The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-10
THEY DIDN'T ELOPE.


That ] was in love was a fact that
d did not admit Of a shadow Of doubt.
9 My love was returned-the strong
yearnings Of my 19-year-old heart went
D out In the direction of the most beauti-
Q full maiden in all shire; the most
beautiful maiden in all -shire in
: return sent out the warnings of her
t heart to meet mine.
y Twice a week l went to the old
e brown home of DR.. Stoddard to tell his
daughter my love. and as regularly
: listened to recital of its return from
b the pretty, red lips Of my charming
Janet.
We were determined to be married;
: we would fly to the nearest city, when
r the household was in the hands Of Nor
] pheus; Janet would become in mo-
! ment's time Mrs. Jason Brown, and ]
r Mrs. Jason Browns husband.
, At II o'clock was to leave my home
stealthily, get my fathers gray nag,
harness her and proceed to Janet, who
. was to be waiting for me- at her cham
, Der window, where / was to place
ladder, which she was to descend; we
. would then fly down the lane to where
the horse was tied, and then the wind
j. should not outrun us.
} There was but one difficulty in the
way; Janets room was shared by her
} sister, Fanny, little mischievous
creature of II, who, to use Janets
words was awake all hours of the
night.
There was but one way: IL Fanny
was aroused she must be bribed into
silence; for that purpose l placed in
Janets hand a round, shining silver
dollar.
But Janet needed assistance so she
concluded to let Fanny into her con-
fidence the same afternoon we started,
and so prevent any chance of her rails
ing the house by sudden cutlery.
The long looked for and yet dreaded
night came at last, the old kitchen
clock warned me the appointed time
had arrived, and with slow, sad and
yet noiseless step left the house and
in few minutes was jogging toward
the home of Janet. What possessed
me cannot tell, but had taken from
! an old chest blue swallow tail coat
that had belonged to my grandfather
! in the time of the wars and in the pride
Of my youth had got into it. The tails
came nearly to my heels, while the
waist was nearly to my armpits, the
sleeves hiding the luxuriant pair of
silk gloves l had INDUCED in for the
, occasion, and above this uncouth pile
of blue cloth was perched hat of very
ancient appearance.
Fanny had evidently been bribed in
to silence. AS I stood there l could
see her light, blithe, little figure fit
to and fro by the window, and how I
blessed her from the bottom of my
heart for her kindness.
At last Janet commenced descending
the ladder, and in very short time
was at my side, when we both upheld
our hands for a bundle of clothing
Fanny was to throw down to us.
"Be quiet, Fam" whispered Janet, as
her sister appeared at the window and
poised the bundle above our heads.
BE quiet, Fan, for heavens sake, and
drop it quickly"
But Fanny still stood there. swinging
backward and forward the huge bum
die, without needing Janets earnest
entreaty.
DO, do throw it, Fanny dear! Do
have some mercy on me. What il faith
er should know Of this; what II he
should be awakened"
La, give it to her, Fan; don't plague
your sister, she's in hurry" called
voice from the closed blind of the par
lor window which belonged to no other
than DR.. Stoddard. Give her the
things. Only be still about it, Fan"
For moment we were petriied. !
What should we do? While we stood
undecided two huge mattresses fell out
at our feet, following Immediately by |
sheets, quilts, table-cloths and other !
articles of all kinds and descriptions.
Mother, mother, don't one of these |
new feather beds belong to Janet?"
called Charlie Stoddard from one part !
Of the house. I
Eyes, yes, and bolster and a pair
of nice pillows, too. Carry EN- out of
the front door," was the answer.
Whose horse have you, JASON" ask
ed the doctor, pushing up the blind.
Your fathers. Humph, that old gray |
isn't worth a button to go. Sam, hur-
ry away and saddle Black Molly for
Jason: It's time they were off!
Look father and mother, and see
Jason's new coat and hiatt" cried Fan.
Isn't that coat beauty, father? Just
look at the length of its tails!"
Well" drawed the doctor, that
coat is handsome"
And his hat, father!" cried the
wicked little Fan.
Il declare!" exclaimed the doctor.
wife, wife, look here and see Jason's
coat and hat"
Don't they look nice, mother?" ask
ed the DOCTOR putting one broad hand
over his mouth and doubling his head
nearly to his knees.
| couldn't stand 1t any longer. l
turned around and leaped across the
garden. Every Stoddard called after
me.
1t was all plain Fan had betrayed us.
I vowed vengeance upon her until
broad daylight, and then hid in the hay
stack and stayed there until Charlie
Stoddeard brought home my fathers
horse.
The old gentleman was frightened;
wanted to know how he came by the
horse. He was told to ask me- he did
ask me, and l made clean breast Of
it, and am sure of this | never look
ed at girl for seven years.
When the eighth came around I re-
membered my old vow against Fanny
Stoddard Well, to make long story
short, | married Fanny. Janet be-
came parsons wife.
And here let me take you into my
confidence. I really think that Fanny
had deep motive in her heart when
-ho batrayn1 lanai and mo Apvbou,