Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-12-05
CHAPTER I.
AN INTERCEPTED EIoPEMRNr.

L AN INTERCEPTED ElJofkMENT
OF the many historic valleys which
| lie in the great state Of New York that
Of the Waikiki river Is perhaps the
most romantic
Winding through the counties OF
Orange and Ulster, 1t is inclosed on the
west by the rugged Shawsngink range
of mountains, vast amphitheater OF
rocks. piled into the most fantastic
shapes and abounding in picturesque
lakes and beautiful ravines. On the sum.
NIT Of Sky Top. the highest peak Of the
range, lies the far famed Lake Mohonk,
surrounded on all sides by marvellous
precipices On the tops Of mountains
| farther south are situated Lake Mime
waska and Long pond, both remarkable
for the depth and clearness Of their wa
ter and the sublimity Of their rocky
shores
Apart from the natural beauties OF
the region history and tradition have
invested II with peculiar interest
Every lonely road has its tale Of TRACE
dy. every narrow mountain pass its
story of encounter with Indian or Tory
bandit, and every rock bound lake its
| legend. II was from an unlettered
chronicler Of the valley. spinning his
| rude but picturesque yarns to group
Of fircside listeners. that am indebted
| for the facts embodied in the following
narrative:
At the base Of the Shawangunk
mountain, in Orange county, there
lived at the outbreak Of the Revolution
well to do farmer whose name was
Price. His little family consisted Of
himself. q comely daughter named Ia
die and talented and handsome young
man. Edward Robin, whom he treated
like n son. although he was but farm
hand in his employ.
Now. inasmuch as the young people
were thrown constantly into each 9TH
er's company. with few other associates
| OF their own age, IL was but natural
that q tender and enduring affection
should develop and ripen between them.
Either Mr.. Price was lacking In obser-
vation. or else the lovers deported them
selves with great discretion during their
courtship. But the fact remains that
the first intimation the old man had OF
their mutual regard was when Edward
Robin boldly asked him for the hand Of
his daughter in marriage
The request fell upon him like thun-
derbolt.
"You impudent young scoundrelf
he exclaimed in n towering passion.
"Give you my daughtert / II see you to
the devil first.
In vain the younl man pleaded his
cause. In vain did :. die join her en-
| treaties 10 his The old man remained
| immovable-
"You can't have my daughter, sir,
and that's the end Of it," he cried an
grily.
And, to prove the finality OF his de-
cision. he drove the Young man from
his presence, ordered his daughter to
her room and forbade their speaking 10
one another again. Having thus assert
ed his authority over his little house
hold. he lighted his pipe and locked
himself up in the kitchen to puff his
fury away in tobacco smoke.
"What, throw the gal away on such
a pauper he pondered, "when she can
have old Caleb Shurker for husband 7
Shurker is the richest farmer this side
Of Goshen, and I've done well to put
stop to this nonsense.
The thought that he had acted wise
ly in separating the lovers operated to
cool his rage and ere he had finished
his second pipe he had entirely recover
ed his equanimity. In one important
matter. however, he failed 70 exhibit
the wise foresight for which he was
noted he did not discharge Edward
Robin from his employ. In fact, he
could not well manage his farm with
out him.
And 80 il happened that although
the lovers studiously avoided holding
any communication in his presence. they
found means of carrying on clandes-
tine courtship behind his back. This
prudent conduct on their part complete
| " lulled the old mans suspicious, and
he relapsed into his former unobserving
ways In fact. Zadie carried her decep-
tion TO such length that she apparent
" consented to receive the addresses OF
Caleb Shurker, concession which was
highly gratifying to her avaricious ia
ther. Unskilled as he was in the cum
ming duplicities Of love, he was con-
WINGED that the young people had sub
mitted meekly to his will. But it was
not long before he was rudely awakened
from this error.
One morning. about a month after
his refusal Of Robins suit. the young
man was not found at his chores. Mr..
Price was surprised at this. as he was
invariably an early riser. So he went to
his room and Knocked.
There was no response.
He opened the door The room was
empty, nor did the bed bear evidence Of
having been occupied during the night.
The old mans eyes dilated, and his
lower jaw dropped in blank amazement.
"a pretty how'd ye-dol" he mutter-
ed suspiciously. then hurried of to the
room occupied by his daughter.
On reaching it he did not pause to
knock upon the'door, but flung it open
with loud bang.
/ Then the truth broke in upon his
mind so suddenly that he staggered and
gasped for breath. for Zadie's room
was without an occupant. The bed was
unrufied. and the pillowshams still in
place. A chest of drawers, with its COM
partments open. showed plainly that it
had recently been rifled Of its contents.
and various articles Of feminine attire
lay here and there upon the floor where
they had been thrown when discarded
BY their owner.
II was evident that the lovers had
eloped.
! At first Mr.. Price was 30 dumfound.
ed by the discovery that he stood speech
less and trembling in the doorway.
Then, as he gradually awoke to full
realization of the deception which had
been played upon him. he began tt
rave like one possessed.
"Hoodwinkedl Deceived Played fol
1 blamed old foolr" he roared, shaking
his fist at the empty air. "But II
catch ye yet, my pretty birds, and make
! ye repent this escapade.
Then he hurried ont to the barn and
harnessed his feetest horse to hi
chaise. Az il was fully 30 miles to th'
dominie's, he hoped that he might ye
.A---...x Az Sv,r~it;voa Pint ho did mo-