The Snowflake herald., 1920-03-12

a barren eXpanse of meadow. sparsely
sheltered inside of board structure,
one end of which was entirely exposed
TO the elements.
He had been informed by letter by
! his new parishoners that he would
be met by wagon or by light hand-car
which twice a day brought freight, and
sometimes passengers, from Merton
! along a seyen-mile abandoned narrow
! gauge spur. Neither wagon nor hand
| car had appeared, and almost with re-
sentiment Rev. Joel Mannierre stood
viewing the unfamiliar landscape.
He ran out into the middle of the
! road and waved his arms as an auto
mobile driven by a pleasant-faced
young man, a very charming girl of
| about seventeen at his side, slowed up
Please excuse me-" spoke the for
/ lorn one but / am a stranger. and
was to have been met here by some
| body. am the new pastor of the Mer-
ton church. Can you direct me how
/ to reach that town?"
why. jump right in" cried Alan
Ware open-heartedly.
Il think I understand" spoke up Lu-
ellie Durland. 1--WE passed a wagon
broken down in a rut some ways down
the road, and it must be the one dele
gated to see that you were taken care
Of"
GAS it is, make yourself comfortable
in the back seat and we will get You to
welcome and comfort in jiffy," said
Alan 81 am not much of a church
man, but Lucille, here, has devoutness
enough to make up for a whole neg
lectful community"
1t was very plain to Reverend Man
Mere that he was in the company of
two hearts0me beings, very much in
love with each other.
Lucille told him a lot as to his new
charge, and the clergyman warmed to-
wards the brght-spirited young fellow
Who kept mp an animated conversa-
ton until the reverend gentleman was
landed in the hotel at Merton.
Alan and Lucille were secretly en-
gagged She lived with her stepfather
E
home was shed whore the hand-car
was stored. LucilIe's mother was dead
and her stepfather, q crusty. eXacting
old tyrant, and servant were her
sole home companions. Alan left her
a few hundred feet from the house. for
Mr.. DurIand had Q decided aversion to
beaux. and had told Lucille she must
not think OF engagement or marriage
for al least two years to come.
"wednesday afternoon, Lucille"
were Alan's parting words.
"yes, if you must have your way.
oh. dear! i fear there will be a scene
when father learns the truth"
ITS the only way to insure our hap,
pinees," insisted Alan. 9TH come al
about three. IN the automobile You
Re all ready, and ven spin to Verden
and be back, man ana wife, before your
father gets nome"
And Wednesday at three o'clock
Alan Ware drove M in front of the
Durland p{ote. Inc servant liked him
and. admitting him, told him that Lu-
ellie would be downstairs in few
minutes Alan was impatiently await
ing the appearance of his lady love
when the servant burst into his pres
ence. alive with excitement.
'NIr. Ware she futtered "Mr. Dur
land is coming tearing down the street
like mad. | don't know why, but if you
do. and your idea is to go somewhere
with Lucille, you had better hurry"
'"That fellow. Warer painted Mr..
Durland, few minutes later dashing
into the house. That's his automC-
bile outside He's trying to steal a
march on me! Where is he. Lucille"
"AIr. Ware was here a minute ago"
reported the servant. "and Miss LII
ellie was up in her room
But Alan had disappeared and, In
ellie, too. Warned by the servant they
had stolen out the back way. The
dauntless Alan resolved that the elope-
ment should not be a izzle. Had he
not the marriage license in his pock-
ct? Lucille was all unnerved, but she
followed his instructions. They had
reached the hand-car shelter
"It's the only way" declared Alan.
and settled the old but light vehicle
across the rails. "Now, then, dear, for
terminus and a dash on foot to Yer
den before your father can overtake
us!'
Richard Dnrland uttered a hollow
roar OF rage and discontinue as he
saw his stepdaughter and Alan speed
ing down the rails. Then he hurried
around the house and jumped into Al
ans automobile.
From tne hand-ear the fugitives
could discern and comprehend this ma
newer Whenever the road beyond the
cut came within view Of Alan, he could
see the automobile keeping pace with
them. Turning a curve he made out a
figure walking between the rails.
"Ohr' spoke Lucille. It's Mr. Man
nierev
ssyXrbot lunIxf Hi. get aboard We