Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-04-06

far that we will not be able to get back
to the boat in time"
He drew out his watch, but before
he could glance at it Grace had
snatched it from him.
''Now guess, Herbert" she cried
merrily, putting her hands behind her.
"Guess the time.'
Professor Harper smiled indulgent-
ly.
''It must be 2 o'clock or AFTER" he
said.
''Oh, you bad guesser!" And Grace
laughingly handed back the watch.
cit is only half past IL
s'Why, so it isl" exclaimed the pro-
fessor, amazed. 81 was almost posi-
tive that it was after 2; but that will
give us time for a long tramp"
So on they went further and further
into the woods, until at last, with arms
filed with fine specimens of maiden
hair, they sat down on mossy stone
to analyze them.
"When we are married, Grace, I
hope to find rare pupil in you. We
have year to wait until your father
considers you old enough" continued
he. II don't mind saying to you, little
girl, that find the waiting tedious at
times
Grace's heart throbbed rapidly.
"Tben you would not mind very
much if something should happen that
would make us marry sooner, would
you?" she asked, in a low tone.
'No, dear; l should not in the
least. But there!" the professor
sighed heavily. ''Your father is quite
right, quite right, and we must wait.
Now, shall we analyze a few more
specimens?"
They turned again to the ferns and
so the time passed. Suddenly the
professor seemed to realize that time
was flying, and whipped out his
watch.
''Bless my soulr' he cried. I'VE
will barely have time to get to the
boat. 1t is o'clock. We must
hurry, Grace"
They had not gone far before the
deep whistle sounded on their ears.
''Why! we can never reach the boat
in time in the world! We must run
for it, Grace!'
But, despite their efforts, when they
reached the shore the boat was hidden
from view by bend in the river
''This is predicament, said Pro.
fessor Harper, as he mopped his brow.
"The worst of it is that they will
think we did it on purpose" And he
frowned in annoyance. 81 cannot
think how my watch came to be so far
behind time. Do you suppose you
could have inadvertently turned the
hands, Grace, when you took it from
me?"
Grace hung her head, but made no
reply.
''Grace," he exclaimed, 'I believe
that you did it, and on purpose! Did
you?"
Grace nodded.
''But why. child? Why should you
want to be left way out here in the
woods?"
''I'm going to run off with you,
Herbert. So that you might as well
make up your mind to it,"
''Why! what does the girl mean?"
gasped the professor in amazement.
''Just what say. If you will agree
to marry me right away, l know n
man that lives about mile from here
who will drive us to CLANCY. If you
don't promise, will not tell where he
lives and you will just have to stay
here all night.
Professor Harper stared at her for
a moment i'll astonishment, and then,
as her meaning burst upon him, gave
vent to roar of laughter. Grace's
lip quivered.
''Oh, I surrender! I surrenderr'
cried the professor hastily. II will
do anything you ask, my dear. But
what very desperate character you
are!"
Shamefaced, but determined. Grace
led the chuckling professor to the
house of farmer, with whom arrange
ments were soon concluded to drive
them to CLANCY.
'You don't really mind, do you,
Herbert?" whispered Grace, as they
reached the house of the minister.
"Mind? No 1 wish we had done
it long ago." whispered back the pro-
fessor, smiling boyishly. 81 haven't
been on such a lark for years.
The G. e. club held aprivate jolifica-
tion when it was known that Professor
Harper and Grace Dawn had eloped,
and the villagers wondered at the de-
pravity of a man of his age.
''All the same, my DEAR" said the
professor to his wife. II hope that you
won't always use such desperate
methods to obtain your own way"
'But there wasn't anything else to
do" answered Mrs. Harper. r.-Cleve-
land Press.