Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-12-29

| Some time elapsed. then came short
rap on the pane. lie couldn't be mis-
| taken now. Some one was at the win
dow, He arose procured his revolver,
and slipped cautiously 10 The window.
The night was quite dark, but his eyes
vaguely outlined a figure outside.
who's out there? What is wanted ?"
he called.
You are wanted" came back in
mysterious tones.
"Who are you?"
'Raise the window and see"
Its too dark to see"
Then hear and feel"
az fear it's a burglar"
1.-The burglar doesn't want much"
"What does the burglar want ?"
"Only you"
He raised the window and cautiously
thrust out his head
He couldn't see face, but two soft,
warm lips accidentally ran against his
own. And two arms that he thought he
recognized, went around his neck-all
by accident.
Get on your things, darling said a
voice in tones affectedly masculine
''Come quick, dear, before your stern
old father hears us. The coast is clear.
darling, but-ha, hal-there is no time
TO lose. Two gallant steeds await, inn
patiently, our coming"
"Oh err fear" hesitated Fred
True love fears nothing" spoke the
one on the outside, half appealing, half
AoI
half laughing tones: Come, while yet
the day crouches under the eastern
wall, while yet upon thy cruel fathers
cyelids press the leaden fingers of deep
sleep. Soon the bird of dawning i'll
begin to drive the damp dark with his
long, high notes. Come, sweet crea-
] ture, come away and let's be one ere
comes another day"
Fred hesitated no longer, but hastily
dressed and had soon crawled through
the window, landing in the odcrous en-
brace of his nocturnal visitant.
y soft, warm palm embraced his fin
gers, and an eager, sweet voice said:
Come, this way"
\ few seconds later, Maj. Tom Peter
son, suddenly awakening, heard a muf-
fed vollev of hoofs on the road, Won
dered what it could mean, then went
back to sleep again.
At about ten O'Clock on the morning
of the above strange episode Maj. Tom
Peterson was sitting out on his ver-
onda. cleaning up his trusty old rife
lie hadn't found out yet that his son
Fred was not in his room. The latter,
Of late, kept no regular hours, and the
father didn't even know whether the
son had slept at home. While quietly
| engaged wiping the last yestige of dirt
from barrel and hammer he casually
cast his eye down the road, and beheld
his enemy by Inheritance coming
toward his house at furious stride.
He now rose up and assumed a ques-
tioning attitude, as he had never had
visit from Maj. Pitchford. lie saw the
latter was white from some awful pas
sion.
Up to the yard gate came Maj. Pitch
ford and commanded his enemy ito
step out
Must l bring this? - queried Peter
son, tapping his gun.
NO sub, not now, sub. Come heah
this minute, sub
Peterson went out, aud while he was
approaching the gate Pitchford, with a
nervous hand, drew piece Of paper
from his pocket, and reached it toward
the former commanding:
'Read this, sub, and tell me what
we'll DO about it, suit"
Maj. Peterson read the following:
Dearest Papa: I learned tod ~ that YOU
had taken an oath 10 kin my Fred IL he
stole me and ran off with me know you
well enough 10 know you would not break
that oath What was / TO do? Could /
give him up? OF course not Would / al
low my husband shot before my own eyes
by my own father? Certainly notl What
must l do? What could l do? Well, good
sense came to my rescue, and decided to
steal Fred! Before you read this viii
have stolen film, but viii be given a legal
right to keep the stolen goods. Your low
ing daughter. BETTE"
Maj. Peterson stood moment,
stunned with awe. Then lie burst into
a loud laugh.
well, major, were in a neat trap!
But shan't Kill your daughter, sub, for
stealing my son, sub! My voice is this:
III break my gun and bless my daugh-
ter. What do you propose to DO, sub ?"
The old mans face was dark for a
moment, then mirth struck II and shat
tered it into smiles.
by George. major, I'll snap my
bowie and bless my son, subj"
Give me your handl This marriage
Of our children, sub
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Criterion.
First Cofee in Western Europe.
Louis NV. Of France drank the first