The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-07-21

Will Do q jolly lark Tor them"
But you must hurry" replied the
young man. with blunt uneasiness
You know-why. we've run away
eloped-and II they catch us. it's easy
to guess what will happen. They'll
drag henry w-wife - back home
and put her under lock and key. And
1t will take more than lion.hearted
knight to storm that castle and carry
the girl away. You don't know those
Calverts like I dol"
He did not tell the minister that
they had come to him by force of
mere circumstances. The other min.
listers had been warned. Mr.. Strong
remained in peaceful ignorance of
their trials. They knew that. They
also knew the retired minister's iron.
clad rule. They knew, too, that the
girls parents would never suspect
him. 1t was their only chance, slim
chance at best And so they had
come to him.
The minister stood bowed in
thotght, his thin lips drawn in a
straight line. THAT puts it in differ.
ent light" he said at length. And
you have run away" His expression
was one of plain surprise, his tone one
OF gentle reproach. DO you know
that 1t has been a rule of my ministry
never to marry runaway couple?
The first couple l married were run.
Always. and the match turned out
badly. After time they were-di.
vorced. Since that day l have made
1t an iron-clad rule, and have neve,
departed from it. And 4 can't do II
now"
obi" exclaimed the girl, involun
tarily clasping her hands. There were
tears in her eyes.
why have you chosen to run
away?" the minister gently inquired.
after pause. with fatherly concern.
They say that we are too young
that Henry can't support both of US
that we are just foolish children,
That's the way they talk-just like
that. But that's not the reason at all.
Henry has plantation; he is rs, and
well, am woman. It's all preju.
ELECTROMAGNETIC old family feud
creeping out like some terrible ghost
OF the dead past to murder our happi.
ness"
The minister nodded sympathetical,
~. Henry drew his chair nearer, pre-,
pairing to speak.
MY dear Mr.. Strong, let's reason
this thing out as man to man." he
begged, interrupting. Now"
BLESS me, If l don't believe that the
horse has broken loose. Run out
and see. Henry. Quick!" The girl
seemed unduly alarmed.
She followed Henry excitedly to the
piazza and overlook him barely in
time to pluck his sleeve as he paused
a moment on the steps to listen.
Henry Morton, you are the greatest
goose IN seven states. You were lust
about to spoil 1t all. Reason? Reason
with an old man set in his ways with
the weight of 80 years. How absurd!
| was just working up beautifully to
the psychological moment, and then
you try to rush in at the most inop.
Fortune tfme-just like man. Now,
take your orders, sir" she commanded
with assumed severity, shaking her
finger in his face warningly and try.
ing hard to still the mischievous
twitching of her lips. Pm going tc
do the talking, sir. You come right
on in, sit still like good boy, fold
your hands properly and keep your
lips drawn tight-just like that"
The minister manifested concern on
their return to the room. "The horse
is securely tied" the girl assured him,
simply. acknowledging his kindly in.
terest with winning smile. Henry
quietly took his seat in an old plush
chair, obediently folded his hands.
kept the seal of silence on his Inns,
and leaned forward in listening atti.
tude, sober, open-eyed. child-like.
"As was saying" the girl began
anew. there has been an old, bitter
feud between our families, and that is
the sole ground of objection. That is
all there is to it. Every movement
made has been closely watched by
house servants and others for months,
1t has been hard, hard, but managed
to slip away at LASTLY what means
does not matter here And
you will not decline to marry US. l
know"
To this conclusion there was no as.
sent. The minister said nothing. He
was thinking absently.
Long years ago you preached at
dear old Providence" the girl con.
tinued, gently taking his great hand
between both of hers and smiling with
the confidence of child into his
wrinkled face. The simple act went to
the venerable mans head hAe rare old
wine. And you don't even know who
we are. We are from Providence. and
you haven't SO much as asked our
Names" Her words smote him with a
little stab of reproach.
"Old Providence, did you say?" he
asked, with sudden interest. you are
children of dear old Providence. and
don't know your names. Have I been
IL