Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-09-17
A MOCK
ELOPEMENT
By MARTHA BILLINGS

farmer boy. hts AathtA NaeN 49,"
Jim was very young. and the boy was
Obliged TO scratch early for living
He worked hard and studied nights
for there was ambition In Jim, though
no one would have suspected II. &ey-
ertheless he seemed content with hard
work and not inclined 10 take a stand
above mediocrify.
May Stanley was the belle of the
village. The moment jim Dunlap saw
her he fell In love with her.
Now, while Jim Dunlap was plod.
der. with nothing brilliant whatever
about him. May was little witch. She
was witty. droli and much inclined 20
mischief. Her face was mirror for
her thoughts Nevertheless IL she had
preference for any of the young men
of the vIIlage-there were no newcom-
ers-noue OF her friends could discover
it. But a girl, be she ever so conmu'
NEGATIVE on other subjects. may Keep
| that one secret deep hidden in her
breast As has been said. there was
one young man with whom she was
| never associated In the minds OF her
! friends. That was Jim Dunlap. In
deed. she had been heard 20 very un.
feelingly apply to him the name of
''sorre top"
While Jim was faowinE by day and
n student By night. gangling, awk-
ward man OF twenty. Walter Swift.
! the son of a neinhboring well 10 do
farmer. was getting ready To leave
college with a degree. He came home
with good deal Of eclat, with fra
| ternity badge on his chest and a repu-
| tafion for scholarship The girls look
od for him TO take an interest In May
| Stanley as the only one OF their num-
Der capable Of attracting one who had
| university cut about him and more
| citlfiesi manners thaa any OF The rest
| But some Of them declared that he
| wouldn't look at May even. These lat
ter be disappointed by not only look
Ing at her. but looking AT her with
longing eyes. There WAS that In her
| that attracted both sexes~a reckless,
helier SHELTER. devil.msycare way she
| had, which Is always fascinating In
young persons, especially to young per
! sons.
| Swifts appearance fresh from coll
lege tended TO put Jim Dunlap by COM
parison only further In the background
His Joints seemed larger. his hair red
/ der, while his freckies seemed Ike
/ brown autuHn leaves that some one
had tramped all over his face Not
that he appeared to feel any inferior
| lty, for he plodded on IA the same awk.
ward way as before II was rather n
| feeling in those who saw the two
young men in contrast.
That winter after Swifts coming
home was gay one among the young.
er set OF the village. IL isn't every
small town that can number full
fiedged college graduate among Its so
cIaI attractions. and Swift. who had
| played his share of pranks while at the
university. originated good many
4 methods Of amusement when the
winter was drawing to n close and Lent
was coming ON the boys and girls were
wondering what they would do by way
| Of q carnival One OF their number
suggested that they have fancy dress
ball. but they had had one the year
before and wanted something newer
Swift came 10 the rescue by proposing
| an elopement
"An elopement." all exclaimed at
once What do you mean by thatT''
''In colonial tiulej." he said. when a
| couple We're married II was the custom
for the bride and groom TO race with
the guests for tavern. the party
reaching the goal last to pay for eup~
| per. | propose that We select a couple
| to elope tfor fun. of course) and run
for the Beaver inn. the rest 10 follow,
the supper TO be paid for as In colonial
| times"
The idea was accepted with enthu-
siasm May Stanley was just the girl
TO play the part of the bride, and the
! proposer OF the scheme was the man
| for the groom. May was chosen, but
Swift was not While he was the ad.
miration Of the girls. the boys were In
clined to be Jealous OF him. But the
boys couldn't settle upon one OF their
own numier-each desiring to be the
eloper-till some one In Jest dominated
Dunlap. All laughingly assented, and
II was considered that there would be
more fun with him for groom than any
OF the others. He would make the af
fair more ridiculous.
Tuesday night before the opening AZ
Lent Jim saddled two horses. one with
a woman's Saddle, and at 10 O'Clock
palled up under May Stanley's win
dow. She jumped down into his arms,
he put her on one of the horses. and
away they galloped.
At the same hour and minute the
rest of the-aarty started from an equi.
distant point. both making for the
Beaver Inn Jim and May stopped for
twelve minutes BY the way: but. hay.
ing been given the advantage Of the
best road and Jim making cut across
feids, the clippers arrived first.