The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-02
FIRST NATTONALRA
Our Daily $bcrt Story
MONTGOMERY, ALA.

with d pdipaDle sHeeT IL S Dccu tHc way the choicest spirits of the earth
 have won their lady loves." he said in pedagogic fashion.
 Hiram paid no attention to him, but kept his eyes on Margaret, to whom he had addressed his question. She in turn kept her eye on Fitzgerald. Its the way every lady worth the
 winning wants to be won," she said, her eyes sparkling.
 Hiram grunted and relapsed into si- lence.
 On the following evening the subject was a Roman story, where a warrior with his retainers dashed upon the home of the object of his desire and after a fierce fight with her people, kill ed her father and brother and carried her off. Margaret was in raptures. Would you like to be married that
 way?" Hiram asked thoughtfully.
 What maiden with truly romantic soul would not?" interposed Fitzger- aid dogmatically.
 Hirams eyes were on Margaret, who , echoed, "Oh. 1t were heaven to have such a lover.'
 Hiram Skelley appeared no more at tho meetings, but he spent deal more time than had been his want hanging over his rail fence and ruminating. He also was seen in confidential confer
  Corners, and one night had a long talk | with "Old Buck" under which eupho- nious title Margaret's father was gen. orally known.
 One day Fitzgerald was waiting at | the style in front of the Buck home to l escort Margaret to a favorite spot be- side the creek and read to her a brand new unpublished poem. Margaret opened the door and came tripping down the path. Just then three horse | men haled in sight and just as Mar garet joined the poet they pulled up ' at the stile. All wore kneew brooches i of velvet and most astounding cloaks. I Also each wore a mask and the horses | were most astonlshingly caparisoned. The trio really looked as though they had stepped from an Indiana novel. Without a word the tallest and most | knightly of the trio rode so close to | Fitzgerald and Margaret that they both shrank back to avoid danger. The horseman reached down. and encirclin g the girls waist with his strong arm, | lifted her easily and sat her on his horse In front of him.
 Here, what are you doing?" ejacu- lated Fitzgerald.
 "G'wan. Till baste ye in de jaw, howled one of the other horsemen. Just then ''Old Buck" emerged from the barn. Hey there" he shouted. drop the girl or I'll i'll ye full of holes" The horsemen with Margaret on his
 saddle had turned his horse. Fitzger- aid, reassured by "old Bucks" voice shouted: 'Unhand her, villain" and grasped for the bridle rein. That proved his undoing, as the lc- | ond horseman handed him a blow over the head which sent him stumbling into | the ditch, while the third unfurled a banner of blue silk with "Skelley" print | ed on 1t in white, and all three shouting | defiance at old Buck" galloped away. Straight to the Corners they went and once there straight into the office | of Square Jones. the tall knight carry | ing the form of Margaret Buck, now so frightened as to be almost In a faint.
 Before she could collect her mind and her senses a marriage ceremony | had been performed and she again found herself on horseback in front of
 the tall horseman. now unmasked and | flushed and-Hiram Skelley. "-* ."t. Straight and fast to lis home they | made. Once inside Margaret. now re- | covered from her fright, blazed in true feminine fashion. When she had ex- hausted her wind and her vocabulary, | Hiram, who sat In all his knightly ar | ray. calmly whiting a stick, smiled good naturedly and said: 4" Wall. ye sed yed like to be carried off in spite of yerself and yer people, | an I sure wanted you so I did 1t. You're married hard an fast to me and
 did 1t just the way you wanted 1t done. Now we'd about ez we'll settle | down an make the best of it. Margaret's face flushed fiery red and her black eyes flashed. Just as she | was to break forth again the two other
 horsemen came In, still velvet brooches. | but with their gingham shirts and
 slouch hats. One carried the blue ban
 ner in one hand and a pail of milk in | the other
 | It was all so funny that Margaret
 even in her indignation laughed. Hiram | was at her side in a second and had her in his arms. She slapped him so
 wickedly that he retreated in dismay. "ThatIl teach you to play tricks on
 me-" she said. Here you. Mike. set
 that milk in the pantry and go feed
 the pigs. And you. Gus. start the fire while I get a wedding supper" l And perceiving Hiram rubbing his smarting ears she went over and put
 ting both arms about his neck kissed ! him and said:
 You're a great goose. but forgive
 you"