The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-01-23


how to use his weapons. John Mel
don was not a woman fighter; he was
woman lover, and that kind of a
man is always weak, always awkward
in the face of the foe.
Kitty was impulsive and impetuous,
and what she said to the major or
what he said to her no one knew, but
by that fate which is always putting
boy in the right place John Mel
don's office boy was up June apple
tree in the Green orchard on the
night, two weeks after his employers
dismissal, and he overheard Kitty and
the major, on a rustic bench below,
making their final arrangements for
an elopement. What the boy was do
ing up the apple tree is not a mat
ter of chronicle; boys have been
known to go up apple trees with ripe
apples on them for various reasons,
and perhaps this boy was not unlike
other boys. In any event, he was up
the tree, and he heard what was said
underneath his perch, and, though
frightened almost out of his wits, he
did not forget any part of it, and,
what was better still, being faithful
boy, he told no one except Mr.. Mel
don. John Meldon had been good to
the boy, and he was old enough to
know that Mr.. Meldon's course of
true love was not running smoothly.
can. Mr. Meldon," said the boy, in
concluding his marvellous tale, Miss
Kitty didn't want to run away an
git married, but that major man said
as how it was the best way, and she'd
have to. She cried a bit, but she said
she'd do it and show some people
they couldn't lead her round by the
nose, or somethin' like that"
Mr. Meldon WINGED at this, but
smiled family, and gave the boy a
five-dollar bill, with the admonition
to say nothing to anyone about what
he had heard. The five dollars was
not needed to fix the boys loyalty,
but he put the money in his pocket
because he had other uses for it.
On the appointed night, with every
detail of the proposed elopement clear
before him as reported by the boy, Mr..
Meldon and two friends lay hidden in
the border of raspberry bushes not
far from Kitty's window. The sky was
overcast and the night very dark, but
faint light shone from the window.
An hour after midnight a figure ap-
peared under the window, low whis-
tie went upward and presently Kitty's
eyes peered down into the darkness.
The major was there alone with a lad
der, which he placed in position for her
10 step out upon.
"Throw down the money and the
jewelry," whispered the major, "and
while | take them around to the car
riage you get ready and I'll come back
for you"
Kitty dropped couple of packages
out into the darkness, which the ma
ior found with a dark lantern, and
started off with toward the lane be-
yond the garden. As he passed the
raspberry bushes two men suddenly
seized him, and before he could make
any cutlery he was gagged and his
hands were tied. The third man went
to the foot of the ladder and low
whistle, as before, called Kitty to the
window. Bonneted and wrapped, she
came down the frail ladder and
dropped into the arms waiting for her,
was kissed encourag ingly and hurried
away to the carriage.
"Our driver is gone" whispered her
companion-the two men who had
looked out for the major had not neg
lected the driver-but that doesn't
matter. Hurry into the carriage and
I'll drive you around to the church,
where your own pastor is waiting to
marry us, darling" and out of the
darkness came another kiss for Kitty,
who was so dazed by the excitement of
it all that she scarcely knew what was
happening. But as the carriage
whirled away noiselessly down the
soft road of the lane, she realized
vaguely that it was very thoughtful of
the major to have her own pastor take
part in this romantic marriage of hers.
On the drivers box sat three men and
WV VI tllC LII SlluShlCh IL III II Iulll pm.
The man with the lines tight in his
hands over the horses was silent as the
grave.
At the church the carriage stopped.
Two of the men went in by a side door,
and shortly after them came the third
with Kitty. There was scarcely light
enough to see ones hand before ones
face, but the CHEEKY voice of Kitty's be-
loved pastor seemed almost like a ray
of sunshine to her, and she heard only
that during the brief ceremony which
followed. Even that was faint and in
distinct in words, but the sound of it
soothed her and seemed to fall ns a
blessing upon this wild act of hers,
which without it she did not believe
she could have carried to the final ac-
comp.ishment. Regret was coming to
Kitty, but willful people do not wait
upon regrets. She knew at last that
she was Mrs. Hunter; she heard the
minister's words which pronounced the
twain one flesh, and then came little
prayer, and after it hearty voice out
of the dimness of the chapel.
"My very best Wishes" Mrs Meldon,"
it said, and Kitty, as some one turned
the lights on full saw John Meldon q