The Florence daily tribune., 1899-02-28

the Adj ,ntum pedatum.
"Trua, my dear. Let me see what
the time is. We don't want 10 20 20
/ far that we will not he able to get back
/ 90 tine boat in time.
He drew out bis watch, hot before
he could glance at it Grace had snatch.
ed it from him
Now guess. Herbert" she cried
"Guess the time. A"
Professor Harper smiled indulgently
at must be , o'clock or after. he
said
ION, you bad guesserr And Grace
llughiuRly banded back the watch
"It Is only bali past /. "
"Why, 80 it ISL exclaimed the pro.
fessor, amazed II was almost positive
I that It was after , but thnt will give
US time for long tramp.
/ So on they went farther and farther
| INTO the woods. until at last. with arms
/ filled with fine specimens OF maiden
hair. they sat down ON a mossy stone to
aualyze them
when we are married Grace. hope
70 ind n rare pupil in you We nave
D
| thur considers you old enough. con
I tinued he Il don't mind saying to
1 you. httio girl that | find the waiting
tedious nj times.
Grace's heart throbbed rapidly
''Then you would not mind very
much If something should happen that
/ would make us marry sooner. would
! you'" she asked, in a low tone
I NO dear. | should not. not IN the
I least But therel" the professor sighed
heavily 'Your father is quite right.
1 quite right, and we must wait Now
| shall We unalyze few more specimens3'
| They turned again to the ferns and
so the time passed Suddenly the pro
| tCssor seemed to realize that time was
/ dying aud whipped out his watch
Bless my suull'' he cried I'VE will
barely have tine to get to the boat 1t
is 1 O'Clock We must hurry, Grace.
They had not gone far before the deep
I whistle sounded On their ears,
why We can never reach the boat
in time in the world We must run tuI
/ II, Grace o.
But. despite their efforts, when they
reached the shore the boat was hidden
from view by II bend in the river
! This is predioameut, snid Pro.
fessor Harper, as he mopped his brow
'Tho worst of it is that they will think
we did it on purposor' And he frowncd
/ IN annoyance. IL cannot think Low my
watch came to be so far behind time
DO you suppose you could have mad
vertently turned the bands. Grace,
when you tuoli il from me?''
/ Grace hung her head. but made nc
reply
Grace, be exclaimed, II believe
that you did it. and on purpose Did
I you?"
Grace nodded
"Bnt why, ohildY Why should you
wsnt to be left way out here in the
wuodsg'
Pm going to run off with you. Her.
bert So that you might as well make
4 up your mind To it.
why What does the girl meanp
/ gasped the professor in amazement
".lust what | say II you will agree
TO marry me right away, l know u man
/ that lives about a mile from here who
( will drive us to Chaney. If you don't
promise. l will not tell where he lives
and you will just have to stay here all
night.
Professor Harper stared mt her for n
moment in aStonishment, and then. as
/ her meaning burst upon him, gave vent
/ TO IA roar of laughter. Grace's lip
quivered
"Oh, surrender surrender - cried
I the professor hastily. II will do any
thing you ask, my dear. But what a
+ very desperate character you are!'
Shametaced, but determined, Grace
/ led the chuckliug professor to the house
of a farmer, with whom arrangements
were soon concluded to drive them to
[ Cbaney
"Nou don't really mind do you,
/ Herhert?" whispered Grace as they
/ reached the house of the minister.
Mind? No wish we had done it
[ long ago. " whispered back the profess.
or, smiling hoyishly Il haven't been
on such a lark for years.
The Q L. club held private lollifi
cation when it was known that Profess
or Harper and Gruce Dawn had eloped,
aud the villagers wondered at the de
lrHvltv of a man of his age.
"Al the same, my dear, :" said the
professor to his wife, IL hope that you
won't always use such desperate meth
uds to obtain your own way.
But there wasn't anything else to
do, answered Mrs. Harper.
And laughing, he kissed her.-L
\ Foster Madison in Cleveland Press.