Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-08
A RUNAWAY GIRL.
Tale of an Elopement and a Fright
ened Maiden.
[ Kansas City Start

Kansas City Start
Tom and Della were not old enough
to marry, anyway. She was only 16
and Tom 1S--just pair of foolish lit
tie ships who should have been In
| school
But they loved-Oh, how they loved.
Their passion was like fire kindled
with gasoline. but l do hope 1t lasted
n little longer.
Toms father was the stumbling
block Somehow. he couldn't be sat
islied that the affection existing be-
/ was anything more serious than
puppy love" as he called it. ct is
needless to remark that he was an
old dog who had forgotten his puppy
days)
The crisis came when Toms father
i reremptorily forbade him to talk of
marriage for three years. You'll be
II then and may be able to support
II wife and family---
Toms heart rose in wrath, but he
! knew II was useless to argue the
I case That very day he hitched up
the extra team and drove to town to
tell Delta the worst. And Delia's
heart went up IN wrath - just to be
with Toms.
Il tell you, my sweet one we'll
rot stand for such treatment. Three
whole years! Just think of 1t.
Yes, and you might marry some
ore else in that time, my own dear
boy" Della was crying softly
Darling, don't cry. II you'll CORE
with me to Tinkumville right now
Wen show ELL
"oh, Tom, ] couldn't run away"
why not--you would be with your
Tommy
/ "Oh--oh-because.
well, it's either that or wait three
years."
ooh, Tom. dear. I can't"
| Please. darling"
"Oh. mean can't wait three years.
dear heart
Now, you who have been there may
/ imagine the sundry oscillations and
| hugs that accompanied this tender con-
versaton--and don't stint the measure.
simply cant write them down.
Toms pleadings prevailed and the
afternoon train carried the young low
ers to Tinkumville. Arrived at the
station there Tom put Della in bus
and directed the driver to let her out
at the home of Rev. Job Smith. Then
Tom went to the court house and asked
for a license. AS good luck would
have 1t Tom ran across friend who
was willing to perjure himself for the
sake of seeing the fun.
With his license in his coat pocket
! and his friend at his side Tom hurried
| to the minister's house. The preacher
| opened the door and invited them In.
Tom looked anxiously around as he
entered the parlor
"Is-Miss Della Wilson here?"
NO. but are you Mr.. Carson?"
Yes, sir
II had telephone call from Brother
Jones. the Methodist minister, just now,
asking for you. I'll call him up
The Rev. Mr.. Jones responded
promptly and Tom took the receiver.
A faint, scared voice came to him over
the wire.
lis that you, Tom?''
Yes, this is me, dar--yes-"
oh Tom, you must come right over
here: hurry don't let anybody see you.
Come thru the alleys-I did. I'll explain |
when you get here-only hurry"
Tom dropped the receiver on the |
hook. grabbed his friend by the arm and |
hurried away, leaving a puzzled and |
empty-handed preacher staring from /
the doorway.
In a busy Missouri county seat it IS :
no easy matter to walk five blocks on
pleasant afternoon and don't let any
body see you" But few they were
who saw Tom and his friend as they
scudded thru the alleys and crossed the
streets where wagons and teams were
thickest.
UP the front steps Of the parsonage
they bounded just as the front door
opened. A trembling little girl wrap
ped her arms about Toms neck AMI
burst into tears. Tom soothed her, and
telling her he had the license and
would, be over in a few minutes and she
would be his'n and he her'n. led her
into the parlor, where the Rev. Mr..
Jones awaited them.
From what Miss Wilson tells me
I think we should be in some haste
il we would have no Interruptions"
the minister said as he examined the
license. A merry twinkle lurked in
his eye and turnout the ceremony he
seemed on the verge Of a risible col
lapse.
When 1t was all over Mrs. Jones
and neighbor woman, who just
dropped in to see the dear young
things jump the broomstick, left the
room Tom and his bride sat in the
big settee and Della turned a flush
ed and happy face to her husband.
ooh, Tom. had the awfullest time.
Just after that bus left the depot big
wagon with three or four men in it
drove right up beside the bus. looked
out saw a great big sign the whole
length of that wagon, and it just said,
"A runaway girl OH, / was SO scared!
Just jumped out of that bus and took )