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

Jest say so, an LII leave.
"Then, young feller, you'll leave But
| want to asst you question or two fust.
Whar dix you git this letter p drawing
from his pocket the letter he had taken
from Mary Ellen.
"Whar did you git it, sir?'' demanded
Willeford hotly.
II tuck it away from Mary Ellen, if
you want to know Who writ it p
81 did, sir.
''yes, but who showed you how? You
ain't got sense enough to write letter like
this by yore self =
Willeford flushed under the stinging
words, but answered truthfully: "Pro
fessor Morgan lent me book on letter
writin' an l copied most of the letter out
en- that book.
"All right; now you kin go. If see
you in this valley agin, I'll shoot you like
l would a mad-dog; go!'
Willeford shot quick, reassuring glance
at Mary Ellen, and quickly walked away
into the darkness
All that night Stokes sat in the open
hall, with his gun across his knees He
was really disappointed that Mary Ellen S
abduction was not attempted. He went
about his work in the morning with the
feeling that Willeford had gone back to
the mountains never to return. His pas
sionate heat gradually wore away during
the day; but he was still determined that
his daughter should not wed the ''ped-
der
About eight O clock that night, Mary
Ellen was locked in her room and the old
man again resumed his watch. He felt
that it would be wise to keep vigil a few
nights. But his vigil of the previous night
and the physical exertions of the day were
too much; he soon fell into deep sleep
When he awoke, it was to find his gun
gone He rushed to Mary Ellen door, but
it was locked, just as he had left it; the
windows, also, were secure But at cor
ner of the house, he discovered the means
of escape. A carpenter jackscrew and
blocks had been used under the projecting
end of log. The log was raised above
the one beneath it fifteen or twenty inches.
Through the aperture thus formed the girl
had passed out to her persistent lover.
''Tl ketch EN- or bust - raved Stokes,
as he heard the clatter of horses hoofs
growing fainter on the hard road He
quickly bridled his swiftest horse, and,
without taking time to saddle the animal,
mounted and sped swiftly after the feeting
couple
''Listen - said Wileford, as he and
Mary Ellen rode up the steep bank of the
creek. 'Yore daddy is follerin' us, an
we We mile to 60 yet, before we sit to
Squire Turner'S But whip up, an we'll
make it.
AS they allighted at Turner gate, they
heard the clatter of hoots not more than a
quarter of a mile distant. Rushing into
the house Willeford exclaimed, s'For
God Is sake, squire, say the words quick
the old man is nearly here p
After secreting her husband, two grown
sons and the elopers, Mrs. Turner smiled
serenely and tried to assume an innocent
air But she shivered slightly as the
bulky form of the irate Stokes rolled from
the horse and came bounding toward the
house.
"Whar air they?'' he demanded excit-
edly, upon seeing no one but Mrs. Tur-
ner.
"Whar is who p adroitly asked the
woman. eff it is the squire and the boys
you re wantin' to see, you ort to hollered
Hello like sensible man, stead O. tum-
blin' pell- into the house like old looney
Crabtree p
"Well, Madam, I'm sorry eff 1 fright
ened you; but eff your only gal had run
away with peddler: you would be crazy,
too. Whar air they?
''Theyre gone, calmly replied the
woman.
"Gone y Stokes crossed the room and
walked out into the backyard. He peered
into the chicken house, woodshed and
every fence corner; then he returned to
the house and searched under tables, beds
and chairs
'Mr. Stokes, you'll never find EN-, so
you might as we'll give it it up. When
young folks sets their heads to git married,
they re goin' to git married. You did it
yoreself; but guess it S been so long ago,
you We done clean forgot about it T
''Yore daughter is done married to that
plucky, nice -lookin' young man; so there
Now, act like sensible man and invite
EN- back home fur the balance of the ght.
If you was to carry out your foolish threat
to shoot the man, you would be shootin'
yore daughter's husband. 1t would most
kill her, an you would hang for it
Better act sensible, an invite EN- home. .
Stokes stood gazing into the darkness
for some minutes, then dropped heavily
into chair. Burying his face in his
large, rough palms, he sobbed like a
whipped child. At last he raised beseech-
ing, tear -dimmed eyes to the woman and
said huskily, Chow can I invite EN-
home, when don know whar in thunder
they're at p
"I'll try to find .'em,'' she said very
tenderly, ''when you're ready to forgive
'em'
Stokes arose and tramped heavily across
the room several times. At last, he
laughed nervously as he said, "Well, [
hate like pizen to lose my gal. but hahn
rally got nuthin' agin Noah; guess I'm
ready
Mrs. Turner quickly threw back rug
from corner of the room and raised trap
door. Squire Turner cautiously crept up
the rickety stairs, followed in turn by his
stalwart sons and the blushing bride and
groom.