The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-08-20
Adventures of a Western Man-Doub-
lie Elopement-A Man runs away
with his own Wife.

lie Elopement-A Man runs away
with his own Wife.
During the Spring of 1851, a young
man named James Simpson, residing in
Keokuk, Iowa, quarreled with his father. a
wealthy farmer, about some trif1ing matter,
and becoming quite excited in the course of
the dispute. gave the old gentleman the lie.
In far less time than it takes to tell it, the
paternal fist fell heavily upon the chest of
the offender, and he lay sprawling on the
grass. Being rather proud youth, James
felt that he could no longer bear to live un-
der the same roof with his pugnacious spar
lent" and on the following morning, he
slipped from the house, and started for a
Ineighboring town, with only ten dollars in
his pocket. According to his own account,
he at first determined to seek employment
in Chicago; but being advised by friendly
brakeman, to whom he confded his troub
les, to visit the Empire City, he turned his
face eastward, and arrived in this city on
the 18th of May, tired, discouraged, and
with only few shillings in his pocket
His first day here he spent in walking about
the city, looking into the shop windows,
and subsisting on apples and cakes, which
he purchased from peripatetic corner mer-
chants. At night he lodged cheaply in
one of the William street "hotels," and in
the morning prepared to go forth in search
| of an employer. But before leaving the
shotel," it occurred to him that it would be
good plan to ask the advice of the bar
keeper; and to that agile individual he made
known his wishes. The mixer of "smiles"
looked very wisely, and informed him, con-
idently, that he had better go to an ''intel-
ligence Office naming one in Fulton St.
James thanked the friendly bar-keeper, and
started for the servantgalic institutions; but
so confused was he when he reached Full
ton street, that he forgot the number, and
wandered along down until he reached the
market. At this point he discovered his
mistake, but resolved to inspect the interior
of the meat and vegetable paradise before
he retraced his steps. With staring eyes,
and mouth aiar, he entered the market, and
was crowding his way through the ranks
of purchasers, farmers, hucksters, &C.,
when a paper, stuck on the window of an
oyster-stall, caught his eye, and on stop
ping to read it, he found that there was
wanted, boy to open oysters; inquire
Within Eager to obtain any employment
whatever, the verdant youth walked into
the contracted establishment, and inquired
for the s'boss.'' That individual came for
ward in white apron and profuse per-
spiration, and asked what was wanted p
James said he wanted place. The boss
inquired if he could ''open oysters % to
which he desperately answered eyes"
Whereupon contract was at once conclu-
ded, and our hero threw off his coat, and
committed an assault upon a bivalve, with
horribly dull knife. At first he was very
awkward, and was treated to divers sarcas-
tic remarks by the accomplished boss; but
before noon he could extract the sweets of
the shell-fsh with considerable ease, and be-
fore evening he worked like true profess
sional.
open oysters until this day, had it not been
whose mother sold vegetables and fruit near
sisted her mother till twelve O'Clock each
| day, after which she would not be seen in
the market. One morning James aided her
in lifting basket of potatoes from the side
walk to her exhibition bench, whereupon
she thanked him; he said mot at ALL" she
said: won't you take some of these cher
ries go he said, ''thank you, MISS and
thus the acquaintance commenced. Being
case of love at first sight, it did not take
long for James to become very affectionate.
so that the young lady's mother ''noticed"
the state of affairs, and ordered her daugh
ter to ''leave that ere Teller alone, and at
tend to her work" Having gained his
sweetheart's consent, James told the old
lady that he had rich father in Iowa, and
would make lady of Jane; but the old la
! dy would not listen to t'sich CANNON,
i j L II L,
tell his boss. Under such circumstances,
a runaway match was proposed by the oys-
ter assistant; the girl assented; and one fine
morning in June, the old lady came to mar
ket to find her stall uuprepared for trade,
while the oyster merchant mourned the loss
of his best Opener In short, Mr..
James Simpson and Miss Jane-had fled
to Philadelphia. where they were married
by magistrate, and from whence they
started for the West. After meeting with
various interesting adventures, the pair ar
rived safely in Keokuk, and went straight
to the residence of the elder Simpson, where
they were received with open arms, and in
vited to ttsettle down. On the following
day, it was agreed that James should have
portion of the farm, and reside with his
parents, and the honey moon passed over
in glorious style. For four years, every
thing went smoothly, Mrs. Simpson. jun
Tor, having received her mothers forgive
ness on the blank leaf of book, in reply
to penitential letter, and her husband ma
king an excellent living, with something to
spare. In 1856, the elder Simpson died,
and was soon followed by his wife. leaving
all their earthly possessions to the childless
James and Jane. The husband now thought
himself supremely blessed, and was prepar-
ing to build new and handsome residence,
when the faithless Jane blighted all his
hopes BY clipping with pious land-agent.
This event threw poor Simpson into brain