The Van Buren press., 1912-04-20
81 [O00001QlQQQQQQQQQ 20
An Assisted Elopement
By DONALD ALLEN
copyright, I0Ia by Associated Literary Press)
By DONALD ALLEN

most began and quite closed with the
father saying:
Ruth, it's time you were thinking
of marriage. l have selected a hus-
band for you
But | won't marry him!"
81 think you will"
81 know | won't I'll commit suicide
frst!"
The lovers had a talk about the
changed condition of things, and after
eliminating every other course they
settled on elopement. Elopements are
always in order as a last resort. There
was no hope that the father would re-
lent He hadn't pulled a 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 1t 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'pp!
No; an elopement was the only
thing. Mr.. Bennett would take his
true love in a 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 a 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
buoy 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
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 go.
At the end Of the first mile a 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,
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 a wheel 20
come off. It was now fixed for all
four wheels to remain on, and 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 u.s."
! Surely"
'T will drive faster and try and
shake them of"
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 a crash, and II
was realized that this was the end OF
| the elopement.
bad smash, Tom" said the pro-
fessor 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 shvering 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"
"Ony too happy I'm sure, Let's
see, young man-where were you
bound for?"
about hve miles along this road"
sheeplshly answered Mr. Bennett
| hU'UU lUluh We are DDuHu loi
the same place, Get right IN"
sitting together on the front seat
the fathers conversed Ike old chums
sitting together on the back seat the
lovers clasped hands and wondered
what prison they wero being driven TO-
, When tho parsonage Of the Rev
Moses Hurley was reached tho car
riage was halted and tho four people
entered the house.
"A little marriage ceremony" said
the professor.
between these two young people"
added the Judge,
In n daze and tremble the lovers
were made one, and then Miss Ruth
braced up 10 ask
Father, what does II all mean7"
"Why, daughter In the first place,
| have acknowledged to Tom that ]
was an ass and he to me that he was
a bgot, and IN the next told you
that had selected husband for you,
and we came along to SEQ that you
got the right onol"
~-~~>.~-~~~~~~-~~N~~~~