The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-09-02

SiIas Carter's Romance
By Carl Jenkins
copyTlght, 1910, BY Assoclaled Literary Prssa

Very well. silas." replied the duti-
ful Eunice
She might have become angry and
Jumped up and down and threatened
breach Of promise suit, but she
didn't She had heard about the
rescue. and she had an idea II was
that, but she did not lose her temper.
She Just moved the pitcher along and
said:
"Silas, have another glass OF hard
cider before you 60 It's good to keep
of tho nightmare"
Sllas, didn't see the dGmsel again
before she left for home. After walt
ing for two weeks he wrote TO her.
He wrote that he took his pen in
hand to hope that she was well. and
that his own health was never bet
ter He wrote that the sawmill busi-
ness was good, and that he expected
to have his wages raised to S22 a
month He thought Of her often, he
said. In fact, he had driven a stake
at the spot where she had fallen IN,
and went there 10 look at II FIVE or
six times a day. Then he copied a
verse Of poetry and ended the letter
by saying that he hoped for an an
swer by return mail.
He didn't receive one, however. Two
weeks dragged along, and then one
night as he was calling on Eunice he
said:
"Euny about our getting married"
yes, Silas."
u think we'd better"
Very we'll"
She waited for him to ask her to
name the day, but he had nothing
further to say on the subject. A
bright idea had occurred to him. He
had written In haste" on the en-
velope Of his letter but by so doing
he may have made the postmaster
mad and the epistle had been torn up.
He decided to write again.
He took his pen in hand with
firmer grip this time, as his wages
had been raised to $22 per month.
He hoped for an answer within three
days. but at the end of a fortnight
none had come. One mail a day
reached the village post Office, but he
inquired five times a day, so as to
make sure of missing nothing. An
other two weeks and no letter.
Was Chevalier Silas in love with
the damsel he had rescued? He was.
LIa didn't 1ySoly aro,,,,d ,,iohte and
dream of her, but he loved her gal.
lantly-chivalrou 49, knightly - the
same as the heroes of his romances
had loved Perhaps the reason she
hadn't answered was that she was
coyly waiting for him to come to the
city and tell of his alteration. Her
mother might have tied her up in the
garret or her father thrust her into
a dungeon deep because she had told
of her love for him. For three days
Silas debated as to what the Chevalier
st. Aubyn would have done under
like circumstances, and then he left
for the city.
Having the damsels address, it was
easy to find her fathers house. He
found it early in the morning, just
as the father was emerging with
very strong cigar in his mouth He
gave Silas a looking over, uttered
"humph!" to himself. and then asked:
We'll, what is it?"
"Your-your daughter was up at
Bellville in July" stammered the
young man.
We'll what of it?"
"She tumbled into the mill pond"
And got wet. Well, what of that?"
Il work in the sawmill there"
II thought So Go on"
'I pulled her out of the pond"
"Oh, you did? Did it strain your
back any?"
No, sir"
IF it did, try porous plaster"
But I saved her life, sir" con-
tinued Silas, "and she said she'd
never forget it."
And I don't think she will. She
lost her false hair and complexion, I
believe"
"And she asked me to call on her If
I was ever in town"
"And being as you are in town, you
have come to call. Well, you can go
in and interview the cook if you
wish My daughter has been married
six weeks and is still away on a
bridal tramp She never mentioned
anything about you, but if you really
saved her life, why, have a cigar with
me-"
Silas reached home that night at IL
o'clock His jaw was set and his look
was determined. The villagers had
long since got to bed, but that was
naught to him. He walked to the
house of Eunice's father and around
to her window, and, in response to
his calls, a head was poked out and
a voice exclaimed:
MY stars, Silas, but what's hap
pened!"
Nothing yet, but something's 60
g to. You be ready at nine o'clock
the morning to be married! There's
cen fooling enough about it,"