Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-16

| conspfre 10 kiOuap the bride. watch.
ing their opportunity, they would car.
ry her out Of the house. place her on a
horse behind one of the kidnaping
party and galIop to a neighborine tav.
ern. Rescuers would follow, and there
would be a merry chase. II the fuzf
tives reached the tavern before Ii,
rescue party the rest OF the nigh,
would be spent in feasting and dane.
| ing, the bridegroom being expected "a
| pay the reckoning.
No sooner had the cry Of "Brs1a
| steaIersr' been raised in the Harvoe.d
house than It was followed by:
ITO the rescuer'
"To horse"
(which way"
drum mer of the band catching the
! spirit of the occasion. beat the long roll
! (which in war is used to rouse soldiers
In case Of an attack, and the house
was in an uproar. Every man who had
come to the wedding on horseback
mounted in hot haste and set off at a
gallon in the direction he was told the
kidnapers had gone, while many of the
women for whom horses stood ready
were not far behind. 1t was not long
before the road was lined with horses.
chaises, vehicles of all kinds. carrying
shouting. laughing parties in pursuit
of the stolen bride.
Colonel Harwood contented himself
to let the young people have their fun
and. with the commander Of the regi-
ment to which his son-in-law belonged.
repaired to the supper room, now de-
serted, and the two sat down to bot
tie of port and to talk over the situa-
ton which was becoming more seri-
Gus every day. Colonel Harwood WIS
advocating the use Of cold lead in case
a rebel mob grew unmanageable by Or
binary means when Captain Treiawney
entered. His father-in-law looked at
him In establishment
why are you not with the resc1s
party to recapture your wife, sir2"
Because my wife is upstairs.
have come to partake of a parting cup
with my father-in-law and my COM
mander."
Your wife is upstairsr'
Eyes, sir. It is Eleanor who has been
kidnapped"
81 don't know, but suspect It is
Mr.. Osgood.'
up more sprightly than he had done
since he was on the active list my
horse! My horsep'
There was a new commotion in the
Harwood household, not SO numerous,
but with more real emotion than had
arisen at the cry of Bride stealersw
Colonel HARDWOOD as soon as he could
obtain a horse galloped to the tavern
and entered it like storm cloud.
Lawrence Osgood was standing by
Eleanor, holding high a wineglass to
drink with the assembled company I
who had just proposed the health OF
himself and his bride. The fugitive
couple had not only arrived at the
tavern before their pursuers, but the
groom had sent a parson there who
had married them. pronouncing them
man and wife just as the first follower
had thrown himself from his horse and
dashed into the house.
The moment Eleanor saw her father
she ran to him and threw herself at
his feet. He turned from her and
bowed his head. Those of the bridal
party who were present gathered round
him and interceded for her, begging
him to crown the happiness OF all BY
his forgiveness, declaring that there
was no finer fellow in the world than
Osgood. and as for a mans politics no
one should seek to control those OF bis
Eleanor, seeing her father
waver. threw her arms about his neck
and added her pleadings to those of the
others. Some one put cup Of wine
Under the colonePs nose.
Perhaps it was the welcome odor;
perhaps his love for his daughter pre-
rallied over his hatred for a rebel. At
any rate. he slowly extended his hand
ook the cup, drained its contents, then
tut his arm about his daughter. 9th
RS seized Osgood and forced him 10
lis father-in-law. who extended bis
land, and, though no word of forgive
less was spoken, all knew that the rec
was complete.
Singularly enough. the couple whose
Inion the guests had assembled at the
Iarwood house TO celebrate did not
ningle in the festivities. 1t was day
ght when the last stirrup cup was
runk at the tavern and the company
roke up, each taking the road TO DIS
wn home.
When the Revolution came on the
relawney and the Osgood branches OF
he HARDWOOD family were separated. 1
aptain Trelawney and his brotherln-
wv fought on different sides Colo
ell Harwood. who was too old for mil
airy service remained at home. bur
'yai to his king. At the conclusion OF
lie struggle his property was COMBS
tied. and he Joined that band Of TO
es who sought new American home
Canada. He remained very bitter
ward the rebels. as he called then
ltil the day of his death. though. ex
.pt for Osgoods part in the Reyoiu'
on, he never had cause TO regret tnat>
, had forgiven him for kidnapping MS
iughter.