The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-13
A SALT LAKE ELOPEMENT.


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Hopkins met and fell in love with Miss
Alice s. Young, the eldest daughter oi
Brigham Young, Jr. Tho attachment
became mutual, and the young gentle
man waited upon his Indy lovc for scv.
eral months, but against the will and
consent of parents. Tho game grew
hotter; in fact, it became evident to the
young lndy's dad that tho lovers wcrc III
earnest, and TINT il something were not
done, and that, too, suddenly, ho would
have n wedding in his family. The
young gentleman was therefore forbid
den the house by the irato father, who
laid such m injunction upon tho suitor
to stay away that it was positively IN.
safe for him to disobey the mandate Of
the Lords anointcd. Every means was
then employed to prevent tho young
lady from seeing her lover. She was
taken with tho dignitNrics OF tho priest.
hood on missions from place to place,
with tho intention OF diverting her
MUD. and, il possible, to ALLEVIATE her
affection for her lover; Mt least, to bring
her in contact with other young Nor
nous, some OF whom it was hoped she
might learn to smile upon. Finally, n
Mormon, nevertheless M intelligent
young man, scarcely Of her own age,
addressed himself to her good graccs,
aud to all human appearances became
the favored lover. His love WAS genu.
inc, and, it is said, at times became over
powering. He waited upon her most
devotedly until almost tho very hour
that she danced away with the other
fellow, and for the past two years Brlggy
has looked upon him rs the savior OF his
daughter, encouraging him in his suit.
In short, it became generally to be re-
garded as n fact that Miss Alice and her
new lover were engaged to bo married,
aud it is not improbable that he, as
well ae the parents, were happy in such
n belief. She would go to balls and
places of amusement with him, aud by
prearrungcment would there meet Hop.
kins, but with such Ndroitness were
these meetings conducted, that her most
intimate friends even did not dream Of
the matrimonial conspiracy i'll progress.
Other aHl clanlestinc meetings were
had from time to time, and IN epistolary
correspondence maintained without de-
lection between her and her old flame.
The day was set, and tho marriage was
to takc place Immediately after the
elopemcnt, which was to be made next
month. One day lust week she sent
word to Mr.. Hopkins that hGr father
WIS about to send her to st. George,
where she would be compelled to stay,
she knew not how long, and without the
shadow Of hope for an escape. Ac'
cordingly it was arranged for her on
Saturday night to flee from the harcm,
be welded, and go home with her lover.
4 mutual friend had been taken into the
plot, and to him was left the conduct Of
affairs. The young man who was to MD
in the escape, accompanied by Mr.. Hop
kins, drove to the residence Of tho young
lady, the "White House on the hill,
but found all the gates of the great stone
wall securely locked, and the girl no
where to be seen. On tho following day
it was ascertOinod that the prophet was
holding n secret conclnve in his school
house, within tho same inclosure that
Alice lived, and the gates had therefore
been closed to exclude iutrudcrs. Fur,
thermore, the young man who had been
wasting his affection on the girl for the
last two years had dropped in to spend
the evening. Plans were again adi diusted,
and to be executed Oh Monday night.
She was TO smuggle her clothing out OF
the house aud place it under designated
tree in the yard, where the young lnen
wero to go at six o'clock, p. M. and take
it away, and two hours later go for the
young lady herself. At the appointed
hour they went with light vehicle to
the front gate OF the prince, and, while
one held the horses, the other proceeded
to load in the girls personal effects, in
the meanwhile keeping his pistol in
band, well knowing that to be found in.
vading the premises Of the prophet
would bring upon him serious and pcr'
haps desperate fight. This part Of the
work was done with no disturbance; bu
shortly aiterward brigham, Jr., mis-
trusted something was wrong, and Miss
Alice fed in search Of her lover, pur
suel by her father. Making her way
down Main street, she met Charles near
the ruins 0; the First National bank,
when she told him they had been dis
covered, and that her father had been
pursuing her.
He directed her TO remain there while
he called hack to take them to the
minister, but before he fGturucd ahh
heard her father coming down the
street, putting and blowing like p0r.
pOisG ia distress. She crossed the street
in front Of the Demiiohn saloon, and
when her father had gone by she return
ed; but no so0ncr had she got back than
Brigham, Jr., turned and was coming
toward her, when she lodged behind a
pile OF adobes III the street, where she
remained concealed until he had passed
out Of sight. She was much excited,
for it was a narrow escape, and she de-
terniled not 10 remain there any long.
er. Accordingly she again hurried
hsLJ5S tut HkIEcLI AhJ tLA'uBA tH' NAAStI
near the billiard hall, and going across
lots 10 South Second street, made her
way to the residence Of her lover in the
Sixth ward.
When Charley returned to where be
had left her, Of course he was wild with
excitement, for he naturally enough
thought that she had been captured and
carried back 10 the harem. A number
o! friends were called and stationed on
all the corners TO watch for her, while
he with one companion drove to his
home, where she by this time had ar.
rived. The three together now proceed!
ed 10 the residence OF the Rev. Mr..
welch, who married the lovers and sent
them home with his blessing.