The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-02-14
A WINTER
ROMANCE
By NJ QUAD
Copyright, 1910. BY Associated Lit
erary Press

Jed smith was farmers son TWEEN
" years old. he was uneducated. un.
couth and awkward, but be had ro-
nance in his soul lie fell III love
with the new schoolma'am at once. and
as ne was the biggest Of the boys and
could lick any one Of them he felt that
be bad the best chance he was GO
ing TO marry Miss Seymour or know
the reason why, When be began TO
betray signs OF his love his father
took him out to the barn and turned
on him to say:
''Now. Jed Smith, don't you 20 and
make no ding dang fool Of YOURSELF"
It was plain. sensible talk. but Jed
wouldn't take 1t that way. He WAS
poor reader, but be had digested SC
many love novels that he wasn't going
to let 60 without q try for It He bad
drawn the sehoolma'am on his hand
sled. he had skated with her. they had
slid down hill together, be had brought
her the biggest apples Of any one. but
there was really nothing IN these
things to arouse her romance. and be
realized that romance must come be
fore love. After thinking over it foI
ten long nights and losing hours 81
sleep he got his plan. The school.
ma'am must be abducted and he mnst
rescue her. At 6rst the trouble Seem.
ed TO be to ind The abdnctor. but Jed
Smith had way with him Having
got the next biggest boy in the district
out to the barn with him, he unfolded
his plan and added
Jim. you've got to bear the school
ma'am away, and I've got to rescue
her You've got 10 turn your coat
wrong side out and wear a mask and
speak IN a taarse voice. In rescnlne
her I've got % give you mighty good
licking, but as ! am going to give sou
80 cents you mustn't mind that"
Jim demufred. He didn't want toll
abduct A schoolma'am. and he didn't
want to be licked. He came to it inl
time. however. Fifty cents 10 cash
was not TO be sneezcd at. and he would
be licked II he refused to enter into
the plot 1t took some little time to
perfect the details. but at last every.
thing was ready Jeds old father saw
fresh signs, and be took him to task |
again.
Jed" be said, ''lf you are going TO
make a fool Of yourself IN any way,
then look out for mer
In winter, especially on 4 cloudy day, /
1t begins 10 pet dark soon after
o'clock 10 the afternoon. The school I
ma'am bad often 70 stay after school
had been dismissed TO look over the
work for the next day She had only
half mile to 70 when ready. some
times two or three pupils stayed and
walked along with her sometimes
she was alone. Luck aided the con
spirators. 1t was young Jim Andrews
who was to do the abduoting part T
His fathers barn was near the school
house, and he could both watch and
have horse ready harneased Jed
Smith was to be waiting up the road.
One afternoon the signal was given
and the plot was afoot The teacher
had remained until almost 5. She
was Just douning cloak and hat when
a masked villain appeared before hei
and announced IN an awful voice:
Come with met II you scream Of
struggle 1t means DEATH"
Miss Seymour was properly shocked.
She had never seen q masked villain
before No man. holding peach x
stone 10 his mouth to make his voice
terrible, had ever thus addressed her
She thought she recognized the figure
and there was something about the
terrible voice that sounded familiar
but she grew faint, her knees weak
ened. and she was about TO sit down
when the villain seized her with a