The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-26
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Kidnapped Peasant
Girl.

TWas an very well. this being

ny fs tsAS D0&ef A
Z was an very well, this being
Kidnapped, until the masked
man 1t the wheel OF theauto tried
70 kiss her. Then the girl let out a
scream that the valley walls hurled
back and forth through the pine
woods.
The kidnapper had drawn up be.
side the road, and without a word
hadipaced bis arm around the girl
in1plantiug q srnacking kiss full ON
her red lips. Until now It had
laeemed like D grand lark. but after
tthat-well, she really was fright.
ened now.
Tha man wis In gafmenta evil
kdently intended 10 proclaim him as
q knight, but It was rather incon-
dstent attire. He wore army
kfeggins over blue trousers, and a
striped blouse Of red and yellow.
"a sword with a dented scabbard
hung from his waist, and a pink
domino covered his eyes and fore
head, with q red hood surrounding
All. The face was clean-shayen
and the part that showed was not
al all ~repulstye.
The girl appeared TO be a peas
ant ofteentral Europe. Her face
vel. the red lips and dimples were
q that could be seen, because she
vas masked, too, with a thin strip
4of swhita.
When the girl screamed the man
released her and appeared taken
sablek.
ssyyhy. what's the nattet:" he
asked, astonished in the voice,
which decidedly was not gru.c.
Natter" she exclaimed fndfg-
lnAntiy. Don't you think you are
CARRYING this escapade a little too
Too far2" he echoed. .You
kdonit mean to say that a man
HASN'T the right to kiss the sirl ne
us eIoping with, do your"
She laughed scornfuIiy.
sEloping? Seems you're taking
q lot for granted. Perhaps you're
kiueane. Yes. I think that's II. No
IMAM In his right mind would talk
md act like you"
GarTtn Haskell really was puz-
k1leds by the girls behavior. What
was the matter with Maxine?
Hadn't she agreed to elope from
9the costume ball with him? Had
she changed her mind after all the
Scarefully arranged plans? Well,
NE knew she was tickle, but It did
mot Seem reasonabl9that she would
back ont now.
There was no good reason for an
elopement7 anyhow. Maxine's
parents were dead. and Garvin's
folks never had displayed an in
clination 10 NEEDLE in his affairs OF
the heart. He had enough money
In 5htsiown right to care for a wife,
and in fact his father and mother
were rather anxious for him 10
tle down.
But Maxine had insisted on
eloping,t in order 10 hayesa. taste 81
romance. She wanted to surprise
hen aunt, with whom she was stay
Ing while visiting in Sarendac, for
one thingA and she wanted some
excitement when she took the
marriage vows.
Garvfn had been trying ever
since he became acquainted with
her two months ago 70 induce her
to have him. She had put him off,
klaughing, until the time came for
the masked ball.
Yea, I'll marry you, Carve" she
SAID but its got to be an elope-
tment. You dress as a knight and
IN be a peasant girl. After the
NTH dance I'll meet you under the
kbig oak tree on the lawn and wen
Yelope. The arrangements for a
mintsteF, Of course, are up to you"
"And I'll call when?" inquired
the elsted Garvin.
You won't callatall" she said,
Illago to the dance with, some Of
The girls, and you go alone. That'Il
make 1t more romantic"
Garyin made the necessary ar.
irangeilents, which included mar.
Fiagesb by a minister in the neigh
tborfng town OF Charlotte. He
dressed as a knight to the best 81
khds ability and went to the dance
alone. And there was his beloved,
dressed in the peasant costume
exactly lifting the description Max.
tne had given him. Yes, she had
met him under the oak at the ap.
pointed time, and he had carried
fher off in the auto. And when he
pulled up beside the road to claim
kiss as his just due she scream.
Eeds
They cat in silence for a few
moments after the conversation
that followed the scream, and IL
began to dawn on Garvin that
there must be a mistake some
where.
Would you mind removing your
maskf" he asked the girl.
Not IL YOU will do the same.n
she answered.
For reply he removed the dom.
mo and at once the girl lifted the
cambric. Yes, It was Maxine. In
the pale moonlight her counter.
ance showed up as lovely as every
except that Il seemed q ttlfe older,
but, no doubt, that was due to the
shock ct being almost kissed. That
was not qtt , consistent either, for
Garyin, never had supposed Maxine
rkkA#ghR kLAA w.