The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-03-18
An Elopenent.
> Observation-Disclosures
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When a girl of eighteen Is In posses
Zion Of d fortune, she is very fortunate
If she does not become target for
some person or persons DESTROYS Of re-
lieving her Of II. Bessie Grape had
been tenderly brought up until she was
seventeen years old. when she had the
misfortune to lose her father and
mother In rapid succession. Her moth
er's sister, Miss Barbour, a spinster OF
forty, was called In to take charge OF
the house and the young girl as well.
The estate was administered by Arnold
Atwater, an attorney, also In middle
life and unmarried. Mr.. Grape had
conceived a high regard for Mr.. Atwa
ters shrewdness and had left him sole
executor Of his estate
a pretty girl and couple Of hundred
thousand dollars were too tempting a
prize for Mr.. Atwater's integrity. Win
ming the confidence Of Miss Barbour,
he succeeded IN keeping the heiress
virtual prisoner with view to prevent
her marrying that Is, unless he could
succeed in marrying her himself.
All this is an old story. The interest
In this yarn lies in an effort made by
young Bob Allison to get the maiden
out Of the hands Of the designing actor
ney. Bob and Bessie had grown up to-
gether and had pIghted their childish
troth long before either knew anything
about worldly goods. But Bob was to
be the architect Of his own fortune,
and Miss Barbour, who, in her present
position, was in better circumstances
than she had ever been before and had
no wish to leave II, made the young
mans poverty convenient excuse for
opposing him. So 1t was Bob and Bees
sic versus Atwater and Barbour.
II did not take the young couple long
to discover that there was but one
way to win, and that was to gain for
Bob the legal control Of Bessie, which
would also give him the control Of her
fortune. TO do this marriage was nee
essary, and the only way to effect mar
riage was an elopement.
Now, in Opponents 1t is far easier
for the runaways to make a start than
to avoid capture Teverton, where
these people lived, was way station
on great railroad. In the event Of
the girl being missed the first place
those desiring to capture Der would
look would be the Teverton station.
The exigencies OF the case required
that the couple should take to the
turnpike. But how? An automobile
has for enterprises requiring swiftness
taken the place Of horses. and Bob in
laying his plans gave the fact due
consideration.
One morning there was sharp ring
at Mr.. Atwater's telephone, and the
crisp voice Of Miss Barbour Informed
! him that Bob Allison had come to the
house in an automobile; Bessie had
evidently been expecting him, for she
was dressed for ride: she had run
out and jumped into the automobile
before she could be prevented, and
they had sped away at furious pace
This information was communicated
in a few fragments of sentences. At.
water threw down the receiver, seized
Bis hat and IN two minutes was in an
automobile garage Offering any amount
for the use of the fastest machine in
the place. One was Immediately plac-
Ell at his disposal, and, proceeding to
pick up Miss Barbour, he sped along
n the direction she indicated.