Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-05-01
from tie St. Louis Democrat, April 10 ]
ROMANTIC EsCAPADE.

IS BEFRIENDED AND sAvED FROM DIES.
TRucTIoN.
Yesterday we were put in possession OF q
Circumstance, the equal of which, We DO.
lieYe has seldom or never been before re.
corded.
young and extremely interesting girl,
aged only fifteen years, whose name we do
not feel at entire liberty to mention, but who
is the daughter of an ex-Brg General, who
fought gallantly through the last war, par
licipated in the battles of Stone River,
Chickamauga, Dalton, and various other
important and hard-fought contests, left her
fathers house at Decatur, Illinois, last Mon.
day, without consulting with any of her
family, or leaving any record as to whittier
she had gone, or her reasons for going
She had been brought up in the lap of
luxury, her every want being supplied with
kind and liberal hand, and possessed of
all the surroundings, provided by the best
and most loving of parents, the most afTcc-
tionate and fond of brothers and sisters in
fact, she had everything that should have
made her home the abode of happiness and
sunshine, of innocence and truth
Bui'sho possessed an Independent spirit of
her own; she could not brook being checked
by parents or friends; she sighed for liberty
to act as she thought best, and go where her
foolish fancy might lead. Acting on tho
impulse, and under the mistaken influence Of
mis-termed "high spiritn such as this she
got together secretly some few articles of
wearing apparel, and started on the cars on
Monday last for this city.
There happened 10 be among the passen.
gers in the same cur in which she took her
seat young gentleman from New York,
named Jacob Scouler; he was travelling
agent for large firm in New York, and
CHANGING to occupy scat convenient to the
young lady in question, after a while n
friendly chat sprang up between them, and
shortly he became apparently deeply inter-
ested in her lively and innocent manners,
and agreeable powers Of conversation.
On their arrival at the other side of the
river lie begged to accompany her TO the
hoIeli she accepted, and both put up at the
Southern, he registering his name and get.
ing room in one part of the building, willie
he registered her name also, and procured
lor her room at another part. He waited
on her at tho table, and appeared to pay her
the most kind yet delicate attentions
he succeeded by his attentions in winning
her confidence and she told him that she
left home in consequence of not liking an
aunt of hers that was living In her fathers
house; that she did not treat her altogether
right, and that she wanted to be her own
mistress anyhow. The young gentleman at
once saw through the whole thing. lie
perceived that she was a foolish, pampered.
spoiled child, and at onco set about saving
her from destruction
lie went to Mrs Beach, a relative Of his,
who lived on O'Fallon Street, detailed the
circumstances TO her, and it was agreed that
She should at once be brought 10 the latter's
house. This the young lady agreed to, and
on Wednesday sho left the hotel and took
up her new quarters. Next day Mrs Beachs
son, who keeps a little store at O. South
Fourth Street, employed her as his clerk, he
having lost lady clerk few days before.
On wednesday, her father, in most fear
iul state of mental wretchedncss, reached
this city in search of her. He at once ap
piled to the police Office and told his sad
tale to detective offlcor, Harry Stone With
determination not to be foiled, that officer
went about the work of searching the lost
one up. He traced them from the Railroad
terminus TO the hotel. Then he kept after
Mr. Scouer, who he feared was a villain,
but who, as the result proved, was an honor
to his name and race. He then traced them
to Mrs. Beach's, on oFallon Street, and
finally caught up with her standing behind
the counter, as spruce and lively as a lark,
OF The store above named.
1t is needless to say anything as to the
Joy of the father when he received his child,
pure and unspotted as the day she left his
house.
On Officer Stone's recommendation, the
father introduced himself in the street TO
Mr Scouler, and Immediately that excellent
gentleman related to him to the whole story.
and informed the officer as to the young
lady's whereabouts Tho father, with lis
wild and foolish girl, left for home on Satur.
day night.