The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-26
GrandmOther's Yarn

tOriginal1
Grandma, tell lie a story about
when you were girl out west" SAID
boy of eight.
well sit down and be quiet and
don't ask any questions til I get
through, for don't want to be inter-
rupted. when I was a young lady
my father took us all out to a mine he
owned in Colorado In those days the
railroads were not yet built, and we
were obliged to go by stage. Fathers
mine was up in the mountains. 1t was
rough country at that time. l had
no associates and found It hard to get
away with the time.
zone day heard that there was GO
ing to be a masquerade dance at the
tavern. l couldn't understand how they
could get COSTUMES IN that country so
remote from civilization. was just
crazy to go to the dance, but Of course
father wouldn't hear of such thing.
But life for me was dull. and l kept
thinking what a curious affair mas
querade ball would be among such a
people, and resolved to steal away
and go without father or anybody
knowing about 1t. had gone TO fan
cy dress ball in the east as Marguerite
and knew how to get up the costume
or, rather, improvise it, and when the
night for the dance came around
stole out after all in the house were
asleep and joined the dancers In the
dining room of the tavern.
"There were not many different cos
tunes. the DISCUSSES consisting mostly
of Mexican, Indian and made-up dress
ca that represented nothing in particu-
lar Since all faces were masked there
was no difference in this from any 9TH
CT ball, except that the people were
nolsier."
when is the stage robbery to come
In, grandmaT interrupted the listener.
Didn't you promise to ask no ques-
tions? Well, to go on with my story.
a man in the costume of a Mexican.
sombrero. jacket, slashed trousers and
all that, with plenty of gold lace, came
up to me and asked me to dance.
preferred 10 look about. AS there were
twice as many men as women. l saw
at once that this was impractlcable.
Besides, there was something about
the Mexlcan-I could not tell what
that was familiar to me, and l was
sure | had heard his voice before. l
fnncied he might be a young mining
engineer whom / had previously met.
AT any rate. I danced with him and
found him very good partner. easy
OH his feet and light as feather.
''After our dance we made few COM
| monplace remarks to each other when
he said:
"1t Is hot I'm here. Come outside
II took his arm and went with him on
10 the veranda, where. after walking
back aud forth for time. we took
seats in corner. when we removed
our masks, which were uncomfortable.
could see something of his face In
the dim light, and he could see as much
of mine.
"To make long story short, he made
love TO me. and confess he did 1t very
nicely. He told Inc lie was n rich
| mine owner and had to start at 8
O'Clock the next morning for Mexico.
| where his mines lay told him of my
being at the ball without permission.
What did he do but beg me to go with
him from the ball. marry him ana ac-
company him TO Mexico"
But, grandma-the robbery; hear
nothing Of that"
Hush, child; it's coming. My lover
drew ring from his finger and gave 1t
| to me. | took 1t to where the light
poured through window, and it
| sparkled beautifully. It was n dla-
mond in an antique setting. | went
back to the giver, thanked him. and
when he continued TO urge me TO 20
with him ] hung my head MS if sorely
tempted. He redoubled his pleading.
endeavoring 10 catch the fancy of
young girl by the romance of such an
elopement. Finally ] told him that
would go home. gather up what valua-
bles l possessed and meet him in an
hour at my fathers front gate. TO this
he consented, and left him, running
home as fast as my legs would carry
me-"
} '"Oh, grandma. | don't believe the
, stagecoach robbery is In the story at
ALL"
"Yes, ii is. In an hour looked out
toward the gate and saw the dim fig
ure of my lover waiting for me. /
put a whistle to my lips and blew
shrll blast. He bounded away, but
was met by figures on every side that
| could see dimly. and heard cries of
Throw up your handsg My lover was
captured. and | had arranged his cap
ture. He was a road agent"
whats thatY
"a stage robber."
Now are we coming TO the rob.
bely?"
"Yes."
"How did you know he was a rob-
ber?"
When we were coming from the
east the coach was stopped by mask.
ed man. who took all the valuables we
had with us. AS soon as | saw the
ring my lover had given me I recop