The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-01-02

/ garden.
But the young man on the other
side Of the fence had the license. and
besides, he had the girls heart. il
began TO be apparent that there was
no other way. The end Of it was
that Nell came out OF the side gate,
trembling at every sound in the house
she had just left, and she and Tom
started off hand in hand, like two
children.
"Oh, l feel certain she'll overtake
mel" she cried presently, in a panic.
Lets run-we can beat them both
runningl" suggested Tom. And so
they both ran, holding each others
hand, and laughing. because they
were not very old, and running away
seems kind of joke to Is and %.
They arrived at the Rev Felix Nor
fison's quite breathless and full of
laughter; and Felix Morrison's girl
wife laughed with them, and clapped
her hands on hearing that they were
going to be married right away. The
Rev. Felix himself demurred. They
were both very young-had they pre-
sented the matter properly to those
who had authority over them?
"Oh, that's all right" said Tom,
cheerfully. "We've done everything
we could-begged and implored and
entreated-they were hard as a rock.
Here's the license-Mrs. Morrison
,an witness-fre aheadi'
snow do. Felix" begged the little
wife on the other side. "They love
each other-almost as much as You
and | do. Suppose anything had kept
us apart?"
The mere supposition Of such a
thing set the ministers lips. and
sent a spark into his calm blue eyes.
"Stand upl" he said.
1t was at this awful moment that
they heard the sharp click Of the
gate-latch. and Nell cast a terrified
glance between the lace curtains.
The light of the street lamp showed
two figures hurrying up the walk
"Oh, here they both comel" cried
Nell. in an agony of fear. They've
followed usl Oh. do save us, some
body!"
Here, into the back parlorl" Mrs.
Morrison was already pushing them
under the portieres. "Now do keep
still" she warned.
"If you can throw them Off the /
scent" cried Tom. running back and /.
wringing the minister's hand. IF /
you could Just lie a little"
"He can't, but / canl" said Mrs. /
Morrison, eagerly. Here they come /
what's the use If you don't keep |
out Of sight?"
Col. Drane and Mrs. Grayson might
easily have noticed that there was an
air Of subdued excitement in the
Darlor to which they were admitted,
hat Mr.. Morrison's hand shook, and
hat a look of Indignation and high
resolve was on Mrs. Morrisons face.
But the truth was, they did not no.
ice it, for they had larger matters
n hand. How guilty did the Rever-
nd Felix feel when he saw Col. Dranc
asst stony glance around the rooml
every pleasant weather" said the
reverend Felix, with an air of deep
"Yeryl" said the Colonel, dryly.
Tom, in the back parlor, groaned in
pirit at the sound of that voice.
II thought this morning that we
hould have rain" ventured Mr.. Nor
ison, firmly; but the clouds"
"Ah, yesl" said Col. Drane, curtly.
But we come up to see"
Certainly" Mr.. Morrison has
ened TO assure him. He felt that he
ould hear Tom and Nell breathing
n the back parlor.
''Now for i'll" whispered Tom,
olding Nell carefully to keep her
rom fainting. "The worst will be
yer in a few minutes!"
"The fact is" said the Colonel,
king the unhappy minister with his
ye and speaking in an awed voice
nd with a very red face, Mrs. Gray
on and myself have come up to be
larried!" r
Rev. Felix Morrison tottered
gainst the mantelpiece in the front
arlor, and Tom tottered against the
in the back parlor, but ,
ne Colonel went on, belligerently,
We have chosen this method because
c do not wish any gossip or re-
ark, and because my son and Mrs.
rayson's daughter have shown !,
so plainly opposed to any
int Of it."
Mrs. Felix Morrison bad gone of in
, the back parlor and into Mysteries. '
nd was laughing and crying at a
reat rate. Tom had set Nell down
an easy chair, and was rubbing Z
Is chin with his hand as well as he s
,uld for a most dignifed grin. 2
"If the young people are opposed p
it," said Mr.. Morrison, chokingly,
would it not be better to wait awhile
I'd gain their consent?"
''No, sir, it would notl" roared the :,
)lonel, testify. "They have been
1lding secret meetings and plot
ng against us for days! | do not T.,
oppose to be dictated to by two such
lips Of childrenl Here is the license, =
r. We are both of age. / think. /,
RS. Morrison can witnessl"
And then, as they stood up, two
yures swooped down upon them
ID stood facing them, side by side. ~
lding each others hand. N
"Well, father" said Tom, severe
81 must say I am scandalized.
inning away to be married! And m
your time Of life." bs
''Toml" calculated the Colonel, =.
II wouldn't have thought il Of you,
animal" said Nellie, with much
irit. "To think Of you doing such "
4If,rr ,.-ifhouf uavinp "a word 10 "