The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-12-23
ArLOAr ON THE SEA OF LIFE.

AFLOAT ON THE SEA OF LIFE.
One of the widest afternoons last
week, the dust blowing in clouds, a
marriage eventuated in grace church in
which took great interest. AS there
are twenty weddingsa week coming off
there Just now, the romantic antece-
dents of one pair will not be easily To-
Gated, and you shall have their recital.
Three years ago this winter, a Young
Boston merchant came on one of the late
trains to New York. Designing to go
to the st. Nicholas, he took his satchel
and shawl, and about nine P. NJ, was
vending his way thereto in Fifth ave-
nue. stage, which contained but one 9TH
er occupant, a young lad richly and ell
egantly attired, who sat n the further
corner, and beyond a passing glace at
his entrance gave him no further atten-
ton. The stage numbered along. The
gentleman disbursed his ten cents,
wrapped his shawl over him as he sat
near the door, and, stire4syith bis long
journey, was very nearly asleep when
the vehicle halted opposite the Fifth av-
enue Hotel, and at the same instant the
lady in the corner sprang closely to- his
side, dragged his shawl about her Shout
ders, and nestled her face against his
breast as portly, gray old gentleman
hoisted himself heavily into the stage.
The young lady had so precipitOusly
changed her base that the half-awake
traveller sat motionless, gasping with as
| constituent.
AS the stage again started the soft
voice of the young girl began to state
the case and define her position: "Do
make believe l belong to you" she MUIR
INJURED. "Thats my father in the cor
ner he thinks l am safe at home, and
not for thousand worlds would have
him know was out. AS l saw him
getting in it was my only chance to do
this dreadful thing" The gentlemen
didn't think it was SO dreadful; but he
tucked his companion up and whisper
| ed, "Where were you going"
ITO Brooks Academy to attend a
Dance" said the belle. Remembrance
of that Celtic gentleman who spent
'three weeks at Brooks Academy learn
ing the steps for Lanigan's ball." came
over the Boston merchant. But on
went the stage; the old gentleman but
toned closely up, the whispered CONVEX
sation went on, the deluded father, If he
thought anything about it, thought
what loving couple it is. The young
gentleman learned the young lady's
escort was to, be waiting her on
the corner of Broome and Broadway.
Arrived at last he wrapped her head and
| ears with the ample shawl and careful
| ly lifted her out. Faithful to time and
| place OH the corner stood the waiting
party; two extremely flashy young men
smoking very poor cigars, and adorned
with much cheap jewelry and the lady
friend, whose beauX one ofthe two SEEM
ed to be. If the exterior of the young
men was unprepossessing that of the fe-
| n BOSTON
man felt 10th to leave his imprOviscd
friend with these people; the fair girl
| was more anxious for the ball than ever
since papa was evidently going to
Brooklyn to stop all night.
But after some conversation, that de-
veloped the species to which the young
lady with the wax head necklace, and
the Connecticut Havana smokers be-
longed, our hero so wrought upon our
heroine, that she gave up the ball. Her
friend and her "feller" and the Teller
designed for Miss "Ella," departed for
| the dance in a huff, while the merchant
and the adventurous Ella retraced their
way up town.
Within the portals of a handsome
house just off the Fifth ayeune, he safe
~ saw her housed, and finally he
brought his travels to an end for the
night, under the roof of the st. Mich
| olas. Business occupied our friends
time to the exclusion of visiting, or
hunting up the companion of his singu-
lar ride, and after two days stay during
which he often thought, no doubt, of the
pretty little girl he had befriended, he
went home. Time went swiftly by.
Again business called the gentleman to
| New York. This time it being hot
weather, he came by one of Jim Fisk's
big boats, and after supper sat outside
chatting with some smokers, discussed
politics, or "roamed in meditation fancy
! Free" when one of the walters ap-
preaching, handed him a card, upon
which in dainty chirography were in
scribed these mysterious words "If you
used to wear upon your watch chain
Eloeket made in the shape of an English
walnut, follow the man who hands you
this till you reach q window he will des-
ignate by standing one moment before"
Our hero readily remembered a huge
ball locket that at the risk of becoming
round shouldered he had worn nearly a
| year, and it is to be presumed, if his
memory hadn't locket at all to remem-
Der, he'd have done precisely as he did,
which was to throw away his cigar and
follow the waiter, who wound circuit
uous route among the chairs and pas
l sengers till a certain state room window
was reached, when, stopping and cast
ing significant glance at Mr.. -, he
circumspectly withdrew.
The gentleman surveyed the position.
Each little window was draped with
curtain. But even while he began to
think he'd better go for that Niger, Q
lovely girlish face was framed in the OPP
ening. 1t was not many moments be-
fore he knew the young lady in the
window was the mysterious lady of his
stage adventure two winters before.
She had remembered his face, and max
ing herself known, she made known al
so her troubles. She had been kept at
seminary III Mt. Holyoke during three
seasons. She had that summer deter
mined to emancipate herself, and form
ing an acquaintance with q travelling
theatrical company, she had run away a
month previous from school, and had
travelled thereafter with the troupe
playing small parts, and enjoying her.
self hugely. Her father, who had been
skirmishing all over the Eastern states,
had got on her track, and captured her
at last, was taking her home prisoner.
She was even then locked in her state
room, but at the table, having recognize
ed the friend of her previous escape,
she had pointed him out to quick-wit-
ted waiter, and effected this commune
cation.
The Boston merchant began to feel a
growing interest in the willful captive,
and an arrangement was made for fur
Their communication in New York.
The young man, armed with proper
credentials, app cached the paternal re-
. lative, who, perhaps, feeling incompe-
tent to manage with continued credit
the fiery, untamed spirit of his offspring,
made no resistance to the invader and
this month, with great pomp and SPLEEN
dor, the Boston merchant has taken for
better and worse the adventurous young
lady he met in a Fifth avenue stage,
: bound for Brooks Academy. Whether
she may not learn him some day the
steps peculiar to Lanigan's ball, time
alone can determine.
TEIEERAPHIC