The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-06-06
Knight of The
Middle Ages
By TROY ALLISON
.....copuri0ht. 1905. bu Troy Allison.

ouiOC0 LAlC ohlOlAODllC ONCI
the last cobblestone street that led to
the country road.
Just poking," he said, staccato.
But this is my first trip in one My
country blood is feeling CONCEALED"
she gasped as the machine leaped from
the last layers of cobblestones and
went whizzing along the dirt road.
He put on more speed, and they
rushed on madly, Crawford gazing in
tently before him.
She remembered stories of people
who had suddenly been struck with in
sanity, and little cold chills crept up
and down her spine.
aren't we running away?' she
quavered.
That's exactly what we're doing"
he said calmly. I'm fact, we're elop-
ing
"Of all things!" Her exclamation
now expressed the settled conviction
that he was victim of insanity.
ITS this way, Elizabeth" he ex-
planned with the calmness, she thought,
that precedes an insane outburst you
have refused me twelve times, and 1
have my own superstitions about try
ing the thirteenth"
She looked at him somewhat hopeful
ly. At least his memory was not en-
tirely gone.
Il heard you last week at the Rich
ley's dinner party" he continued, ''say-
ing that you liked the strength of pur-
pose of the men of the middle ages;
that men of today were apathetic crea-
lures without proper supply of back
bone. You went so far as to say you
would prefer being kidnapped by a man
of that type to being begged and teased
and implored by the men of today.
Now, my child" he turned toward her,
smiling broadly-''you will have the
goodness to behold your fairy god
mother" patting his chest that she
might locate the said godmother 81
am giving you your wish. You are be-
ing abducted in the style of the middle
ages"
you're a brutew she said conclu-
sively.
"Oh, not quite so bad as thatv' ex-
tenuatingly. ''Of course l could not
furnish the absolutely proper stage set
tings You will observe that had to
omit the white palfrey. 1 didn't plan
this in time to advertise for a white
palfrey, and l thought 1 might not be
able to handle you as tenderly, charg-
ing along upon one. I'll admit that
the up-to-dateness of this machine In
PRODUCES a false chronological note''-
sorrowfully-"b won't you admit
that you are more comfortable?"
Il hate you," she responded Jelly.
That's no obstacle to a determined
knight Of the middle ages" He was
exceedingly cheerful. TN fact, diff
Guilty lends charm to an adventure"
you'll take me home this very min
uteY she commanded imperiously.
"Not SO were the Sabine women
obeyed." He was tragically firm.
'I'll get out and walk"
"You might if 1 slowed up the ma
chine" He put on more speed DELHI
erately. But jumping out just at this
stage of the game would be some
what dangerous feat"
She dropped into her seat resentful-
ly. 81 have heard of a proverb, Mr..
John Crawford sarcasm in her
voice was intense-"that has probably
never been entertained by your be-
nighted mind Possibly you have heard
that there is difficulty in getting
horse to drink, even after you have led
him to water?"
my dear girl, your positive and
strenuous knight of the middle ages
would have staked that horse right
there until he got so thirsty he would
have neighed for water"
She sat in silence for the next half
hour
I'm almost frozen" she said petu-
lantly. Perhaps it's part Of your
plan that 1 get my fingers and nose
frostbitten"
''It's too bad" politely, ''but when
ever you are ready to marry me we
will head this machine for the nearest
minister"
Then we will wear this automobile
to a fragile. l hope you have per
petual motion motive power and don't
depend entirely upon gasoline"
Crawford gave her a startled glance
from the corner of his eye, surprised
that she knew the machine would not
keep on indefinitely.
"Oh, that's all right" cheerfully.
She relapsed into her sulky silence,
and for the next hour Crawford went
steadily ahead, whistling occasionally
to relieve the monotony.
He turned the machine into lonely
road branching off from the maiE road.
They passed over a swampy spot that
the automobile almost refused to take.
He drove farther into the neglected
wildness, and the automobile suddenly
stopped with a snort
Suffering saints" he exclaimed dis
gustedly, hastily jumping out, Fifteen
miles from anywhere or anybody and
the power given out"
She didn't say word, but reached
down and appropriated all the robes,
wrapping them around her snugly. He
took out a cigar, lit it and tramped up
and down meditatively.
mo use trying to fix It," he in
formed her doIefully. Its a hopeless
case"
The short winter afternoon was
drawing to a close, and the gray Of
early twilight settled dismally over the
gloomy pines.
I'm hungry, too" she said, with the
suspicion of a sob.
If you would only consent to be
Mrs. John Crawford tonight we would
try to find a house somewhere where
we could have jolly supper and a
fire."
You'd make nice lovable husband,
wouldn't your" she said in indignant
scorn. what woman would want to
marry a brute capable of starving and
freezing her to deathY'
my child, those are cultivated char
acteristics, cultivated merely to win
your admiration and undying regard
My real disposition is so gentle as to
make a lamb seem stern and unrelent-
ing But couldn't afford to follow the
dictates of my tender heart You would
say ] was lacking in will power.
am ruling you with an iron rod, Oh,
ladye fair, and you sit right there until
you promise to marry me-"
An hour later he wondered if she
were asleep. The bundle of rugs had
remained silent heap while he
tramped the road.
He took out his watch and struck
match
Eight O'clock" he said in surprise
IT'S really not proper for you to stay
here all night. don't think Craw-
ford is particularly undesirable name
to bear"
"Tll-Fn m-marry you" came in
ryt1o fapoc Prom tho ht1pdIa 0q