Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-06-19
A Georgia EIOpement.


northern train on the Alabama and Chattanoo-
"a railroad at the pretty Georgian station of
Brandon, Its passengers had their interest eXcit-
ed by the appearance OF an unwonted commo-
ton amongst the people gathered on the plat
form and around the depot. Loungers, villa
gers, and trainmen, were all chatting together
over some topic of common intelligence in a
style indicating the liveliest feelings in regard
to some unusual matter, and the travellers ca
gcrly inquired the meaning Of it all. Then
were they told that just before the arrival Of
their train young man and young woman,
mounted upon foaming thor0ughbreds, had
come ga Looping up to the station at topspeed to
catch the cars there, followed by the fair ones
father in full cry; and upon finding the train
not yet arrived, had swept wildly by on the
road to the next station with their pursuer still
hotly on their track 1t was plain that the
young people were eloping, and unless they
could reach the next station by the time
the cars did, and be aboard and off before the
elder rider could come up with them, they would
surely be captured and taken back to punish
ment. This was enough. With one voice the
now mly-sympathetic passengers called
upon their conductor to spur the iron horse to
the rescue, and that official gave his englueer
the signal to pull her wide open aud make ex-
ira time" amid the uproarious cheers OF the
station. Away thundered the train after ruua-.
ways and wrathful sire, and when about mile
out of Brandon came in sight OF the full chase
on turnpike road running side by side with
the track. Instantly every window in the cars
was crowded with heads, the platform swarmed
with wavers Of hats and handkerchiefs, and
the whole travelling company entered intensely
into the spirit of the exciting scene like any an
cient audience of knights and ladlesat tourna
ment. As they came up with the pursuerand
L., +b Nardiap not
ticed that he rode large, very fine horse,
much more powerful and less jaded than were
the animals bearing the tugitives, and its every
leap under whip and spur made the distance
between them less Youth and maiden piled
whips also without stint, aud kept good lead,
but upon overtakiug them in turn the train pas
sengers could see by the Strengthened necks
and painting sides that the good steeds could
not bear the pace much longer. Inc girl
dishevelled tresses streamcd back IN the breeze
like a banner of golden threads the hatless
vonth encouraged her and the horses with
cheering shouts, and the passengers cheered
both in the heartiest possible way. The loco
motive was gagged to keep alongside at hrst
}ut presently the overtaxed animals OF the
lovers plainly slackened their speed, and the
figure of the pursuing sire grew omluously
nearer. Then the excitement Of the travellers
reached fever-heat !; men shouted and swung
hats women screamed, and the engiue whstled
aud all to no avail, for the horses could DO no
more. A moment it seemed that parental
vengeance must win the day and then, by
happy Inspiration, the passengers roarea lot
the train to stop and take the faintlng lovers
aboard. Down with the brake 1t was IN an IN
slant the cars were brought to the quickest
possible halt and the youth, maiden, saddle,
bags, and carpet-sacks were dragged ON board
bv friendly hands Just as the stern old man on
the great flying horse: came near enough III
his cloud of dust to be heard ordering surren,,
der Then screamed the whistle again, and
away few the train like mad, leaving the en-
ragged father to- shake fist and pistol impotently
at its cheering human freight. or the adven,
turous twain: thus enabled to win the race at
last, the lover is only fifteen years old and the
sweetheart thirteen. Disembarking at the
next station, under the hearty congratulations
of their numerous rescuers, they were married
at the first parsonage: and went back to their
home as one on the next southern bound train.
AS for the distanced sire, if he had never got
married himself he would never have lost such
race ..El., -.
THE CONFEDERATE DEAD AT WINcHEsTER
The Winchester News gives lengthy de-
scr;ptiop of the decoration solemnities on Con
federate Memorial Day in the cemetery near
that place. Of the Virginia lot, it says;
Prominent among the graves in this lot are
those of the Ashby Brothers, Col. Marshall
Mai. Thompson, Maj. Frank Jones and the
'boy Captain" L. Johnston Fletcher, @ OF the
Marion Rifles killed at Malvern hill near
Richmond, and which require some notice.
Ronnuets of the choicest and rarest flowers,
crosses of eyergreens and immortelles decked
the graves Ranged in front OF the AShby
crave we're funeral banners bearing Ia golden
letters the name OF Ashbyl At the head rested
a tribute from the Pacific slope-a glass box
containing small wreath of sea grass, sglft'
we understand, ot. Mrs. Crawford. There was
also at this grave specimen of beautiful coral,
sent from Florida for this occasion by Mrs.
Mary Nyswanger. Attn grave of Capt: tletch-
er was the brave. old coatrof.arms OF Virginia
placed there BY the S.onewall, Garnet Assoc,a-
ton of Winchester, encircled with the words,
'sIp memory of our fallen comrades. At the
grave Of that gallant officer, Maj. Frank Jones,
was shield fringed with evergreeDs, ana pear
ing the motto, ,s'For the living bethe tomD'
and for the dead the smile; :,
L was the opinion of all that the Virginia
lot received more careful attention this year
than ever before. The shaft was entwined by
heavy garland of evergreen, and surmounsed
by handsome vase containing flowers: a nag
with pure white field, bordasea %lth olaGk,
bearing the inscription, Virginia Mourns Her
Heroic Dead and the Virginia State G9 nag Wi'n
its proud legend, 7".ssc .Sen.per 7oun,nss,
completed the decoration of the shate. Each
grave was the recipient Of a laurel wreath ana
howers-not single one having been % neglected
lu some cases the graves were specially decksd' N.
We noticed, among others, that OF brave :u, If,
gina soldier, E. 0. Hayes, who was iIa Sleo
whilst gaanty performing hls duty at hu.L'
fords in 1864 Mrs. T. C. Jordan had beau
tiiully and lovingly decorated the grave OF TINS
gallant gentleman. ..i4 :" Z u W.,
The lots in which the remains of the soldiers
from other Southern States were burleds were
not neglected. -5.,,,t 4 - .-
DRIME OAROLINA RICE just received by
L ie II j. G.. MILBURN.