Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-11-17
AN AUTO ELOPEMENT

T is no use in talking, Madge,


 left for us but to elope."
 "ElopeI" exclaimed the girl, in a frightened tone "Oh, Leonard, we never could do that. Why, we would have to have balcony and rope lad ders, roses and things like that, and itsis winter time"
 s'sYou little goose" began the young man, as he pinched her already rosy cheek, I've would have modern. up to-date elopement. See, there is my machine out there at the curb now. Why can't you put on your wraps and let me drive you over to Rev. MT. Fourthly's and have all this worry over with? I got the license this morning"
 Madge patted the floor with one tiny foot and her brow was puckered Into a mass of little wrinkles.
 But 1t will make all Oak Park talk" she began, "and we can't have any wedding and bridesmaids and flowers and presents and things" rNever mind, dearie, we can have each other. and that is better. Come along and I'll go out and give the chauffeur directions as to how to :. reach Rev. Mir. Fourthly's house. Hurry up, my dear, for your father might come home any time, and you Nknow your mother ma arrive from the city at any moment and spoil our little 4scheme"
 The young man gave the proper di- rections to his chauffeur, and it was not long before Madge came down the steps, a little bit frightened and nerv. ous, but still looking like picture with her flashing eyes, her rosy cheeks and plumes and all. z Just as they drove away from the house the girl turned and saw her father coming down the street in his new racing machine. She gave lit- tie scream and cried: Look, Leon ardi"
 He looked, and with that he com. manded the chauffeur to drive as fast IS ever he could.
 Mir. Neversmith alighted from his machine and hurried into the house.
 NuCTE6 uo asked of Maggie, the maid.
 She's gone to town, sir" said the maid.
 Where is Madge?" he asked this lime.
 III dunno, sir" was the reply. Didn't she leave any word when she went away?" he began, sternly. No, sir, but did hear her and her young man talking about eloping, sir" ''Eloping!" jerked out MT. Never. smith. Do you meanto say that she has run away with that worthless young Doolittle? Answer me. Did she go away with that young man? Yes, sir; I think so, sir. heard them talking about going away to Mir. FourthIy's, and they went away to- gether. They left the house just be- fore you came in"
 By this time Mir. Neversmith had reached the front door. He glared at the maid as though 1t had been her fault that the young folks had started to elope-
 T will catch them, and it will be the worse for them, too, mind you that. You should have 'phoned me when you heard them plotting to run away. could wiring their necks, and yours, too," he said, as he shook his fist in the direction of the maid and jumped into his machine.
 Do you know the Doolittle chauf feur?" Neversmith asked his driver. "Yis, sor," came the reply.
 Well, I want to overtake them. Head the machine toward Rev. Mir. Fourthly's and speed 1t up to the limit"
 The machine gave a sudden lurch forward and then stopped as sud denly.
 And then there was delay.
 In the meantime the fleeing couple had not made much beadway. Some thing had gone wrong with the auto mobile and while the young man and his chauffeur were both trying to fix It Madge looked back and saw her father start after them.
 "Oh, Leonard, he's eoming-he Is coming" she began, and he'll never let me see you again. Oh. wish we hadn't started. He is driving his ma. chine like mad, and know he is fu. rious."
 At this Leonard stepped into the machine to take a look at the pur. suing father. and as he did so he gave . satisfied "Ah."
 What are you 'ahing for7" queried Madge.
 His machine is stuck. too. and I'll bet the air is blue for a block around him"
 At that iuncture an automobile came up alongside the one in which they were, and there were surprises greetings
 Why. how do you do Mfr. Fourth Iy7" exclaimed Miss Neversmith.
 Well. never exclaimed the min ister. "I saw your father back thsr' iB the street. and his machine vsl broken down also"
 ~fes. chimsd in the young woman I've have been expecting papa even minute You know. ws were or on way to your house 10 have y0u uz-Tl us. You know Mr. DoolittIs. don't you Mr. F0grthly7~
 .Most certainly do replied ia'