Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1901 — AN UNNECESSARY. ELOPEMENT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AN UNNECESSARY. ELOPEMENT.

<r> LLAN BURNS, clerk, sat in the little back office of the big brown ***“ atone building of the Second National Bank. Banking hours were over and all except himself, from the president down to the messenger, had gone borne; but he, Burns, had plans on foot which he felt he could best perfect here In the quiet of the back office. He sat leaning forward with his head resting on his hands and his feet on the little round hassock which the president kept for the comfort of his "game leg." He stared hard at the chair which sat facing him and counted the number of rounds that supported its back, its arms and its legs. There were 20 in all; he counted them again to make sure, yes, 20 was right But what good did that do him? What concerned him had nothing to do witli the chair; lie was concerned In a different sort of supporting. He was wasting time, and he straightened up and told himself that the time had come for something desperate to be done. He was in love, and he had been in love for over a year. At first he just knew that he loved her, and that was sufficient, but after tilings had gone on that way for some months lie knew that he wanted Helen Adams for his wife. When this knowledge came to him he began to save money. He had never done this before and each month's salary had always gone before the next was due. Now It )vas different, for ev<d , y month n sung little sum was laid by, which lie meant to go toward a little homo in a nice part of the city. Before a year was up Burns felt that enough had been saved to start a home,

and with the aid of his salary coming In each month they might now begin life together. It was so planned between them and it only remained to obtain the consent of her father. Neither of them thought this a difficult thing, for Mr. Adams, since the death of his wife, had taken little or no Interest in the welfare of his daughter. Ever since Burns bad first known her ■bo bad been here in the city earning her own living by typewriting. It was only for form's sake that Burns wrote Mr. Adams asking for the band of bls daughter in marriage. Accordingly be was much surprised when several weeks passed and no answer came to his letter. He wrote again asking for an explanation, but received no answer. When be bad waited sufficiently long, and still did not bear from Mr. Adams, his mind was made up. He went that night to plan with his sweetheart for a wedding in the near future, without the consent of her father. He found her much puzzled over a letter which she had just received from her father, in which he made no mention of her marriage, but Instead wrote her that he intended making a hurried ' trip to Colorado and the west. She was to pack her trunk as best she could on such short notice, and be ready, as he 1 had decided to take her with him. The ' rest and change would do her good, and perhaps he had neglected her too much of late. He would come for her Monday morning, and they would leave on the western bound express tiiat afternoon. Burns and Miss Adams read the letter over together, and thought that they saw what her father meant. He must be opposed to their marrying nnd the western trip would be a step toward preventing it. Accordingly they planned to leave the city Monday night but, as the bombshell had burst too suddenly, they could make no definite arrangements then. Burns promised her that he would come again Saturday night, and would then know just what they would do and where to go. In the meantime she was to make ready. Saturday night they would be married, and the following day they would leave the city, with no tracks behind them. It was with matters In this unsettled state that we found Allan Burns counting tho rounds of the chair liefore him. It was late Friday afternoon, and ns yet he had been unable to form any plan which be thought could be successfully carried out. He was quite desperate. They could not be married and stay in the city, for her father would come Monday, nod there would be a'row right at the beginning of their honeymoon. The father might even try to arrange a separa-4 tlon on the ground that his daughter w *■ not yet of age, and might not marry without his consent. An ide* came to Burns. There was a place, an island, away down the harbor, where be had gone with a crowd of the boys for a camping trip. As be ro-

membered it, there was quite a farm on the island, and a number of cottages. Perhaps he and Helen could hire one of these little rough board cottages, that they let to campers, until the storm blew over. Her father would nevpr look for them there. He rose quickly from his chair and walked rapidly up and down the little office. It was by far the best plan yet. When matters had cooled down with their papa, they would return to the city. It was 4 o’clock now and ho left the building hurriedly and caught a shore line train to West Beach, which was just opposite the island. The Island lay a scant two miles out to sea from the bench; from the boat lauding in the city it was over five miles. He hired a dory and rowed over to the island. There he was fortunate enough to make satisfactory Arrangement* with the farmer. When he returned he had the key to a little red cottage that sat on a' high bluff overlookinadwth bay and harbor. With the key iulhis pocket he felt the battle more than half won. He did not sleep well that night, aud the next morqlng he was uneasy. He was early at the bank and held a long conference with the president in the little private office. As a result he was given leave of absence for one week, which was to take the place of the first week of his regular summer vacation. Burns was delighted. He had not thought to make so satisfactory an arrangement and had feared he might be obliged to resign ills position. Surely the course of true love was going to run smoothly for once. As soon as banking hours were over he hurried to see Helen and tell her that all was in readiness. Helen carne down to the parlor to greet him, and he saw at once that something had happened. She had been crying and looked very pale. She handed him a telegram and he read: Can't start sooner. Expect me Sunday. Leave that night. WILLIAM ADAMS. Burns looked at her and then at the telegram. “Never mind, little girl, if that is all, we can go just as well to-night. Everything is ready and I have the key to our future home, at least what will be our home for a week, and he took from ids pocket a very rusty key. Then they sat down and he told her all about the little cottage and the island. Everything would come out all right, he said.

It was nearly 6 o’clock when Helen Adams went up to her room to dress for her wedding. Burns waited for her down in the parlor and it seemed a long time to him before she came back. When she did come he felt very proud of her. From the trim little shoes on her feet to the forget me-nots on her hat she made a picture that one would turn twice to look at. As she sat opposite Burns in the restaurant where they had their supper Burns thought she had never been more beautiful; she was a trifle pale, but he had never seen her look so >vell before. After supper they went to an up town parsonage and were married, the minister’s wife aud daughter acting as witnesses. In the meantime an expressman had taken Helen's trunk to Burns’ boarding house, and from there had carried it with the things he had in readiness down to the boat landing. Burns had always allowed himself the luxury of a sailing dory for excursions down the harbor, and now it was very useful. From the wedding they went down town and spent the early part of the evening at the theater. It was necessary to put in a good deal of time, for they could not start for the Island until the tide served, which would be nearly midnight. When the tide began to ebb they would go down to the landing and start for the Island. If the wind were favorable they would reach it and get their things up to the island before breakfast. It was a balmy June night, and Burns found that trip to the island one of the greatest pleasures of bis life. It was so wholly different from anything they had thought of in connection with their wedding. The stowing away of their things at the cottage with Helen, bls wife Helen,, resting comfortably on a couch in the corner of the sitting-room telling him where to put things. This was better than anything lie had dreamed of, and they practically had a little world all to themselves. With a dainty lunch which Helen had brought aud a cup of steaming coffee, they made a grand wedding breakfast. Sunday was such a beautiful summer day, and Helen was so delighted with the island! The week passed all too quickly, and Saturday morning came again. With It came a letter for Mrs. Allan Burns which the farmer had brought up from town, having called for Burns' mall. It was in her father’s bandwriting, and she opened It with trembling hands. They read the letter together: Dear Helen—l came for you Sunday aa I telegraphed you I would, and your landlady told me that you had gone away. She did not know where. I waited until thia morning (Monday), thinking you might turn up, but in glancing over the paper I was surprised to learn of your marriage on Saturday. Accept my best wishes. I take thia opportunity to tell you of my wedding, which takes place on my return from the West. I had thought to break the news to you on the journey westward, and thought to give you a lit-

tle vacation trip before I presented yot» to your new mamma. I am glad for you that you are happily married, as I suppose you are, and know I shall receive your congratulations upon my marriage with Miss Hamilton, our old friend and neighbor. I was surprised that you did not inform me of your matrimonial intention, but as I have not been home for more than two months and have not seeu any private correspondence in that time, perhaps you, did write me and I have not received the same. Nevertheless 1 send all good wishes and my congratulations to Mr. Burns. I’m off for tho West. Tour* with regards, WILLIAM ADAMS. Two very astonished young people sat staring straight into each other’* eyes. Then they both laughed, for this was the greatest joke yet. They bad enjoyed a perfect week’s vacation on the Island, bad had all the fun of an elopement and now there was no need to seek a "stern parent” and ask forgiveness. So they packed their things and went back to town.—Utica Globe.

HE FELT VERY PROUD OF HER.