Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-08-14

met the Lady uwenuolon IN me sum-
mer house old Trevellick was listening
outside?. l think not; yet, fearing there
may be any misrepresentation, l will
state 1t and add that he had his ear at
knothole. He heard every palpitating
word, for the two, having no suspicion,
did not speak In whispers. Little do
young people know of the meanness of
this world.
Don't you think we might try 1t on
a tandem?" asked Lady Gwendolen
sweetly.
mo, no." said young Biggs eagerly.
81 think we should have two bicycles.
Then In case of pursuit we could go
down different roads and thus bewilder
those who follow. We could meet at
the market cross in Puddlebury and go
together to the place of appointment"
Eyes; l suppose that would be the
better PLAN" sighed the girl, although
dislike riding alone in the dark"
81 don't suppose 1t will be necessary
for us to separate on the road. 1 am
merely speaking of what had best be
done should our plans be discovered, n
most unlikely eventuality, for your IA
Their has not the slightest suspicion and
may not miss you until it is too late for
him to do anything"
Old Peter chuckled extensively and
silently as he heard this.
GLOW thoughtful you are! Will 1t
take long, once we reach there?"
"Only few minutes"
"And to think that an action fraught
with such consequences, an action
which changes the whole course Of two
human lives, occupies but q few min
utes! l can hardly believe that we are
so near to liberalization of our fondest
hopes. When shall meet you?"
II shall be in the lane with two bicy-
cles at three hours after midnight. The
lighted lamps will guide you. We will
ride slowly unless there is pursuit and
should reach Puddlebury about day
light. hope you will have no difficulty
in getting away from the castle I'M
! seem"
"There will be no trouble about that.
At o'clock, then?"
Thus they parted, and Gwendolen
sought her own room. Had she any
qualms about leaving it thus surrepti.
tiously? Pm sure don't know. l am
compelled to keep strictly to the facts
within my own cognizance.
am, however, delighted to be able tc
state that here the villain met his
! first difficulty. The proud earl was
not at home. The county court was
in session that week at Scradling
ton, ten miles westward from the cas-
tie, while Puddlebury was 20 miles tt
the east, and the earl always attended
the county court, being usually sum
moned to do SO. He was punctilious
observer of the laws of his country
and never flouted n writ. Old Pete
therefore had his work cut out fol
him. He mounted horse and gal
Topped for the earl. 1t was long aft
er midnight when Peter reached tn,
county town, and then there was mucl
delay in finding his lordship and in con
vincing him that his daughter had &C
tually eloped with the son Of black
smith. No Stobcross since the days o
Noah had ever so demeaned herself
the earl maintained. He saw that
this We're indeed true he could not i
future keep his chin SO high in the ail
and as he had become accustomed to
in that position he hated to change. Fl
was very conservative anyhow and ha
always hated change, never having an
of 1t in his pocket. AT last, however, h
rode grumblingly to his castle and a.
rived there about daylight, fully e,
pecting to find Gwendolen in her room
and then he told himself he woul
make it lively for old Peter, who la
thus unnecessarily disturbed his res
lie even confided this resolve to Pete
but the latter had confident air tn,
troubled his lordship.
Sure enough, the castle was empt,
The bird had flown. Madly the en-
galloped to Puddlebury. He called frs
:, raging, on the Established clergyma
e of the place, but found that placid o.
l gentleman had married no one 4,
% weeks. Then crashing on the perturbt
l nobleman's distracted brain came II
e thought that the blacksmith's son w;
d sure to be Dissenter and had douI
D. less been married by one of the hume
f, GUS ministers of that faith He visitt
g in turn all the reverend gentlemen
II Puddlebury, but without hearing of IL
ID fugitives. There was now left only Il
st registrar. The last of the cloth {
J. whom he called had suggested this OF
d cial, as it had never occurred to Il
10 earl that daughter of his would d
y scend to a civil marriage.
'r The earl called upon the registrar
10 a towering rage.
e Il am the Earl of stobcross, and
10 have come
n "Oh, yes, my lord; about the little q
d. fair l was honored in carrying out f
y your daughter, Lady Gwendolen. Qui