The Mena weekly star., 1898-02-02
An ElOpement Tangle. BY ALvAH MILTON KERR.

THAT modest and oblging 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 tie to justify their attempted elopement, save that Tom's twin brother, Yum, was liable to come back from California at any time and throw Susan into a con- dition of vacillating indecision. For, odd as 1t may seem, when Tom and Yum were at home together sweet Susan seemed utterly unable to decide which she loved the best, whereas, if either of the twins remained at distance, she perceived clearly that she loved the one that remained by her side far better than the other
 So, Yum having been absent in the far west for q 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 a pity, if not an actual cruelty, that the young pair should insist upon having the we'd ding over before Tum's return. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons thought it would be 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.
 It was then that Tom and Susan de- cided 10 elope
 The denouement proved both sensa- tional and odd, for by mistake sweet Susan eloped with a burglar instead of with Toml
 Some ten days before the evening upon which the glad business of mak- ing the eager pair one was formally set for enactment, the young couple secret ly plotted that certain midnight hour should witness their flight. 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- ing 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 10 bed in order that his parents might not think strange, un- 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 shei but, steadfast and true. | she 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 ob- scurity and silence, while the town | slept along the hillsides, buried deep in darkness and muffling fog that rose from the bosom of the mighty l stream. The only sound disturbing the profound stiffness was the occa- sional hoarse and unearthly blare of steamers whistle going farther and farther down the unseen river. It was a fitting night for ghosts. elopers and burglars to venture abroad.
 However, but two representatives of these nocturnal classes seemed awake and eager for business; sweet Susan,