The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-01-13
An ElOpement Tangle.
BY ALvAH MILTON KERR.


WHAT modest and obliging Tom
Trotter and sweet Susan Simmons
should love each other with fervor
that made them the envy of all sour and
shriveled souls, would seemingly have
afforded an excuse for the graciousness
of the gods, rather than an opportunity
for the teasing tricks of chance. But
it was not so. Perhaps it was because
they put the wrong foot forward, Ger
tainly there seemed at bottom very lit
tle to Justify their ATTEMPTED elopement,
save that Toms twin brother, Tum. was
liable to come back from California at
any time and throw Susan into con-
I;tion of vacillating indecision, For,
odd as it may seem, when Tom and Tum
were at home together sweet Susan
seemed utterly UNABLE to decide which
she loved the best, whereas, if either
of the twins remained at a distance, she
perceived clearly that she loved the one
that remained by her side far better
than the other.
So, Tum having been absent in the
far west for a number of months Tom
and Susan wisely decided to be married
before Tum's return, thus terminating
the condition of uncertainty which had
prevailed for years.
The parents of both Tom and Susan
were delighted. but thought it d pity.
If not an actual cruelty, that the young
pair should insist upon having the we'd
ding over before Turns return. Mr.. and
Mrs. Simmons thought it would be a
deliberate slight to have the happy
event occur before be should come
From mild criticism the matter passed
at length into open resistance on the
part of the parents.
1t was then that Tom and Susan de-
eided to elope.
The denouement proved both sensa-
tional and odd. for by mistake sweet
Susan eloped with burglar instead of
with Tom!
Some ten days before the evening
upon which the glad business of max
ing the eager pair one was formally set
for enactment, the young couple secret
~ plotted that certain midnight hour
should witness their fight. In pursu-
ance of the plan Tom was to come, with
cat-like craft and quiet, to the home OF
his dear girl, when darkness should fold
him in its obscuring mantle, and hav-
1ng reared conventional ladder to her
window, he would receive the trusting
creature in his arms, and together they
would go forth to a distant and larger
town by train which came through
when the night was waning. But Tom,
having gone TO bed in order that his
parents might not think strange. I'M
fortunately fell asleep and did not wake
until morning!
This extraordinary performance
seemed peculiarly funny to those who
ultimately came to know of it. but to
sweet Susan it proved anything but
amusing.
Loving maid, no thought of going to
bed had she! but, steadfast and true.
Che waited with tremulous heart
strings in the darkness of her room,
crouching hour after hour by the open
window, listening for the coming of
her hero. Less than mile below her
the great Mississippi flowed by in OBJ
security and silence, while the town
slept along the hillsides. buried deep
In darkness and a muffiing fog that
rose from the bosom of the mighty
stream. The only sound disturbing
the profound stiffness was the occa-
sional hoarse and unearthly blare of a
steamers whistle going farther and
farther down the unseen river. 1t was
a fitting night for ghosts. clippers and
burglars to venture abroad.
However, but two representatives of
these nocturnal classes seemed awake
ed. eager for business; sweet Susan.
dressed and crouching by an upper
window Of the Simmons mansion, and
Burglar Ben, talented young cracks
man from Chicago. who, taking ad-
vantage of the dark nights then pre-
vailing, was doing" the towns of the
Mississippi. To both OF these persons
time went YEARLY enough. until a
great clock in a church on Rich Mans
hill beat generously the hour of two;
then sweet Susan gripped her handbag
with trembling fingers and felt her
heart mount in her throat with en-
pectation. while Burglar Ben sailed
forth from an abandoned barn. and
presently came softly to the Simmons
mansion, his heart also alive with ex.
pectation.
Finding the conventional ladder
and dimly discerning an open window
in the second story, Burglar Ben was
not long in deciding on a plan of ac.
ton. Elevating the ladder to the win
dow he carefully assembled, and present
ed his head and shoulders before the
opening, when suddenly a pair of soft
arms were clasped about his neck. 9
warm kiss was pressed upon his cheek
and the words: Darling! my owl
darling!" were gurgled in his ear.
Burglar Ben was young man pos
sessed of exceptional nerve and pres
ence of mind, but he came near tum
bling from the ladder with the shocl
of this delicious greeting. \ wild vel
of Consideration rose into his throat
but he managed to gulp it down. After
gasping, much like a drowning man
for few moments, he began whisper
ing the fondest words imaginable intt
the ear so temptingly near his lips. fol
lowing the endearing words with {
passionate squeeze of the vague form
L