The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-07-18
HEROIC MEASURES

| front uOOT Ol II euuliutr eNchiiS, uhu
II we don't put our foot right down it
will probably end in her running away
and disgracing us. Something has got
to be DONE"
"Yes, Abraham
Things would not have appeared so
dreadful to an outsider. The Johnsons
were well to do people with one child,
now an attractive girl of twenty. Three
young farmers who asked for her hand
had been kindly but firmly refused.
Her mother had begun to wonder If
Nellie was not overparticular, when
the right man appeared. He was Paul
Harper, a young civil engineer whose
health had failed. He had been packed
Off into the country to recuperate. He
was honest enough to admit that his
fortune did not so beyond a few hun
dred dollars and that his future was
by no means assured.
He secured board at Taylor's, which
was only a quarter Of mile from
Johnson's. 1t followed that he was in
vited to call, and the two young people
fell in love with each other. Paul had
not asked Mr.. Johnson for Nellie's
hand, but the mother had seen how
things were going and reported to her
husband. They had said few words
to the daughter as a precautionary
measure, and, while she blushed and
showed confusion. she "sassed back"
in q way to surprise them. Their first
move was to treat Harper with cold
ness, but it did not keep him away.
Had Paul asked the privilege of be-
coming their son-in-law he would have
been sent packing. The fact that he
didn't ask and the fact that Nellie
"sassed back" started train OF
thought that ended in the belief that an
elopement was -on the tapis. They
must keep their eyes open and be pre-
pared for any sudden emergency.
1t was q week before the sudden
emergency bobbed up. Nellie had ap'
peared nervous and absentminded all
the afternoon. She had Overhauled her
wardrobe. She had started to write q
letter or two and given it up. She had
roamed UP and down stairs and walked
outdoors. The young engineer had not
shown up rs 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 it. Mary"
Eyes, | do. Nellie's been preparing
for it all the afternoon, ard she means
are abed and go off with him. I've
been watching her like cat, and she
can't fool her mother"
"And what shall we doT'
Leave that to me. You just act as II
nothing was going on, and III give
you my word to stop any elopement
and cure that girl of her foolishness."
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 girI
to go with her to the springhouse &c
strain the evenings milk. But few
words were exchanged between them
AS they finished their work the mother
swiftly passed outdoors, slammed and
locked the door behind her, and the
would be elopcr was prisoner. The
jailer had hardly reached the house
with the key in her hand and grim
smile on her face, when Abraham came
in from the barn. He was chuckling
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 rs
cute" chuckled the father. Just as
shut up the barn along come that Teller
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'T"
abraham, you are mighty cute"
"And so are you"
They didn't go to bed at once They
sat up for an hour to see If the prison
ers wouldn't raise an alarm and beg to
be released. No alarm was raised, and,
concluding that they were ashamed and
sullSing, 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 camp
"W-what's the matter, Mary?' he
asked as he'opened his eyes.
"The matter is that we are two OF
the biggest fools i'm America! Get
your duds on without losing n minutew
But what is itY' he asked as he got
out of bed.
II locked Nell up in the springhouse,
didn't II"
YES, you said you did, and don't
believe she can bust her way out"
And you locked that young Teller
up In the outdoor cellar?"
II did. and he's as safe as a rat In q
trap. Now, what's all this fuss aboutr
why, you silly old thing! Don't You
remember that there's a passageway
between the springbouse and cellar,