The daily Alaskan., 1907-05-09
Stealing a Bride

who had not been lnYi ed Co tle wed ding would watch for q chance after the ceremony had beel performed to kiduaD the bride. Placing her on a horse behind one of ther party, they would galloP to a neigh Oriug tavern where they had ordered supper Ii they reached the tavern before tho bride had been rescued the night was spent there In feasting and dancing. and the bridegroom was expected to foot the bills.
 Mary and Helen Harrington, daugh ters of au old colonial justice of the peace, were yery. attractive girls, Mary was engaged to an officer in the British army, and her parents, being TorieB were we'll satisfied with the match, but Heleu's tauce. being outspokcu in con demuatlon of the taxes the king lev led on the colonies, was not acceptable to her father, who declared that she 5hould never marry man tiuctured with a spirit of rebellion.
 On the other hand, preparations for the marriage of Captain uiuchelwOOd and Mary Harrington were being made with great satisfaction to all, though Truxeu and Helen could not but bs cast down at the contrast between their own condition and that of the happy pair. In vain TuXeil endeayor, ed to gain an interview with Helen, hoping to persuade her to elope with him. But she was so closely watched that communication was impossible.
 Preparations for Mary's wedding having been made and the wedding day arrived. guests from all the cOun- try roundabout were assembled at Har- Flngton Hall to take part In the fes- dvities. Captain HinchelwOod were his scarlet uniform, Mary a white satin gown beautifully trimmed with lace. Her sister was her only bridesmaid There was a plentiful spriukling of redcoats from the groom's regiment stationed at Boston, who held theiI heads very high among the plainer young men who were soon to meet them at Concord, Lexington and Bun. ller HIl. The ceremony had taken place, the bride and groom were re- celylng congratulations, and the negro cooks in the kitchen were bringing in the supper. Suddenly every candle was extlnguished, and there was a COmmo don. amid which voices cried:
 Bride Stealers.'
 "The Sride has been stolen"
 ''NIouutw
 They're gallopiug away"
 There was cluttering Of horses boofs, growing fainter in the distance. Under the sheds horses and vehicles which had brought the guests were standing, and a number of the men, headed by the brides father and her husband. mounted and dashed away after the kidnapers. A full moon flu minated the landscape, and at every straight stretch ot road the pursuing party could see those who were fleeing before them flashing their horses. At one point the pursuers came to branches of trees piled in the road to prevent their progress. That the Kid naDers were not delayed was because having prepared the Instructions them selves. when they came to them they took a bvpath around them. Dismounb ing the pursuers soon cleared the road and were of again. Then they ap- Droached a covered bridge which had been packed with straw and which as soon as the Ndnapers had passed through 1t they had set afre. Indeed, tbe pursuers saw the sparks struck Frgn the flint for the purpose. By the lime they reached the bridge 1t was alame. and they must go to a ford good mile around. This decided the race. When the pursuers reached a tavern where the lady had been taEer and MT. Harrington went up on to the norch his daughter came out to meet him. But instead of throwing herse!T into his arms she knelt at hls feet Then for the first time her father no- tIced that man who followed her was young TruZen.
 '"What do you mean by thls' eA- claimed the old man angrily.
 Father" said the kneellng girl TOT give me. l am married"
 "Of course you're married and, thank heaven, to a loyal subject of the king. What! Helen! Do you mean
 "It means, lIr. Harrington said Truxel. that the bride is at home. This is her sister, whom that clergyman who Is standing within has just united in wedlock to me. Our wedding supper Ia ready. Send for the guests at the hall. and we will celebrate double wedding here"
 Helen led her father to a room where thev were alone and, winding her arms about him, besought hi.a to forgive her and make the occasion a merry instead of a mOurnfuI one. One circumstance was of great assistance to her. In the settlement pertaining to Mary's mar rlage MT. Harrington had been obliged to use E2O worth of stamps that had been rendered essential under the stamp act-an act which finally made a rebel out of the old Tory. At any rate, be forgave the young couple, and all rode back to the hall, meeting messen-
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