The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-05
\ HAUNTING PAST

roste way.
Fred Peterson was moving along the road
with a long, graceful stride. His vision was
turned inward, where a great conflict was
raging.
L will have her; will have her before
other month"; he calculated.
"Of course you will!'. cried a sweet merry
voice from the side of the road ''Of course
ise!"
laughed the handsome man, moving toward
her
Listening to your VOWS. But why do you
want to be telling the winds? Don't you
know they run everywhere?'
well, want to call all nature to Witness
you see. But your papa begs leave to differ
with me. He says 1 shall never marry you
that he will never give his consent
But I've given mine.''
He says he will kill me if 1 steal YOU
And he would keep his word if he said
Then what are we to do?"
That night, as Fred Peterson lay in his
bedroom, tossing to and fro-feverish, unable
to sleep, striving, with all his glowing facul-
ties to formulate a plan by which he could
obtain his hearts treasure, and at the same
time live to enjoy it, he startled by a
light tap on the window.
He listened intently, and the tap was re-
peated-this time quite loud. He rose up to
a sitting posture and listened again. Some
time elapsed, then came a short rap on the
pane. He arose, procured his revolver and
slipped cautiously to the window.
He raised the window and cautiously thrust
out his head.
He couldn't see a face, but two soft, warm
lips accidentally ran against his And
two arms that he thought he recognizyed,
went around his neck-all by accident.
Get on your things, darling" said voice
in tones affectedly masculine. Come quick,
dear, before your stern old father hears US.
The coast is clear, darling, but-ha, ha! there
is no time to lose. Two gallant steeds await,
timpatently, coming
Fred hesitated no longer, but hastily dressed
and had soon Gravel through the window,
landing in the embrace of his nocturnal Wis
itor.
A few seconds later Maj. Tom Peterson,
suddenly Weakening, heard a muffled volley
of hoofs on the road, wondered what it could
mean, then went back to sleep again.
At about 10 o'clock of the morning of the
above strange episode Maj Tom Peterson
was sitting out on his veranda, cleaning his
trusty old rifle He hadn't found out yet that
his Fred was not in his room. The latter
| OF late kept no regular hours and the father
| didn't even know whether the had slept
at home.
While quietly engaged wping the last YES
tge of dirt from barrel and hammer he casu-
/ ally cast his eye down the road and beheld
his enemy by inheritance coming toward his
house at furious stride. He rose up
and assumed questioning attitude, as he had
never had a visit from Maj. Pitchford. He
saw the latter white from some awful
passion.
Up to the yard gate came Mai. Pitchford
and commanded his enemy ito step OUT
Must I bring ths?" queried Peterson, tap
ping his gum
No, sub, not now, sub. Come heah this
minute, suh.'
Peterson went out, and while he was ap-
preaching the gate Pitchford, with a nervous
hand, drew piece Of paper from his pocket
Maj. Peterson read the following:
Dearest Papa-I learned today that YOU
had taken an oath to kill my Fred if he stole
me and ran off with me. 1 know you well
enough to know you would not break that
oath. What 1 to do? Well, good sense
Fred. Before you read this 1 will have stolen
him, but will be given a legal right to keen
the stolen goods. Your loving daughter
BETTE
Maj. Peterson stood a moment, stunned
with awe. Then he burst Into a loud laugh
We'll, major, we're in a neat trap! But
shan't kill your daughter for stealing my son
sub! I'll break my gun and bless my daugh-
ter. What do you propose to do, sub"
The old mans face was dark for mo-
ment; then mirth struck it and shattered it
! into smiles.
BY George, major, I'll snap my bowie and
bless my son, subj
Give me your hand! This marriage of our
children, sub
Divorces the feud forever subtitle
Criterion.