The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-05-09
CHAPTER 1.
AN INTERCEPTED ELOPEMENT.

rocks, piled into the most fantastic
shapes and abounding in picturesque
lakes and beautiful ravines. On the sum-
init 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 it with peculiar interest.
Every lonely road has it's tale Of trage-
dy, every narrow mountain pass its
story of encounter with Indian or Tory
bandit, and every rock bound lake its
legend. 1t was from an unlettered
chronicler of the valley, spinning his
rude but picturesque yarns to group
Of fireside listeners, that am indebted
for the facts embodied in the following
narrative:
At the base of the Shawangunk
mountain, in Orange county, there
a we'll to do farmer whose name was
Price His little family consisted Of
himself, comely daughter named Ia
die and talented and handsome young
man, Edward Robin, whom he treated
like 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, it was but natural
| that 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 scoundrell'
he exclaimed in towering passion.
"Give you my daughterf I'llsee you to
the devil first.
In vain the young man pleaded his
cause. In vain did Zadie join her en-
treaties to 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 inality of his de
cision, he drove the young man from
his presence, ordered his, daughter Il
her room and forbade their speaking tx
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 hi
fury away in tobacco smoke.
"What, throw the gal away on sucl
a pauper, he pondered, "when she cal
have old Caleb Shurker for husband
Shurker is the richest farmer this sid
of Goshen, and I've done veil to put
stop to this nonsense
The thought that he had acted wise
ly in separating the lovers operated t,
cool his rage, and ere he had finished
his second pipe he had entirely recover
ed his equanimity. In one importan
matter, however, he failed to exhibi
the wise foresight for which he wa
noted-he did not discharge Edwart
Robin from his employ. In fact, h
could not well manage his farm with
out him.
And 80 it happened that, although
the lovers studiously avoided holding
any communication in his presence, the,
, found means of carrying on clandes
tine courtship behind his back. Thi
: prudent conduct on their part complete
ly lulled the old mans suspicious, an
he relapsed into his former unobservin
, ways In fact, Zadie carried her decep
tion to such a length that she apparent
ly consented to receive the addresses Q
Caleb Shurker, concession which wa
highly gratifying to her avaricious ia
ther. Unskilled as he was in the cur
ming duplicities of love, he was con
! vinced that the young people had sub
mitted meekly to his will. But it wa
! not long before he was rudely awakene
from this error.
One morning, about a month afte
his refusal of Robins suit, the youn
man was not found at his chores. MI
Price was surprised at this, as he wa
invariably an early riser. So he went
his room and knocked.
There was no response.
+ He opened the door. The room we
y empty, nor did the bed bear evidence {
J. having l,cen occupied during the night
The old mans eyes dilated, and hi
lower jaw dropped in blank amazemen1
ga pretty how-d'ye-dor' he muttel
: ed suspiciously, then hurried off to th
room occupied by his daughter.
On reaching it he did not pause
knock upon the door, but flung it ope
with loud bang.
n Then the truth broke in upon h
\ mind so suddenly that he staggered an
y gasped for breath, for Zadie's rool
was without an occupant. The bed wf
unruffied, and the pillowshams still
It place A chest of drawers, with it's con
IS partments open, showed plainly that
s. had recently been rifed Of its content
as and various articles of feminine. attil
ID lay here and there upon the floor whel
they had been thrown when discarda
by their owner.