Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1905 — When Hearts Were Brave, and True [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

When Hearts Were Brave, and True

JOHN P RITTER.

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CHAPTER I. AN INTERCEPTED ELOPEMENT. Of the many historic valleys which lie in the great state of New York that of the W allkill river is perhaps the most romantic. Winding through the counties of Orange and Ulster, it is inclosed on the west by the rugged Shawangunk range of mountains, a vast amphitheater of rocks, piled into the most fantastic shapes and abounding in picturesque lakes and beautiful ravines. On the summit of Sky Top, the highest peak of the range, lies the far famed Lake Mohonk, surrounded on all sides by marvelous precipices. On the tops of mountains farther south ar6 situated Lake Minnewaska and Long pond, both remarkable for the depth and clearness of their water and the sublimity of their rocky shores. Apart from the ’ natural beauties of the region history and tradition have invested it with peculiar interest. Every lonely road has its tale of tragedy, every narrow mountain pass its story of encounter with Indian or Tory bandit, and every rock bound lake its legend. It was from an unlettered chronicler of the valley, spinning his rude bnt picturesque yarns to a group of fireside listeners, that I am indebted for the facts embodied in the following narrative: At the base of the Shawangunk mountain, in Orange county, there lived at the outbreak of the Revolution a well to do farmer whose name was Price. His little family consisted of himself, a comely daughter named Zadie and a talented and handsome young man, Edward Roblin, whom he treated like a son, although he was but a farmhand in his employ. Now, inasmuch as the young people were thrown constantly into each other’s company, with few other associates of their own age, it was bnt natural that a tender and enduring affection should develop and ripen between them. Either Mr. Price was lacking in observation, or else the lovers deported themselves with great discretion during their courtship. But the fact remains that the first intimation the old man had of their mutual regard was when Edward Roblin boldly asked him for the hand of his daughter in marriage. The request fell upon him like a thunderbolt. “You impudent young scdundrel!” he exclaimed in a towering passion. “Give yon my daughter ? I’llseO'ycra to the devil first. ” \ In vain the young man pleaded His cause. In vain did Zadie join her entreaties to his. The old man remained immovable. “You can’t have my daughter, sir, and that’s the end of it,” he cried angrily. And, to prove the finality of his decision, he drove the young man from his presence, ordered his daughter to her room and forbade their speaking to one another again. Having thus asserted his authority over his little household, he lighted his pipe and locked himself up in the kitchen to puff his fury away in tobacco smoke. “What, throw the gal away on snch a pauper, ” he pondered, “when she can have old Caleb Shnrker for a hnsband ? Shnrker is the richest farmer this side of Goshen, and I’ve done well to put a stop to this nonsense.” The thought that he had acted wisely in separating the lovers operated to cool his rage, and ere he had finished his second pipe he had entirely recovered his equanimity. In one important matter, however, he failed to exhibit the wise foresight for which he was noted—he did not discharge Edward Roblin from his employ. In fact, he could not well manage his farm without him. And so it happened that, although the lovers studiously avoided holding any communication in his presence, they found means of carrying on a clandestine courtship behind his back. This prudent conduct on their part completely lulled the old man’s suspicions, and he relapsed into his former unobserving ways. In fact, Zadie carried her deception to snch a length that she apparently consented to receive the addresses of Caleb Shnrker, a concession which was highly gratifying to her avaricious father. Unskilled as he was in the cunning duplicities of love, he was convinced that the young people had submitted meekly to his will. But it was not long before he was rudely awakened from this error. One morning, about a month after his refusal of Roblin’s suit, the young man was not fonnd at his chores. Mr. Price was surprised at this, as he waa invariably an early riser. So he went to his room and knocked. There was no response. He opened the door. The room waa empty, nor did the bed bear evidence of having been occupied during the night. The old man’s gyea dilated, and hia

lower jaw dropped in blank amazement. “A pretty how-d’ye-do I’ ’ he muttered suspiciously, then hurried off to the room occupied by his daughter. On reaching it he did not pause to kfiock upon the door, but flung it open with a loud bang. Then the truth broke in upon hia mind so suddenly that he staggered and gasped for breath, for Zadie’s room was without an occupant. The bed waa unruffled, and the pillowsbams still in place. A chest of drawers, with its compartments open, showed plainly that it had recently been rifled of its contents* and various articles of feminine attirn lay here and there upon the floor where they had been thrown when discarded by their owner. It was evident that the lovers had eloped. At first Mr. Price was so dumfounded by the discovery that he stood speechless and trembling in the doorway. Then, as he gradually awoke to a full realization of the deception which had been played upon him, he began to rave like one possessed. 4 ‘Hoodwinked 1 Deceived! Played for a blamed old fool!” be roared, shaking his fist at the empty air. “Bnt I’ll catch ye yet, my pretty birds, and make ye repent this escapade. ’ ’ Then he hurried out to the barn and harnessed his fleetest horse to hia chaise. As it was fully 20 miles to the dominie’s, he hoped that he might yet intercept the fugitives. Bnt he did not go after them at once, as he had other plans in view. The local magistrate lived abont a mile from the farmhouse, and thither he drove at 'full speed. Luckily that functionary was at home regaling himself with a breakfast of pork and potatoes in his kitchen, and when Price announced the object of his visit he willingly consented to assist him. Indeed

so anxious was he to please the rich farmer that, within five minutes from the beginning of their interview, Price left his presence armed with a warrant for young Roblin’s arrest, issued on a false accusation for debt. With this document in his pocket the old man hurried off to the constable’s to enlist him in carrying out his design. And again he was favored by fortune in finding that officer at home. “I’ve got a job for you, Reynolds,’* he explained as he drew rein at the constable’s door. “I want you to come with me and arrest that scoundrel of a Roblin. The varlet has run away deeply in my debt. ’ ’ “But do ye know whar to find him?’* asked the officer. “Have no fear on that score,” was thereply. “He’s run off with my darter to get married, and we’ll be sure to find him at the dominie’s.” “That is if we git thar before him,’* returned the constable as he clambered into the chaise. A moment afterward they were flying over the mountain roads as if pursued by a band of furies. In the meantime the lovers had reached the dominie’s house and had been accorded a gracious reception. Indeed the good man smiled so benignly as he ushered them into his parlor that all their misgivings were allayed, but when they stated the object of their visit his countenance underwent a change. He pursed up his lips, knitted his brows and looked so wise and cautious that all their fears returned. “So you have run away to get married,” he said with a dubious shake of the head. “Well, you must grant m« time to consider the matter before I consent to unite you. ” After much parleying and delay the dominie consented to perform the ceremony. So everything was made ready for the marriage, and the young couple stood up to plight their vows, when, just as the ceremony was beginning, two men burst furiously into the room. Zadie uttered a piercing cry and fell fainting into the arms of her lover, who, rendered desperate by this blighting cf his hopes, had turned a defiant front to the intruders. “We arrived in the nick of time, Reynolds,” cried Farmer Price triumphantly. “Five minutes more, and it would have been too late.” Then, pointing a forefinger at Roblin, “Now, arrest that varlet at once, ” he added fiercely. Realizing that resistance would ha useless, the young man submitted to his fate, while Zadie, disconsolate and inconsolable, was taken back by her father. Later in the day the unfortunate Roblin found himself an inmate of the Goshen jail, a companion of felons of the basest sort, falsely accused, yet without a single friend to rescue him from the dutches of the law. To Be Continued. Read The Democrat for news.

"Now, arrest that varlet at once,” he added fiercely.