house, where we stopped and put out the horse, intending to take
breakfast. While I was inquiring of the landlord if there was a justice
of the peace in the neighborhood, the landlord's wife had elicited from
Sarah the fact of our elopement, who she was, who her folks were, and so
on. The well-meaning landlady advised Sarah to go back home and get
her parents consent before she married. Sarah suggested that the very
impossibility of getting such consent was the reason for her running
away; nor did it appear how she was to go back home alone even if she
desired to. We saw that we could get no help there, so I countermanded
my order for breakfast, offering at the same time to pay for it as if we
had eaten it, ordered out my horse and drove on. After riding some
ten miles we arrived at another public house on the road, and as the
landlord come out to the door I immediately asked him where I could
find a justice of the peace? He laughed, for he at once comprehended the
whole situation, and said:

"Well, well! I am an old offender myself; I ran away with my wife; there
is a justice of the peace two miles from here, and if you'll come in
I'll have him here within an hour."

We had reached the right place at last, for while the landlady was
getting breakfast for us, and doing her best to make us comfortable and
happy, the Old Offender himself took his horse and carriage and went for
the justice. By the time we had finished our breakfast he was back
with him, and Sarah and I were married in "less than no time," the Old
Offender and his wife singing the certificate as witnesses. I never
paid a fee more gladly. We were married now, and all the Scheimers in
Pennsylvania were welcome to come and see us if they pleased.

No Scheimers came that day; but the day following came a deputation from
that family, some half dozen delegates, and with them a constable from
Easton, with a warrant to arrest Sarah for something--I never knew
what--but at any rate he was to take her home if necessary by force. The
Old Offender declined to let these people into his house; Sarah told me
to keep out of the way and she would see what was wanted. Whereupon she
boldly went to the door and greeted those of her acquaintances who were
in the party. The constable knew her, and told her he had come to take
her home. "But what if I refuse to go?" "Well then, I have a warrant
to take you; but if you are married, I have no power over you." Well
married I am