Year: 1865




the pitchfork as he drove me before it
glittering points from the barn !


" ! went to the house, hopeless and dis
mayed. Patty had been lingering near
and the tones of her fathers voice, as wei
as some other words that had reached he
ears left me nothing to tell. But she pu
her arms around my neck and kissed me
on the cheek, which she baptized with hel
tears and then she tried to smile as she
bade me good bye, and exhorted me to be
of good courage Father loves me better
than anything in the world and | think
can bring him round. Don't go home tc
your mother to tell her would only be
distressing her, but 90 into the field and tC
work. Father is short Of hands | heard
him say this morning, and he will be more
angry with you if you leave him now."-
| But said |, he drove me out of the barn
with the pitchfork, and ordered me never
to show my face on the premises again =
And then Patty smiled up in my face and
said Trust me- John, know father better
than you do, and know that he don't real
| ly want you to leave. Can't you stay fol-
my sake ?"


Every we'll the little mink knew that
would have done much more for her sake
and much as l dsiked to meet the Squire
again promised to stay, and Immediately
betook myself to the field


The Squire never alluded to what had
occurred He treated me much as he had
done before, but | felt myself watched. II
was very seldom that | could get access to
Patty, and though living in the same house
| was as effectually separated from her as
! though miles of space had interviewed.
Matters went on this way all the summer
Occasionally we met for a few hurried
words. But Patty's mother or her maiden
aunt, were close upon her track at all
times, and these hurried interviews only
seemed to keep a faint ember of hope alive.
Winter came, and | was again the teacher
of the country school, But Patty was no
longer my pupil. Her parents could not
trust her so near me, and now we met more
seldom than before. | began to feel sad
and hopeless. What if she could be infu-
enced by her parents and cease to love me?
The few hurried words exchanged III our
chance meetings hardly sufficed to keep
the flame of hope burning We both felt
sad and disheartened And so the months
rolled on.


Then suddenly there came to me ru,
mors that old Dr. Tracy's son and heir, from
Hadfield was often seen at Squire Evans.
Everybody said he was courting Patty,
and some few professed to know that they
would be married in the spring. ! was in
despair and | waylaid Patty on one Of her
visits to the village, and accused her Of be-
ing false to me. The poor girl looked pale
and worn, and cried bitterly felt myself
brute and | believe | cried too. | know
| felt like it.


" She said her fathel was fully determ-
ined that she should marry John Tracy :;
but she was equally determined that she
would not, and there had been several con-
tiicts Of will. But no time was determined
on as yet, and she decided to leave home
and try to earn her )wn living in some way,
if he persisted. We were interrupted at
this point and parted


" went straight home to my mother and
told her all, and she advised interference
to prevent this unhappy sacrifice. Tracy
had nothing to recommend him but his
riches. Patty did not love him, and did
love me. She promised to marry me, and
my mother said had the right, and it was,
in truth, my duty to save her from misery.



foupd means to communicate with Patty,
and to let her know that she had a friend
who would not see her be driven to extrem-
tiles


Before long it was known in Brighton
that Patty Evans was to be married to
young Tracy on the 18th of April. Squire
Evans had spread the report and prepara-
tiOns were making already for the wedding
Patty told her father that she would not
marry Tracy, but would leave home rather
than be forced into union so hateful to
her, and was Immediately locked into her
chamber i'll consequence of such a rebel
lion.


1t must be supposed that I was on the
watch and this circumstance soon came to
my knowledge, and prepared myself ac-
cordingly. We were not far from the
State line and on the night of the 18th of
April, | helped Patty to descend from her
window, assisted her into my carriage, and
before daylight was safely out of Massa-
chusetts. We breakfasted at a tavern in
a little village near the line, in New York,
and after the meal was over, proceeded qui-
city to the nearest clergyman, who speedi
ly made us one. Before night we were
odlcly ChSOo4ICCu pcucdtH Liy notIcI . lool'


" Patty's cousin Abby who had been
locked up with her on the night of her es-
cape, and had in fact, been our accomplice,
received her meals, and our escape was
not known in Brighton till the following
evening. Then, as may be supposed, the
wedding did not take place for want OF the
bride. There was much confusion on the
discovery Of her escape, and Squire Evans
vowed that he would never forgive either
Of us But he did before the evening was
over ; and learning that Patty was at my
mothers, he sent his carriage to bring us
all to his house, and then, finding, | sup
pose, that it was useless to attempt any
further opposition, he gave us his blessing
and forgiveness.


1--WE had our wedding feast, after all,
and Patty slipped up stairs, and put on the
bridal dress in which she expected to be
transformed into Mrs. Tracy. sAltogether
we had a very pleasant and happy time oft.


"Tracy behaved like a good fellow
Finding he could not have Patty, whom he
fully forgave, he transferred his suit and
his affections to Abby, who accepted them,
and made him an excellent wife for she
was good girl, and loved him, which Pat
ty did not.


Squire Evans never did things by
halves His forgiveness was full and en-
nd ri +ho 10 1f hi