The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-04-08

justin hau stout cluD In MS mana, ana.
with the stealth of cat, he advanced.
When he was within two feet of the
back of his victim he raised his club
| and cried: "Ah, you rascal! I've got
you now. If you try to run I'll brain
you"
But the figure did not move. Justin
grasped the left arm of the man, and
as he pinched the loose coat sleeve he
| could hear the cracking of straw with
in it. The seeming man was a scare
crow, which John Smith had placed iB
the garden just after supper that day,
for the purpose of diverting the atten-
ton OF Justin while the young man
and Flora drove away from the house
Mortified and Disguised, Justin re-
turned to his abode only to search for
Flora in vain. He next walked toward
the barn and shouted for John. but the
hired man did not appear. Entering
the stables, Justin discovered that the
swift mare that Flora was accustom
to drive was gone.
With an agility surprising in one of
his years he harnessed his carriage
horses and drove to the nearest village
at furious rate But when he reached
the village he was told that the couple
had left the horse at n livery stable and
had departed on n train for Albany IS
minutes before his arrival.
For the first time in his life he ques-
toned whether he was a wise man. In
spite of all his precautions the girl
would be married before she was 81
years old. and would obtain possession
of the Edwin Smith farm, which he
hoped to control as long as he might
live. She had disgraced herself. and
had also deprived him of the farm,
whereas if he had only consented TO her
marriage to his son the property would
at least have been kept in his own fam
lily. Justin was forced to acknowledge
that he had made a lamentable botch of
the whole business.
He learned from an Albany paper
that the marriage had taken place on
the day the couple had fled, and three
days later the happy pair returned
home.
Justin received them with distant po-
likeness. refraining from all scolding.
He himself had acted so unwisely that
he felt too much disconnected to find
fault with others.
OF course. now that Flora was legally
married. il was useless for Justin to OPP
pose the stipulations in the Edwin
Smith will, and deed of the farm was
Immediately given to Mrs. John Smith
| Her husband at once took charge of the
farm, but his wife started on Journey
the destination and object of which
| were unknown to Justin Smith.
Three weeks later Flora returned.
and with her was John Smith. the son
| of Justin The two, accompanied by a
young German woman named Anna
Schwarz. whom Flora had hired to be
her house servant. entered the home of
the old farmer. The sight almost para
lyzed Justin with establishment.
what does this mean?" he gasped, as
he looked at his son.
| 1T means that Flora is my wife, and
that | have come home to take charge
of the Edwin Smith farm"
But the girl is already married to
| another John Smith"
You are wrong. Miss Anna Schwarz
here. | acknowledge. successfully act
ed the part of mythical John Smith in
mems clothes. but il is no longer nee
essary for her to practice lauGable de-
cepton for a living"
But the ceremony was fraudulent,
| then. and the farm belongs TO me still?"
1T does not belong to you, for Flora
Floringer has been twice married TO n
John Smith. the second time in legal
way. to myself. The ceremony took
place in Florida. too, so you cannot dis
inherit me-
"Well, this beats all ever heard Of"
cried the old farmer. but I'm so glad
to have it turn out better than | could
have hoped for that | forgive YOU One
farm belongs to her now, and both
farms, after my death. will belong to
you and your wife, as they should. y
Boston Post.