Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-04-27

HAD TO BREAK INTO SCHOOLHOUSE
/ had been working for farmer for
my board and as soon as travel was
open / got out. / hadn't gone over
FIVE miles when 1t began showing
again, and had to break into a coun-
try schoolhouse to find shelter. There
was wood in plenty. and ] had bite
to eat in my pocket, and when night
came l was fairly we'll off. | stretched
out on bench and went to sleep and it
was 10 o'clock or after when / was
aroused by two persons coming in.
There were a young Teller and girl,
and he was swearing and she was cry
ing.
1T took me some time to find out
what was the trouble, as the young
Teller was for turning me outdoors
at first, and the girl couldn't explain
for her sobs. 1t wasn't an elopement,
End it wasn't love match. AS q mat
ter OF fact, he was abducting the girl.
He was farmers son, and she was
schoolma'am. He had been shining
up to her. but she wouldn't have it,
and under prerense OF taking her to
the village he had been driving around
the country and trying to coax or
bulldoze her into marriage. They were
fifteen miles from home when they
struck the schoolhouse. and the young
Teller had been making threats that
scared the girl half to death.
81 got at the facts by piecemeal,
with the girl crying and the Teller rid
ing a high horse, but when I under
7 41o+
had job on hand. didn't take the
center Of the stage and cry out
Young girl, I will save you at the
peril of my life!' did not point a long,
| lean finger at the villain and exclaim.
'Begone, scoundrel or I will plunge
this dagger into your heart! The stu
alton might have been dramatic, but 1t
called for something more than wood
Ell daggers and boaStful words.
'"The young Teller and | looked each
other over. found him broad backed
and husky He sized me up for an av-
erage tramp, and he figured on pitch
ing me outdoors in about minute.
1 With the girl sitting behind the stove
weeping. we both pulled off or coats
and vests, moved back the benches and
went at It. | believe that chap could
/ have got away with anybody in the
country in rough and tumble fight of
/ it, but I wouldn't make that kind of a
4 fight OF it. / stood him off and jabbed
! him; and the set-to would have been
A worth dollar admission 1t lasted a
| good half hour. and there was little
1 time for breathing. Not word was
I said by either Of us but after the row
! had got we'll started the girl stood up
4 on bench and became interested.
| Later on she even forgot her grief and
clapped her hands and cried out good
when / got a good one home. I'll say
this for the feller-that he fought a
square fight and that lie had the grit
of bulldog. He was a licked man al
| last, however and helped him on with
his vest and coats and escorted him out
| to his sleigh and started him off.
hadn't come out of it scathless, but
\ didn't feel my bruises much when the
( girl began to express her gratitude and
sing my praises. / believe she would
have married me then and there if O
preacher had been present.
"Well, kept the Ere going and she
nodded and slept, and it was high
noon next day before her friends ar
rived and took her away. There were
three hearty farmers in the sleigh, and
any one of them would have given ms
free board for the rest of the winter
but decided to jog along. 1t was jus
little romance, lasting only a few
hours, and / have never seen or heard
OF the girl since. She's probably mar
rfed ore this, while yours truly still
ce,aafndes in his single and dilapidatet
career.
eff made hit in the one case,
made miss in another not two week.
later. / had got down into Michigan
and was jogging along one day whel
came to a crowd at farmhouse. l
didn't take long to figure out that thu
people had gathered for a funeral.