The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-05-18
A CHILD OF
A schooi-Giri Elopes with Her Friends
Betrothed-A Remarkable History.
From the New York Herald


tFrom the New York Herald
ELDRED, Pa, May G., 1S76.-Among
the young people of the best circles of
Eldred ..Blessie" Cookton, aged 16,
daughter Of jerome Cookton, q
rich farmer, was an acknowledged lead
or. She recently returned home from a
Philadelphia boarding-school, where
she had been a pupil for four years,
making occasional visits home. Onone
of these visits, about u year ago, she
met Alva Evans, the son of m iron
founder, of London, Canada. lie was
visiting this section with a parry of other
young men for the purpose of trout
fishing. Evans fell in love with Miss
Cookton. The result was that q cor
respondence was opened and kept up
between the two and q marriage fixed
upon, to be consummated when Miss
.'Blessic" should have reached the age
of 1S.
The roommate and "particular
friend" of the young lady at school
was Frances Peters, Of Petcrsvillc, n.
Y. She was two years the senior of
"Blcssie," and left school some time
before the latter. Miss Peters is q
blonde, exceedingly attractive, and of
II dashing and reckless nature. AT the
house of a friend in Philadelphia she
met Isaac Bell, a young man, repre-
sented to be of an old family and
wealthy. The young people formed an
attachment for each other-at least Miss
Peters fell deeply in love with Bell. As
her parents had other matrimonial
prospects marked out for her mt home,
she kept her acquaintance with young
Bell a secret from them, but, it seems,
promised to marry him Mt some future
day. Not being able to have her lover
visit her at home, Miss Peters made an
arrangement with Miss Cookton by
which she was 60 pay the latter II visit,
when Mr.. Bell was to 90 also and stay
II few days. To add to the complete
ness of the arrangement, Bicssic "
wrote to her Canadian betrothed, and
he was to join the visiting party.
Miss Peters came to Eldred about the
middle of April, and in n few days
thereafter Isaac Bell made his appear
ance. Miss "Blessien liked him from
the first. 1t was near the latter part of
| April before Mr.. Evans came from
Canada. During the two weeks that
had elapsed since the coming of Mr..
Bell, Miss Cookton had transferred her
affections to her friends betrothed, and
his love toward Miss Peters had visibly
grown cold. 1t did not take the jealous
eye of Miss Peters and the young Cana
dian long to notice the change, as it af-
fected them respectively, but they had
no idea that it vas any thing more than
Il temporary Irritation. On the arrival
of young Mr.. Evans "Blessie" planned
a May-day party for an excursion to the
mountains. On Wednesday morning
the party started, in accordance with
previous arrangements, Miss Cookton
and Mr.. Evans in one carriage, and the
NlSltlnp couple Ill iilOller.
On reaching the woods the party
strolled at random. They naturally got
somewhat separated; but while Miss
Peters and the Canadian were AWAY,
in hallooiag distance of each other i,
seemed that the other couple strollet
further away. The occasion seemed tc
be one of no pleasure to Evans and Mis-
Peters, and they, after an hour or so
met zeal the edge of the woods and sal
down to await the return of the Other
couple. They sat there talking for Al
hour or more, and rs there was yet NJ
sign of either Bell or Miss CooktOn, botl
Evans and Miss Peters betrayed eyi
dence of uneasineSs and alarm. The
Canadian told his companion to remain
in her seat, and he would walk back
over the hill and look for "Blcssie,'
ms he WAS fearful she had lost her way
lie was absent Il long time, and finally
returned, looking pale and anxious
lie had seen nothing of either of thu
missing young folks. Miss Peters was
greatly agitated over the result of hi
search, but neither she no
Evans at that time enter
tanned the slightest suspicion tina
the prolonged absence of the two wa
by design or that they were together
They returned to the farmhouse wher'
the carriage had been left, in order tt
give an alarm and have n thorough
search made. They found that the con
vcyance in which Evans and "Blessie'
had come was gone. For the first tim
; Il terrible suspicion crossed their minds
A farmer told them that a young maj
= and a young woman had come OIL tn
mountain about noon, and, getting int
tue rrrriagn, had driven rapidly oil i
| the direct N of Minot Station. Evan
would not believe that the conduct O
, "Blessie" and Ben was any thing NOR
than a girlish prank, and was confiden
= that they would find them ut home. o
t reaching the farm they found they wer
still absent. Miss Peters FASTENED I
her room 10 hide her emotion. In
: few minutes she sought and foun
Evans walking in the yard, and place
a note in his hand. 1t read As follows
DEAR FRANK: So greatly do love MI
Bell that l have given up all for him.
hope you will he brave enough to bear NJ
and think OF me as the most cruel creatur
in the world. Tell Alya l have not til
; courage TO write to him nor to father an
e mother. We are going to be married, an
N intend TO return 10 Eldred when the GOSSIP
are through with us. Farewell, Frank
a Bid Alva farewell for me. l hope he ha
y learned to hate me before this. II. G.
Evans coolly handed the note back
Miss Peters, and remarked quietly:
II 81 am glad to have found the youn
;, lady out before it was too late"
The same evening he was driven