Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-07-26

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per Syndicate.j
For six generations of the Winches-
ter family, the girls, who had been
greatly in the minority, had remained
spinsters. Harriet was the only girl Of
the seventh generation and she had
made up her mind that she was going
to get married, but apparently Aunt
Priscilla, with whom she lived, had
made up her mind that Harriet
wasn't. That was how 1t seemed to
Harriet, anyway, for Aunt Priscilla
had put a ban on young men visitors,
and the only one who had ever dared
to break that ban had been threatened
with arrest If he ever came within a
half mile Of the Winchester home
stead. Arrest had no fears for Bev-
erly Porteous. though, and there was
hardly a week that he didn't manage
to have at least two or three meetings
with Harriet.
"There is nothing else for 1t, Har-
riet; We'll have to elope," he told her
one day after he had spent most Of
the c~landestine visit making friends
with a supposed-to-be vicious dog
that Aunt Priscilla had purchased for
a further precaution.
"But calamities always come to peo-
pie that elope." Harriet said, mourn
fully. "Just look what happened to
the girl in that movie we saw"
"But she eloped with the villain-a
man who didn't love her." Beverly ar
gued. "Those things only happen in
movies"
It sounded alluring to Harriet. They
had just completed their plans when
Aunt Priscilla came on the scene.
They thought at first that she had
overheard them, but if she had she did
not say so. In fact, she said hardly
anything. She pointed to the gate and
made a motion to cur a rake han
die that was handy.
After hat it was harder than eve
to get an opportunity to see one an
other, but when the day arrived for
the planned elopement good luck sent
Aunt Priscilla to bed with a headache,
and Harriet was able to steal out with
her suitcase. "Bev" was waiting for
her at the bank. She left her suitcase
there and they hurried to the min
ister's.
81 am sorry" the minister apollo
gized, when Bev displayed the license.
"but Miss Priscilla Winchester has
warned me ever to marry her niece,
tIp1ncc with hnr annConf Misc Win
chester is one of the main supporters
Of my church, so 1 fear I must refuse
to marry you until 1 gain the lady's
consent"
Harriet burst into tears, but Bev
only muttered: "Hang Aunt Priscilla
I'll show her!"
There was only the n minister in
the village, but there was a justice Of
the peace who could perform the cere-
mony. He lived at the outskirts, but
after they got started the walk didn't
seem to be a long one.
az feel that something dreadful is
going to happen" Harriet said dole
fully, as they walked along. what If
somebody sees us?'
Something dreadful is going to hap
pen to your aunt if she puts any more
obstacles in our way. I'll never allow
her to enter my home"
But she's my aunt" Harriet said
Loyalty. I'VE must have her. Just
think of how good she has been to me
all my life"
"Oh, she's been grand to you," came
sarcastically from Bev.
Harriet stopped still on the side
walk. "Ill not go another step unless
you promise that you won't be spiteful
toward aunt. I'm going back to her."
she said.
"She can visit u.s." Bev pleaded.
Harriet joined him again, Modified.
Their hearts beat rapidly while they
waited for the door to be opened in
answer to their ring at the Justices.
He's on a fishing expedition and
won't be back until tomorrow his
wife answered to their inquiry.
After she had closed the door on
them they faced one another hope
lessly.
A big touring car with no one in it
but the chauffeur anne around a bend.
"Take US to the city," Bev request
ed. 81 don't care what it COSTS"
Jump on" the chauffeur said;
"that's where I'm making for. Well
be there in thirty minutes"
An hour later Mr.. and Mrs. Beverly
Porteous left the rectory of a promi-
nent city church, the happiest couple
In the world. The chauffeur was wait
ing for them with his car at the curb.
"Tll take you back home now" he
but first, here is a letter that
I thiak belongs to you" He handed
Bev a letter addressed to Mr.. and
Mrs. Beverly Porteous.
"Who could have known so soon that
we are marriedT" Bev asked, as he
tore open the envelope. After an ex-
at the sight of the sigma