The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-02-22

ing in the valley were so radically different
from those of the simple mountain folks
She had no desire to become part of the
self satisfied, cultured community to which
she had been unwillinely transplanted.
She was homesick for her beloved noun
tains and sight of-him
One afternoon, she went to the neigh
boring post-ofice, as was now her daily
custom, and inquired for mail. The genial
postmaster handed her letter, remarking
''That's likely the one you have been ex-
pecting; may it make you happy, my
child T.
Thanking him, Mary Ellen hurriedly
left the store. Her rapid walking soon
brought her painting, but expectantly hap
py, to quiet retreat.
Seating herself on the projecting root OF
a grand old beech, whose densely foliaged
branches sheltered her from the burning
rays of an August sun, she feverishly tore
open the precious misive and read:
"Chestnut Ridge, Aug. 2.
miss Mary Ellen Stokes,
"Spring Valley.
"My Own Heart Idol
''Had [ the eloquence of a Demosthe :
nes, the giant intellect of Webster, and
the persuasive powers of one of the proph
cts of old, whose utterances were inspired
by the great Spirit, l would still be unable
to express the emotions that every thought
of..you arouses. My every waking thought
is of you; [ dream of you by night. Could
| but have the blissful assurance that you
sometimes think of me, how happy | should
be! Like ships on the ocean, we would
signal across the waves, the rocks and the
islands to each other, and by and by would
together glide into the harbor.
The influence of your pure soul and
the memory of your angelic face and beau
tiful form are, in great part, the secret
cause of my hard struggle for worldly sue
cess. would sacrifice every worldly honor
and ambition for one kiss from your virgin
lips! "Believe me,
"Your loyal lover,
"NoAH WILLFoRD."
"P. S. am comm down to Spring
Valley pirty soon, Guess yore dad will
rase old Harry, but I caint stay away from
you much longer. Look fur me.
"NoAH."
The contents of this letter gave Mary
Ellen unbounded pleasure; but she was
surprised that Noah should construct an
epistle containing such wonderful phraseol
ogy She sat for long time in dreamy
meditation.
Her reverie was at last broken by the
loud crashing of dead twig behind her.
"Daddy!'
Eyes, it's me- L didn't mean to spy
on you; but seein' you here [ thought [
would slip up clost an say boo? What
you readin?'
"a letter.
"Who from?''
GA friend
"Dont lie to me, girl! Who's that
letter from? Let me see it. "
go, daddy, what did 20 come for? I
don't want you to see this letter.
MARY Ellen, hand me that letter; you
know better to disobey me.
Joel Stokes read the letter through with
out word of comment. He folded the
sheets, tremblingly put them into the en-
velope and then into his pocket. His
face, now livid with rage, was terrible to
look on; but his words were few
'Mary Ellen, l have always told you
that you should never marry that peddler.
Go home now an stay there. Ifyou write
to Noah Willeford, I'll, no I won't kill
you; but his hide won't be wuth shucks if
he shows up i'll this valley y
AS her father turned and walked briskly
back to his work, Mary Ellen arose and
tottered homeward. She felt weak and
forlorn and staggered as if from a blow
from the callous, toll hardened hand of her
father She not only felt that her dreams
and hopes of halcyon days with her noun
tain lover were forever blasted; but she
feared that he would come to the valley
only to be shot down by her unrelenting
father. She recalled with shudder, his
oft-repeated threat to shoot any young man
who attempted to steal his idolized daugh-
ter
The house in which the Stokes family
lived was an old four roomed log struc-
ture, used originally by overseers of the
large plantation of which the Stokes farm
had been a part. Mary Ellen's room was
separated from her fathers and mother S
by a wide, open hallway. Into this room,
she was thrust by her father that night,
and the door and two small windows were
securely fastened. Not only that night,
but every night thereafter, was this eau
tious, cruel action taken by her father, to
prevent her flight, or any attempt to get
word to Wileford.
One evening, while the family was at
supper, some one knocked ON the front
door.
"Thar, Mary Ellen, go see who it is.
Somebody fur yore mother, | guess. L
wush folks would send for the doctor, std
O botherin Jane so much = He had
grown more grabbed since the day he read
Willeford' letter.
Mary Ellen went to the door, in obedi-
ence to her fathers command.
"Noah My God, Noah, leave here
quick p whispered the girl hoarsely.
'Father will shoot you y
''No, Mary Ellen; won't leave with
out seein' him. Tell him [ am here, and
that [ want to see him. I'll ask him fur
you, fair and square, as l said; but you
must be ready to fly with me tomorror
night at twelve O clock. Which is yore
room p
''This one" said the girl, indicating the
room across the open hall; "but am locked
in every night p
That's all right; you be ready to go;