The Lamar register., 1919-02-19
The
Air Lane
By RALPH HAMILTON

''IVe had too much experience with
runaway couples, love sick swainS and
romantic demolselles To take any risks
with my own daughter, Elidn," an
nounced Judge Cyrus Barnes with II
cocksure ehuckle of confidence and su-
periOrity. Remember. | am known as
the marrying justice, and the name
| hts
There was some basis to the boast
ful claims of the father OF pretty Elldn
Barnes. Year in. year out for tt full
decade he had been elected and re-
elected to the Office OF magistrate. lie
was not much of II legal luminury, but
he was Shrewd, had "A smattering Of
court usage aud brought revenue 10
the town. Speeders were his special
prey, unrringe licenses We're easy OF
acquisition In Rock;on, and for that
quiet little burg Judge Barnes won
the distinction of veritable modern
| Gretna Green.
The judge had made money out Of
his office, and through fortunate In
yestments had come to live - the edge
| of the village In an old mansion he had
bought AT bargain. lie was Wild
over and his sole care WAS his only
child. Elida. Upon her he hud layished
, money freely. She WAS charming
young lady Of eighteen with ii Will Of
| her own, but respectful and Obedient
! toward her father on all occasions.
| The Judge Ind planned Out her future
and had made Elida aware of its de
tails. lie intended when she was
| har
II husband. He had in view Rodney
Parker, the sou Of his oldest friend,
/ young man, however, whom Elida not
only dlsliked but desplsed.
With all his provision and prudence
| Judge Barnes had committed capital
mistake. IL had been necessary to have
witnesses 10 the marriages lie per
formed. and Elida and the old house
keeper were often called Ia 10 perform
that function. There Is no love ike
the ardent. impetuous love Of elopers
when II first blares forth. and an at
mosphere OF the most delicious roman
tlclsm enveloped these truant com
pacts. ElIda saw genuine heroes aud
heroines In these runaway matches.
All the brides were young and lovely.
| MI tHe youhb men 'htNhhei5 HNS
knights errant Ellda could not have
had more sentimental training IN
what to her was u delightful episode
In human life. though TO her father
business, pure and simple.
The result was that when Ellda be
gan TO go to parties like other girls.
the first young man who aroused her
Interest became her idol forthwith.
Vernon Glare well deserved her appro-
bation. He was All aviator In training.
though not In service, at IA field about
afty miles from Rcckton, who came
home to visit married sister twice
month. and as many times week af-
ter he had become acquainted With
ElidH.
"Nipped In the bud - proclaimed the
Judge to his spinster sister one day,
and he clacked his tongue and
chuckled, and fancled he had reached
the acme OF wisdom, prudence aud
power. There had been an exciting
scene The Judge had come upon his
daughter and Glare In the garden COO
! ing like two loving doves. Perempto-
rily he had ordered Clare from the
place. mandatorially he had directed
Elida to 20 to her room and not leave
It until he had given her permission.
There was ii mournful week for the
sorrowing little,creature who loved 50
sweetly. The judge never did things
BY halves, he yauntingly declared
that no man should steal his child
AWAY from him - Aunt Tabltha, who
hated all mankind. never allowed Elida
out of her sight when In the wnlled-in
garden. The hired man of the place
was paid extra to lurk about and re-
port the first indication OF the baffied
lover about the place. Even Rodney
Parker was impressed into service and
yalorously patrolled the garden armed
with IA big horse pistol for several
nights.
This Ellda learned was caution aud
preparedness for sending her away for
a year to d select seminary which WAS
almost prison. For the first time ia
her life she was defiant toward her
father. The beginning and end of her
argument, when coaxed, threatened
and caJoled. was:
II love Vernon. | shall run away
and marry him the first chance l get!'
The Barnes mansion was Hat rooted,
Elida had got into the way OF taking
chair up there and reading, writing