Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-01-05
A PATENT ELOPEMENT.
66 81 VISITOR. Jabez."

JS Old Farmer Smith rose
~S from the dinner-table and
picked up his hat from the side of the
chair.
"Who is it, wifeP" he asked.
"a young man." she replied.
The farmers lip set tight as he wit
messed glance which passed between
his wife and his daughter.
II understand" he said, severely,
with a determined look at the anxious
face of the girl. "That London chap,
Leslie Austin"
"Yes, father" she replied.
"I'll settle his business for him." and
Farmer Smith strobe into the parlor,
his heavy boots sounding a death-knell
to the faint hopes in the sinking heart
of pretty, wnsome Alice Smith. $50
you're here again, eh?"
The brusque interrogatory did not
seem to crush the courteous, handsome
young man, who arose and faced the
farmer.
Eyes, Mr.. Smith," was his reply.
"And on the same old errand, l sup
poser?
"Yes, sir; came to ask your con-
sent"
you can't have itw interrupted
Farmer Smith, savagely. "Alice amt
going to marry you or anybody else,
just yet"
"You've heard me, Mr.. Leslie Austin.
You can't have my daughter"
81 love her, Mr.. Smith"
Nonsense! She's too young to know
her own mind. l have said my say,
and the harvest hands are waiting
Good-day, sirv'
Under such determined resistance,
Leslie Austin retreated. He bit his
lips angrily, as he walked rapidly down
the road to the village hotel.
'It's a shame" decided his friend
Bob Townsend, as he heard the dis
appointed lovers story.
"We think so much Of each other"
murmured Leslie, mournfully.
You amt going to give up this way,
are you?" asked Bob.
Leslie looked up inQuiringly.
"What else can do?' he asked.
"Marry her." said Bob.
"Her father won't consent"
Suppose he don't"
Leslie started, but shook his head
slowly.
81 know what you're hitting at, Bob
al elopement"
You're right"
"But it could not be-"
"Why not?"
Because Alice Is bound to obey her
father, and am, too, for that matter"
Bob scOwled impatiently.
"NonsenseH he aspirated, angrily.
"See here Leslie. If you were the ir-
responsible chap old Smith thinks you,
I'd hesitate; but you ain't-you're an
honest well-to-do lawyer, respectfully
connected, and only laboring under a
prejudice on the farmers part that
because neighbor Jones girl married a
worthless man from the metropolis all
such matches must end similarly"
Granted"
therefore, being in the right, and
the old farmer being in one Of his mad
moods, I'd outwit him."
"HowW
The query was encouraging.
run away with Alice" said Bob.
81 can't"
"Why not?"
"Her father watches her too closely.
"Thats the only reason, is itW
"I believe so."
"Shes willing"
presumably"
"And you?"
30, Bob you're talking nonsense!
might as well go back to London ant
wait until Mr.. Smith changes hi!
mind"
"And let some other fellow hav,
Alice. You're a brave lover!'
Leslie was respondent.
81 have plan, If you're pluck,
enough to follow 1t out" suggested
Bob.
Leslie's face grew expectant at tn,
hint.
what Is it?" he asked.
LISTEN
What Bob told the discouraged love
need not be repeated. The subsequen
acts of the conspirators afford suf
ficient explanation.
1t was the next day that faithful Bol
reconnoltered the ground, and foun,
that Farmer Smith had indeed takel
due precaution to prevent his daughte
meeting or running away with Leslie
But Bob managed to get letter t,
the fair prisoner--a letter after readin!
which secretly she manifested her &C
uuiescence to Its contents by an intel