Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-19
- - F1llTl16G0l60Tl1606 $&
An Assisted Elopement
(cOpyrirbt I0Ia. BY Associated Literary Press.)
By DONALD ALLEN


lent He hadn't pulled gun on young
Bennett, and he hadn't stood up and
declared that he would rather see his
daughter in her grave first, but hadn't
he said that he had already selected
a husband for her? He hadn't said
just who, but of course it was a man
of sixty with money. He would be
jealous, and he would be fiinicky and
pour his coffee into the saucer before
slipping 1t with long-drawn s-o-u-p-p!
No; an elopement was the only
thing. Mr.. Bennett would take his
true love in horse and buggy by
the light of the moon and drive away
to the house of Baptist preacher and
have the ceremony performed. He
selected Baptist preacher, because
he had always heard that in case of
hot pursuit Baptist could rattle of
the ceremony in thirty-one seconds by
the watch. Miss Ruth was sure there
would be no pursuit; but the wise
young man was taking no chances
The night arrived. The horse and
buggy arrived. The lovers arrived, and
away they went. They saw the fences
go past them, but what they did not
see were two men starting out in a
carriage, only a moment behind them.
The two men were shaking hands ev-
cry now and then and talking like
long-lost brothers reunited
The lovers had seven miles to 60
At the end of the first mile wheel
came loose and was noticed just in
time to prevent an accident. While
it was being set right the two men
drove up and offered their assistance.
Father" exclaimed Miss Ruth as
she recognized her parent.
g. Father!" exclaimed young Ben
nett as he recognized his.
Was the game up? Were they to
be taken back in chains?
No Neither parent paid the slight
est attention to his offspring That
buggy had been fixed for wheel to
come of, 1t was now fixed for all
four wheels to remain on, ana the low
ers went ahead
my father and yours together!"
gasped Bennett.
81 can't make it OUT" whispered
the girl
could they have known us?"
Surely"
81 will drive faster and try and
shake them Off"
The horse was put on the gallop.
but ten rods behind came the other.
At the end of the second mile an axle
tree gave way with crash, and 1t
was realized that this was the end OF
the elopement.
bad smash. Tom" said the pro-
lessor to the judge, as the pursuers
drove up and halted
yes; pretty bad, JIM" was the re-
ply.
Miss Ruth was hauled out of the
wreck, to stand shivering and weep
ing, and the young man stood with
open mouth, as he saw the two faith
ers together and heard them call each
other by their first names To his
certain knowledge, they had been enc
mics less than week before.
These people cannot go on. Tom"
Not with that wreck, Jim"
'But they can take seats with US"
"Only too happy. I'm sure. Let's
see. young man-where were you
bound for?"
about five miles along this road"
sheepishly answered Mr.. Bennett.
"Ah-uml I think we are bound for
the same place. Get right in"
Sitting together on the front seat,
the fathers conversed like old chums.
Sitting together on the back seat the
lovers clasped hands and wondered
what prison they were being driven to.
When the parsonage of the Rev.
Moses Hurley was reached the car
riage was halted and the four people
entered the house.
"a little marriage ceremony" said
the professor.
Between these two young people,"
added the judge.
In daze and tremble the lovers
were made one, and then Miss Ruth
braced up to ask:
Father, what does it all mean?"
why, dau&hter, in the first place.
have acknowledged to Tom that
was an ass, and he to me that he was
bigot. and In the next told you
that had selected husband for you,
and we came along to see that you
got the right one."
Cleansing With Care.
At Riverdale on the Hudson there
is an old family mansion which was
vacant for number of years and
finally was leased for a girls school.