Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-08-20

pared for any sudden emergency.
II was a week before the sudden
emergency bobbed up. Nellie had APP
peared nervous and absentminded all
the afternoon. She had overhauled her
wardrobe. She had started to write
letter or two and given 1t up. She had
roamed up and down stairs and walked
outdoors. The young engineer had not
shown up as usual. and this was looked
upon with suspicion. After supper tears
were seen In Nellie's eyes. and as she
walked in the orchard the wife said to
her husband:
abraham, it's tonight"
''What?" he asked.
"The elopement."
"You don't mean ii, Mary"
Eyes, do. NeIlie's been preparing
for it all the afternoon, and she means
to slip out of the house as soon as we
are abed and go off with him. I've
been watching her like eat, and she
can't fool her mother"
"And what shall we do?"
'I.eaye that to me. You just act as ii
nothing was going on, and III give
you my, word to stop any eiopement
and cure that girl of her foollshness.'
At bedtime Paul Harper was still
missing, and Nellie sat under the cher
ry tree by the back door. AS the father
started for the barn to make all fast
for the night the mother asked the girl
to go with her to the springhouse to
strain the evenings milk. But few
words were exchanged between them.
As they finished their work the mother
swiftly passed outdoors, slammed ana
locked the door behind her, and the
would be eloper was prisoner. The
Taller had hardly reached the house,
with the key in her hand and grim
smile on her face, when Abraham came
I'm from the barn. He was chucklins
and rubbing his hands together
'I've locked Nell up in the spring
house" said the mother as she hung
up the key, "and she'll stay right there
till morning"
"And I've done something just as
cute" chuckled the father. Just as
shut up the barn along come that feller
across lots, and he was going on to tell
me that he guessed he'd have to go
back to town next week, when | grab
bed him and showed him into the out
door cellar and locked the door on him.
He won't run off with our gal tonight,
he won'te'
abraham, you are mighty cute"
"And so are you"
90 hal of
sat up for an hour TO see IL the prison
ers wouldn't raise an alarm and beg to
be released. No alarm was raised, and,
concluding that they Were ashamed and
sulking, the old folks finally retired.
Excitement kept them awake for
awhile longer, but sleep had held them
fast for three or four hours when the
wife suddenly sat up in bed and almost
shouted:
abraham johnson, get out of bed as
quick as ever you cam
"W-what's the matter, Nary he
asked as he opened his eyes.
"The matter Is that we are two of
the biggest fools in America! Get
your buds on without losing a minute"
"But what is it?' he asked as he got
out of bed.
Il locked Nell up In the springhouse,
didn't I?'
'Yes. you said you did, and l don't
believe she can bust her way out"
'And you locked that young Teller
up In the outdoor ceilarT
II did, and he's as safe as rat in a
trap. Now, what's all this fuss about?'
why, you silly old thingl Don't you
remember that there's a passageway
between the sprlnghouse and cellar,
and can't you understand why there
wasn't no shouting and pounding to
get outr'
Lord bless meP' gasped Abraham
as he led the way down stairs and out
of the house.
Paul Harper returned to the city the
next week. but Nellie had her engage
ment ring first.
HENRIETTA DAVIDSON.