Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18
4 school Girl ElOpes With Her Room
mate's BetrOthed.

ton, rich farmer, was an acknowledged
leader. She recently returned home from
a Philadelphia boarding school, where
she had been pupil for four years, max
ing occasional visits home. On one Of
these visits, about year ago. she met
AIva Evans, the son of an iron founder,
of London, Canada. He was visiting this
section with party Of other young men
for the purpose of trout fishing Evans
fell in love with Miss Cookton. The re-
suit was that a correspondence was opened
and kept up between the two and mar
riage fixed upon, to be cOnsummated
when Miss {" Blessie" should have reached
the age of eighteen.
The roommate and particular friend"
Of the young lady at school was Frances
Peters, of Petersville, n. Y. She was two
years the senior of "Blessie," and left
school some time before the latter. Miss
Peters is a blonde, exceedingly attractive,
and Of dashing and reckless nature AT
the house of a friend in Philadelphia she
met Isaac Bell, a young man represented
w DC VI Oil OlN IC1Li1lJ ctIIu NCdlG1g. l. lie
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 at home, she kept her acquaint-
ance with young Bell a secret from them,
but, it seems, promised to marry him at
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 to pay the latter visit,
when Mr.. Bell was to go also and stay
few days. To add to the completeness of
the arrangement, "Blessie" 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 few days there
after Isaac Bell made his appearance.
Miss "Blessie" 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 NJ iss Peters
had visibiy grown cold. 1t did not take
the jealous eyes of Miss Peters and the
young Canadian long to notice the change,
as it affected them respectively, but they
had no idea that it was anything more
than temporary Irritation. On the ar
rival ofyoung Mr.. Evans "Blessie" planned |
a May day party for an excursion to the
mountains. On Wedn esday morning the |
party started, in accordance with previous
Miss COokton and Mr., |
Evans III one carriage and the visiting |
couple in another. On reaching the |
woods the party strolled at random. They |
got somewhat separated; but |
while Miss Peters and the Canadian were
always in hallooing distance of each other |
it seemed that the other couple strolled |
further away. The occasion seemed to be |
one of no pleasure to Evans and Miss |
Peters, and they, after an hour or so, met |
to await the return of the other |
couple. They sat there talking for an
hour Or more, and as there was yet no sign |
of either Bell or Miss Cookton, both
Evans and Miss Peters betrayed evidence |
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 Blessie," as he was fearful she |
had lost her way. He was absent long
time, and finally returned, looking pale |
and anxious. He had seen nothing of
either of the missing young folks. Miss
Peters was greatly agitated over the result |
Of his search, but neither she nor Evans |
at that time entertained the slightest sus-
picion that the prolonged absence of the
two was by design or that they were to-
gether. They returned to the farm house
where the carriage had been left, in order
to give an alarm and have a thorough |
search made. They found that the con-
veyance in which Evans and "Blessie"
had come was gone For the first time
a terrible suspicion crossed their minds |
A farmer told them that young man
and young woman had come off the |
about noon, and, getting into
the carriage, had driven rapidly off in
the direction Of Minot Station. Evans
would not believe that the conduct of
& Blessie" and Bell was anything more
than a girlish prank, and was confident
that they would find them at home. On
reaching the farm they found that they
were still absent. Miss Peters FASTENED
to her room to hide her emotion In a
few minutes she sought and found Evans
walking in the yard, and placed note in
his hand. 1t read as follows
DEAR FRANK: So greatly do l love Mr.. Bell
that l have given up all for him. hope you will
be brave enough to bear up, ard think of me as
the most cruel creature in the world. Tell Alva
| have not the courage TO write to him nor to
father and mother We going to be married.
and intend to return to Eldred when the gOssips
are through with Us. Farewell, Frank. Bid
Alva farewell for me. hope he had learned to
hate me before this. 3. G.
Evans coolly handed the note back to
Miss Peters, and remarked quietly:
q am glad to have found the young