Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-12-14
THE RUNAWAYS.
CO. EEMs to me, Tiny. the folks
might quit"

yards wide, running both ways as far
as the eye could reach, while on either
side the ranks of corn toed the line.
seemingly afraid TO encroach one inch
beyond their mark.
II was deep, fertile prairie land, COW
cred now with the characteristic coarse
grass and gum weed, but as capable of
good Yield under cultivation as the
fields on either side.
Tiny" said Sim, as If deliberating,
you an mes of age"
The girl quivered a little. but she
looked at him rescluteiy.
And theTe amt no reason why we
should stay here all our lives. I'm
strappin' feller, an though / hate 10
leave Ioway, l reckon there's other
States where a man could work fer
fer himself an WIFE,"
20, Sim, you never mean fer US to run
away? Why, 'twould kill NAV, an
Aunt Susan an Aunt Elizaw gasped
Tiny.
"Twouldn't kill en-" he responded.
Think O. me- danglin' on a string nigh
onto two year already; it's a wonder
It amt killed me, that's what. There
amt no other way but fer us to go be-
fore the preacher, an when were man
an wife, both our folks can kick all
they re mind TO. There's no use in
waiting neither, Is there, Tiny?
Pail never forgive your ma, nor she
him. You an mes a tremblin' here on
the ragged edge O. dlskivery every min
ute. an 1 tell you l won't stand 1t a
great while more. There, there, Tiny!
I amt meanin' to be cross, but eff
you've got women folks TO leave, I've
got men folks. There's father; he's the
obstdnatist old man you ever see, an I
know II; it's jest him TO see q pretty
dotter right within reach, an him to
refuse her, because it's you. It's q
comfort 10 feel ef you're marryin' into
sech an obstinate family, you're mar
ryin outen one about as bad. All the
same, l hate to leave pa an Uncle Sim,
an old John, thets ben our hired man,
an fed hogs with us, sense before
was born.
But I'm a-goin' to leave en- Tiny,
an you an NEIL start off into the world
an find place fer ourselves; then the
Saulsburys thet's left can fight 1t out
with the Taylors thet's left. an vel
come. Say you'll come, little girl, say
you'll Gomez
Tiny looked up at Sim then, with the
look woman gives a man only once
in her life. and that when she herself
goes with 1t, and then the tears slowly
welled into her eyes.
20, SIM she consented but We'll
come back an bid 'em good-by-'
Yes" he replied, strengthening him
self TO his feet 2, yes, after the
weddin'r'
Hardly had the two parted-indeed
the shaking tassels of the corn yet be-
trayed the opposite path each had
taken-when an old man stepped grim
ly into the clear strip, the stubbly beard
On his set, square jaw showing a sandy
gray in the sun.
A scant sklrted calico dress and a
slat sunbOnnet, with a long. pointed
nose and an obstinate chin appearing
within 1t, glided from the stalks on the
other side, as II to meet him.
When too late to retreat they spied
each other-old Tom Salisbury and the
widow Taylor.
''M-m-m.'' she said at the same mo-
ment, with little screech in her voice
81 never s'posed-I never thought"
she stammered-
NO, you never s'picioned I was nigh;
nuther did l you-but i do s'picion.
now, you've ben about yere long
enough TO see what's goin on between
my boy an your girl. l give you my
word, Mis- Taylor, never drumpt OF
81 before, an l stumbled on 1t to-day"
II couldn't a believed II of my Tiny
unless I'd follered her a-purpose. an
seen 1t. I'd ben wondering this long
time what tuck her so often in this di-
rection," the woman half sobbed
81 heard how she spoke of her moth
er, NON, an hope you likewise heard
Jest how Sim mentioned me. fer IN the
main he done me Justice an himself
credit. Sims a strong, hard workin'
young man, an an improvement on his (
father, I should Jedge. Should you,
nom, sayin' he wasn't a Salisbury.
now, feel conf table thet your tlotter
should hev him.?
"TNnys a darlin' goo1 girl, active an /
full. Don't seem S ef she was old .
enough, an yet-well-ruther II : /
she shouldn't marry at all, like Susan |
an Eliza-turrible old maids, both of |
'em-why, yes. But a Saulsbury-Or' !
Mrs. Taylor protested pointedly.
The old man shift d his weight to the /
other foot and gaze! into the clouds.
Mis- Taylor, We've ben engaged IN /
upholdin' a principle nigh onto twenty I
rear now. an ,'N"'t t-}"--- 's,'- 49,
we've about wore 1t out. Still, eff there
hain't but a rag left CT the old flag. I'm
bound to grip the flagstaff, an l s'pose
you're the same?"
II hain't changed nSner' she re-
turned, vindictively.
But bein' so well pleased with Sim
fer his goin' ahead as he please. spite
Of the parents on both sides; also seem
with my own eyes what a modest an
sensible girl you've raised, an idee Oc- /
ours to me by which we can git shet /
Of che whole thing in a self-respectin' !
manner Mis- Taylor, do you still hold
your patent from the government, EN- /
bracing this here strip O. landY' he in
quired.
The slat bonnet nodded violently.
And ruther'n go to law about 1t you !
will consent to leave it sorter neutral |
strip as long as you live:'
Again the bonnet agitated.
well, | still hold my patent. too, |
clearly defnin' 1t as part of my do
Mains, plainly betrayin' the mis- lake |
4 surveyin' which our almighty gov
inment has made. I'll never go back |
IF my promise nuther about leavin it |
in the material perarie while l keep my
claim. Now, when in the course of |
natIrr Won become an angel WOllld il |