The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-19
THE ELOPEMENT OF MARY
 JANE.
BY J. c. PLUMMER

BY '. c. PLUMMER
 Copyright. 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col
 "old Captain Isaac Small commanded I the ship Venus" began Captain Clegs. Il but he was cut short.
 Il "I don't care If he was captain of the ark," snapped Mrs. Clegg; This wifi
 keeps tavern, and, I'm above such pco- ple.''
 "It's nice place." murmured the cap tain.
 ITO heathens. scoffers, and such like, l suppose It's nice. retorted Mrs. Cless. ''and if you let Mary Jane marry that Isaac Small it'n be. the disgrace of the Clegg family. The idea of a man who struts about his ship and swears at the | sailors letting girl just out of pinafoi cs pull him around by the nose. You let l her flout Mir. Bisgs. the preacher, who | Is struck with her, and never say a word just because that boys father was fel- low sailor with you.'' "Old Isasds widow had to make llv- ing somehow" expostuiated the captain, with feebieness. ''and the boy is a good sailor"
 The door opened with energy, and Mary Jahe. her face glowing with the crisp l touch of the autumn wind. ran in. She plumped herself in her fathers lap with such vehcmence that his pipe fell on the floor.
 Where have you been. miss?" inquired her mother. with severity. "Only for a little walk" replied Mary Jane, twisting the scanty locks of Cap tain Cleggs hair.
 with that nasty Isaac Small, sup poser"
 "welI. I did meet him, and he wasn't '
 I've just been telling your father about your going with Isaac Small. and he's horrihed.' snapped her mother with a warning look at the captain.
 ''I hope it. won't make dad sick" re- marked her daughter; but I'd be run over by wild horses and eaten by wild bears before I'd marry that Mr. Biggs." and Mary Jane, kissing her father. went to her bedroom with a dignifed pose
 'Tf," remarked Mrs. Clegg. gloomily lighting her candle, "I was a father. and heard my daughter say thing like that I'd" but Mrs. Clegg's vocabulary WAS not equal to the situation. and she went to bed leaving the sentence incomplete.
 Captain Clegg had departed the next morning to the schooner Spray and Mi s. Cleyg was beating the rug against the porch when Mir. Daniel, mate of the Spray. unlatched the gate.
 I've something to tell you. num-" said he. mysteriously.
 Mrs. Clegg invited him in and awaited with eagerness hls news.
 There's goin' to be doin's.' said MT. Daniel, shaking his head; 'I don't know if I should tell it. and then don't know but that I ought to-
 Mrs. C1egg trembled with impatience. but Mr. Daniel, having fixed his eye on iolr If vnYavT1SNlrIV7 fHto c silent,
 Have some pier said Mrs. Clegg.
 'I think it's my dooty to tell you" said he, between mouthfuls. that your daughter and young Small have fixed to elope. They're goin' to hide on the Spray until she's out to sea and then persuade the captain to let them get married at New Bedford.
 Mrs. Clegg's lips were tightly folded and gleam of determination shone in her eyes.
 Thank you. MT. Daniel" she said, "I'n attend to it. Please don't say word to soul"
 MT Daniel walked down the road until he came to the inn kept by Mrs. Mercy Small IIc talked earnestly for awhile with that lady and partook of a glass of rum When he departed Mrs. Mercy Small's lips were folded and she was talking to herself.
 Mir Daniel went on to the schooner, but he stopped once or twice and shook with some internal convulsion, which may have been the result of the pie and rum in combination. Ebb tide was at o'clock, and the Spray was supposed to take advantage of 1t ;n getting to sea. The night was cloudy. with a chill easterly wind, which made MT Daniel resort several times to a bot tle. and he had just resorted to 1t when