The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-02-26

preacher. said the big fellow whom
saw stamping to and fro on the
porch. And you'll have to do It
quick
Indeed, says !, and this is nice
hour to wake an honest preacher for
such purpose
@And then my curiosity getting the
better OF my discretion / unclaimed
the door and opened wider the crack
that might obtain a good view Of
the party at the gate. There were
three Of them sitting in a light spring
wagon, to which were attached two
lively mules. In the moonlight ]
could discern the small form Of Kate
Springhouse, clad in white, and
seated In front beside her burly
lover, young Bunder / realized at
once that this wedding was fraught
with not a little danger to me, and
hence decided to act cautiously
would prefer that you and your
friends would 60 elsewhere. l said
to the man outside. For instance,
over the mountains to Brother"
Before had finished my .objec-
ton the girl screamed:
They're coming!'
@The big fellow on the porch threw
his weight against the door with such
violence that /, small man as l am,
few backward to the floor with such
force as to partially stun me. When
1 recovered my senses / found my
self on the hind seat Of the wagon,
with man at either side, and Henry
Bunder, his sweetheart clinging to
him, before me, madly flashing the
mules.
He has come to-, one Of the men
whispered
Kate Springhouse gave little
scream Of JOY, which was followed by
another Of fear, and an involuntary
seizure Of her lovers arm.
i hear them he said, but we
will be married before they catch us.
AS sat there in that rough, rush
ing, bounding wagon, hatless, with
no protection from the autumn winds
other than a light horse blanket my
kidnapers had thrown about me,
the words Of an old sermon OF mine
came back to me, bringing endless
comfort. It was from the first clause
Of Proverbs 1:17 Better is dry
morsel. In that discourse made a
point OF the fact that anything is bet
ter than nothing; that as we are is
better than not being; that better is
a dry morsel than no morsel. Now If
you refer back to First Kings p"
Excuse me for interrupting, doc
tor" / exclaimed "But / shall GER
tainly attend church in Huntington
to hear your discourse, but for the
present about this elopement."
Pardon, pardon" said the minis
ter, relighting his cigar. II was
wandering, to be sure. The young
people lost no time in explaining
what was wanted, and /, realizing
that the quicker it was done the
closer to home they would leave me.
was not unwilling to begin. We had
by this time struck into this road
that we are following, and were
swinging along at a steady run. The
light wagon swayed to and fro so
that had difficulty in retaining my
feet when stood up to perform the
ceremony. The bride and groom re-
NAMED seated, for the latter was
busy with the driving. Scarcely had
the first words left my mouth when
we heard behind us faint call to
stop, and turning I saw a blackboard,
drawn BY two dashing horses, Just
appearing into view over the brow
of the hill a quarter Of mile be-
hind. saw the moonlight CLEAN on
something that sayored Of guns, and
a cold chill crept over my frame.
It's pal exclaimed the bride.
But go ahead, Mr.. Buckle. 1t will
do no good to let your teeth chatter.
"My teeth did chatter, and with
cause, for beside the scantiness OF
my garb, the persons following us
fired gun. / heard the report and
ducked, and I am positive that a
bullet whistled a few inches above
my head, with that peculiar sound we
read so much Of in war history. The
marriage ceremony is really very
short, but performed under such con-
ditions it seemed to me endless. But
at length it was done.
81 suppose you will let me of
now?' / said. for could hear clearer
than ever the clatter Of horses feet
behind us, and knew that our pur-
srers we're closing. / did not want
to witness the meeting.
Not just We, doctor, said one Of
the big fellows at my side. The
marriage certificate next; and the
heaviest signs first.
"And with that he drew from his