| Show nH no The Peasant Girl By R R. R RAY BAKER 1912 1922 by McClure Newspaper It was all nil very well this being kid kid- until the masked man at the wheel of ot the auto tried to kiss her Then the girl let out a scream that the thc alle valley walls hurled back and forth through the pine woods The kidnaper had drawn up beside the road and without a n word had placed his arm ann around the girl to planting a smacking kiss full foIl on horred horred hor nor norred red lips Until now it had seemed like liken a n grand gland lark but after that well that well she really eally was frightened now The man was In garments evidently Intended to proclaim him as a knight ht but It was rather inconsistent attire He lie wore army leggins over blue troupers trousers trou trou- sers pers and a striped blouse of ot red and yellow ellow A sword with a dented scabbard scabbard scabbard scab scab- bard hung from his waist und and a pink domino with a red hood surmounting all The face was shaven clean and the part that showed was not at all repulsive The girl appeared to be a n peasant of ot central Europe Her lIeI face fac well face well the red lips and dimples were all nil that could be seen because she was masked too with a thin strip of white When the girl screamed the Ule man released her bel and appeared appeared taken aback I Why hy what's the matter he asked astonishment In the voice olce which decidedly decidedly decidedly de de- de- de was as not gruff Matter she exclaimed Indignant Indignant- ly Dont you ou think you ou are carrying this escapade a little too far Too far he lie echoed You Tou dont don't mean to say sar that a man hasn't the time right to kiss the girl he be Is eloping with do you She laughed scornfully Eloping Seems youre you're taking a alot alot alot lot for granted Perhaps youre you're in In- sane Yes I think that's It No man manIn manin manin in his right mind would talk and act like you ou Garvin Haskell really was puzzled by the girls girl's behavior What was the matter with Maxine Hadn't she agreed to elope from the costume Wall lend all with him Had she changed change 1 her mind after all the carefully arranged plans Well ell he knew she was fickle but It did not seem reasonable that she would back out now There was no good reason for an elopement anyhow Maxines Maxine's parents were dead and Garvins Garvin's folks never had displayed an Inclination to meddle In his affairs of the heart He lie had enough money In his own right to care for a wife and In fact his father and mother were rather anxious for him to settle down But Maxine had insisted on eloping In order to have ha a taste of romance She wanted to surprise her aunt with whom she was sta staying while visiting in for one thing and she wanted some excitement when she took the marriage vows Garvin had been tr trying ever since he le became acquainted with her tw two months ago ngo to induce her to have him She had put him off laughing until the time came for the masked ball Yes Ill I'll marr marry you rou Gar Carve she said but i Its It's got to be an elope elope- ment You dress as a knight and Ill I'll be a peasant girl After the fifth dance Ill I'll meet you ou under the big oak oaktree oaktree oaktree tree on the well we'll elope The fhe arrangements for a minister of course are up to you ou And Ill I'll call when inquired 1 the elated Garvin You wont won't call caU at all she said Ill go to the dance with some of the girls and you OU go alone That'll make It more romantic Gar Garvin made the necessary arrangements arrangements arrangements ar ar- ar- ar which Included marriage by 11 a minister In the neighboring town of Charlotte He lIe 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 description Ion tion Maxine had given him Yes she had met him under the oak at the appointed appointed appointed ap ap- ap- ap pointed time and he had carried her heroff heroff off oft In the auto And when he pulled i up beside the road to claim a kiss as his Just due she screamed 1 They tat sat In silence for a few moments moments mo mo- ments meats after the cO conversation that followed fol lowed the scream and it began legan to dawn on Carvin that there must be a mistake somewhere Would you Ou mind removing remo your mask 1 he asked the girl 1111 Not lot If you iou will do the Ule same she answered For reply he removed the domino and at once the girl lifted the cambric Yes It was Maxine In the pale moon moonlight light her countenance showed up as lovely as ever except that It seemed a trifle older but no doubt that was due to the shock of ot being almost kissed That was not quite consistent either for Garvin never had supposed Maxine to be that unsophisticated He lIe scrutinized her closel closely and she returned returned returned re re- re- re turned the stare Yes it was Maxines Maxine's s se e eyes es and and the nose and hair were hers But wh why the chall change e In h her r attitude attitude at ut- Maxine he began clearing his throat I III don't dont dont don't- It dont Maxine I I 1 she exclaimed 1 Im not J Maxine What made you ou think I Iwas Iwas Iwas was The moons moon's rays ros became brighter now due to the shifting of at some clouds and the girls girl's face showed plainer Yes Yeti there a mi difference She was o older older der that was certain although although al al- though not much older Well how how how- what what what- he be stammered what I say she exclaimed How what how what Its got me beat bent he lie declared Do you happen to to know Maxine Brooks I certainly do She's my younger sister But she left town yesterday shortly after I arrived arched to visit Aunt Sarah heart sank So this was the outcome of the carefully laid elopement plans He lie stepped on the starter and turned the car out in the theron ron road 1 heading it for tor For some time as the they rode along no words passed between them So Maxine had gone back on him 1 Well Nell he didn't understand It It but he wasn't going to play the fool by asking questions But the car took a hand In the game A rear tire went flat fiat and Garvin had hod to mend a puncture because the extra was at ut a vulcanizing station undergoing undergo undergo- ing lag repairs It was fully an hour before before before be be- fore the car was ready and then after after after aft aft- er going the distance of or a block It stopped an and could not be Induced to move With a flashlight Garvin explored explored explored ex ex- ex- ex In the hood hut but was unable to remedy matters The girl tried to help and got dabbed with grease but she didn't seem to mind Im Just a peasant anyway anway she said smiling No r-o she was not Maxine She was too willing to help and too patient Maxine would have fretted and fumed and made no DO effort to help belp matters Garvin was beginning to like the girl Well I cant can't fix tb It he finall finally admitted admitted ad ad- as he walked awa away from the hood and tripped for the fourth time on the dangling scabbard While she laughed merrily he detached the sword and threw it on the car floor Were miles from any habitation and this Isan is isan isan an unfrequented road Its It's more romantic romantic romantic ro ro- ro- ro mantic than the main thoroughfares that's why Maxine wanted wanted why why I chose It Then theres there's nothing to do but spend the night here said the girl It It Isn't very proper but circumstances circumstances circum circum- stances dont don't recognize proprieties She curled up on the seat Garvin tried to make himself com corn on the running board Yes Maxines Maxine's sister was extremely like able Wh Why hadn't he lie met her heV first The They sta stayed ed awake by conversing on various subjects which became more and more personal as the hours passed Please tell me how It happened my my you ou instead of your sister Garvin finall finally urged Before I left home said the girl Maxines Maxine's former I I had a talk with fiance with whom hoin she quarreled some sometime sometime sometime time ago lIe He gave gate me a message and when Maxine received It she went back to murr marry him She asked ed me meto meto meto to substitute for her at the ball and said she would arrange for me to meet meeta a very nice man under the oak tree I didn't know about the elopement plan of course and I thought It would be Just a lark And U It seems I thought right The They became better acquainted while the frogs warbled in the nearby marsh and Luna sank beneath the western horizon When da dawn wn crept up from the east the girl yawned and had an idea Did you ou look at the battery wire Garvin had not but be did and found It loose Remedying the trouble he stepped on the starter then paused to remark Love at first sight ight Is wonderful Is-wonderful Isn't It Shall we do it now Her answer was Inaudible but when the machine rolled along the road it carried two elopers toward Charlotte |
