Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-07-07
The kidnapped
Peasant Girl
BY r. RAY BAKER
{ET{]SN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

the valley walls hurled back and forth
through the pine woods.
The kidnaper had drawn up beside
the road, and without a word had
placed his arm around the girl, i'm
planting a smacking kiss full on her
RED lips. Until now it had seemed like
a grand lark, but after that-wen, she
really was frightened now.
The man was in garments evidently
INTENDED to proclaim him as knight,
but it was rather inconsistent attire.
He wore army leggins over blue trou-
sers, and striped blouse of red and
yellow. A sword with dented scab-
bard hung from his waist, and a pink
domino with a red hood surrounding
all. The face was clean-shaven and
the part that showed was not at all
repulsive.
The girl appeared to be a peasant
of central Europe. Her face-well,
the red lips and dimples were all that
could be seen, because she was masked,
too, with thin strip of white.
When the girl screamed the man
released her and appeared taken
aback.
"Why, what's the matter:" he asked,
establishment in the voice, which de-
c1dedly was not gruff.
"Matter?" she exclaimed indignant
~. Don't you think you are carrying
this escapade a little too far?"
HTTnn 70 ho
mean to say that man hasn't the
right to kiss the girl he is clipping
with. d0 ycu?"
She laughed scornfully.
"Eloping? Seems you're taking a
lot for granted. Perhaps you're in
sane. Yes, think that's it. No man
in his right mind would talk and act
like you.''
Garvin Haskell really was puzzled
by the girls behavior. What was the
matter with Maxine? Hadn't she
agreed to elope from the costume ball
with him Had she changed her mind
after all the carefully arranged plans?
Well, he knew she was tickle, but it
did not seem reasonable that she
would back out now.
There was no good reason for an
elopement anyhow. Maxine's parents
were dead, and Garvin's folks never
had displayed an inclination to NEEDLE
In his affairs of the heart. He had
enough money in his own right to
care for wife, and in fact his father
and mother were rather anxious for
him to settle down.
But Maxine had insisted on clipping,
She wanted to surprise her aunt, With
whom she was staying while visiting
In Sarendac, for one thing, and she
wanted some excitement when she
took the marriage vows.
Garvin had been trying ever since
he became acquainted with her two
months ago to induce her to have
him. She had put him off, laughing
until the time came for the masked
ball.
Eyes, I'll marry you, Carve" she
said, "but it's got to be an elope-
ment. You dress as a knight and I'll
be peasant girl. After the fifth
dance I'll meet you under the big oak
tree on the lawn and we'll elope The
arrangements for minister, of course,
are up to you
And I'll call when?" inquired the
elated Garvin.
"You won't call at ALL" she said.
"Ill go to the dance with some of
the girls, and you go alone. That'll
make it more romantic"
Garvin made the necessary ar
rangements, which included marriage
by minister in the neighborlng town
of Charlotte. He dressed as a knight
to the best Of his ability and went
to the dance alone. And there was
his beloved, dressed in the peasant
costume, exactly fitting the descrip.
ton Maxine had given him. Yes, she
had met him under the oak at the ap-
pointed time, and he had carried her
off in the auto. And when he pulled
up beside the road to claim kiss as
his just due she screamed.
They sat in silence for a few mo-
ments after the conversation that fol-
lowed the scream, and it began to
dawn on Garvin that there must be a
mistake somewhere.
would you mind removing your
mask?" he asked the girl.
"Not If you will do the same" she
answered.
For reply he removed the domino
and at once the girl lifted the cambria.
Yes, it was Maxine. In the pale moon
light her countenance showed up as
lovely as ever except that it seemed
trifie older, but, no doubt, that was
due to the shock of being almost
kissed. That was not quite consistent
either, for Garvin never had supposed
Maxine to be that unsophisticated. He
scrutinized her closely. and she re-
turned the stare. Yes, it was Maxine's
eyes, and the nose and hair were
hers. But why the change in her at
titude?
"Maxine,' he began, clearing his
throat, II don't"
Maxine - she exclaimed. I'm not
Maxine. What made you think
was?"
. The moons rays became brighter
now, due to the shifting Of some
clouds, and the girls face showed
'plainer. Yes, there was difference
She was older, that was certain, al
though not much older. G~rN[ "
"Well, how what" he stammered
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