Middletown transcript., 1903-01-17
A GARDEN PLOT
BY JULIA TRUITT BISHOP.

yOuA LOU, diid SOO 80
side gate. We will 60 up tc
Mr.. Morrison's and be married
He has been married lately him.
self, and will know how to sym
pathize with u.s." said the laugh
ing one.
"Run away? Oh, Tom, lets
not run away" was the fright
ened whisper that came out OF
the cabbage-garden.
But the young man on the
other side of the fence had the
license, and, besides, he had hel
heart. It 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 over
take mel" she cried presently, in
a panic.
"Let's run-we can beat them
both running! 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 eighteen and twenty.
three.
They arrived at the Rev. Felix
Morrison's quite breathless and
full of laughter; and Felix Nor.
rison's girl-wife laughed with
them. and clapped her hands on
hearing that they were going to
be married right away. The
Reverend Felix himself demur.
red. They were both very young
had they presented the matter
properly to those who had au-
thority over them?
"Oh, that's all rightr said
Tom, cheerfully. "We've done
everything we could-begged
andimploredand entreated--they
were hard as a rock. Here's the
license-Mrs. Morrison can wit,
ness-fre aheadn
"Now do, Felix"' begged the
little wife on the other side.
"They love each other-almost
as much as you and I do. Sup.
pose anything had keptus apart
The mere supposition of such
thing set the minister's lips.
and sent a spark into his calm
blue eyes. ''Stand up!" 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 hurry
ing up the walk.
"Oh, here they both comet
cried Nell, in an agony of fear.
They've followed us! Oh, dc
save US, somebody"
"Here, into the back parlorv!
Mrs. Morrison was alreadypush-
ing them under the portieres.
"Now do keep still" she warned.
eff you can throw them off the
SCENT" cried Tom, running back
and wringing the minister hand.
IF you could just lie a little"
"He can't, but I CAM" said
Mrs. Morrison, eagerly. "Here
they come-what is the use if
you do not keep out Of sight?"
Colonel Drane and Mrs. Gray.
son might easily have noticed
that there was an air of subdued
excitement in the parlor to which
they were admitted, that Mr..
Morrison's hand shook, and that
a look of Indignation and high
resolve was on Mrs. Morrison 's
face. But the truth was, they
did not notice it, for they had
larger matters in hand. How
guiltydid the Reverend Felix fee
when he saw Colonel Drane cast
a'stony glance around the room!
very pleasant weather." said
the Reverend Felix, with an all
of deep impressiveness.
Very" said the Colonel, drily
Tom, in the back parlor, groaned
in spirit at the sound of thai
voice.
II thought this morning thai
we should have rain," ventureG
Mr.. Morrison, firmly; "but the
clouds"
"Ah, yes!" said Colonel Drane
curtly. ''But we came up t.
see"
"Certainly!' Mr.. Morrison
hastened to assure him. He fel,
that he could hear Tom and Mel
breathing in the back parlor.
"Now for it! The worst will
be over in a few minutes!" whis