. is this fair?"
"Why, no; 1t MT" said Harry Syme,
"and that's just what we have thought all
along"
"It's exceedingly unfair" said Alonzo,
ito refuse us a chance because we aren't
RICH"
Glow come you here?" persisted the
deacon.
"By the hand of destiny"
"Yes or no? Time is precious. Will
you give us your daughters, or shall we
shootf'
Don't shoot anyway !" cried the deacon
"Let's talk it over.
"Tho time for talking has passed. Yes
or nor"
The deacon hesitated.
"But look here''--
eyes or no?' sternly demanded the
voices.
"Well, then, don't squeeze my throat
so."
The grip on his throat relaxed some
what, but the muzzle of the weapon never
stirred, and the deacon cried:
"Yesp
For what else could man say under
the circumstances?
What was the surprise and astonish-
ment Of Kate, Dora and Mrs. Polberry
when the deacon presently appeared,
fianked on either side by Harry the in
vincible and Alonzo the brave.
"He has consented" cried Harry,
squeezing the hand of his future father
in-law.
"He has acted like a TRIUMPH said
Alonzo. II knew he wouldn't refuse to
listen to reason
Papa" cried Kate, precipitating her
self upon her sire, lis this truep"
Dearest papa, chimed in Dora, "have
you really consented to make us happyp"
"Don't make fools Of yourselves!" said
the deacon. "Of course l have"
"I'm sure I'm very glad Of it, said
Mrs. Polberry, with a sigh Of relief, as she
reached down some tumblers for the cider.
But" said the deacon, looking in
one sided and apprehensive manner, first
at the young gentleman on his left and
then the one on his right, where is it9'
"Where is what?"
"The--the revolver"
ooh, said Alonzo, "that was nothing
but the old broken iron we found on the
garrett floor"
The deacon groaned.
Don't distress yourself" said Alonzo
in an undertone. "We shall never men
ton the matter, you may depend, as long
as you keep faith with us. 7"
Deacon Polberry's pretty daughters are
both married, but although the deacon has
no open quarrel with his sons-in-law he
does not cour- their society much. But,
after all, why should hep He isn't mar