The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-04-17
ARKANsAw RHETORIC.

Poured Out in Naxni6csnt style ON the Oc-
oasion OF an Exciting Runaway Marriage.
From he Little Rock Gaassse.
II is said that marriage is uncertain.
Marriage, of itself, is rather certain, the
only uncertain feature being, who the giri
will marry.
Helena was thrown into high state Of
sentimental excitement several days ago.
whose truth, if not stranger than fiction,
slips into the neighborhood of that local
| Ity. Here it is, hitherto unpublished. A
grand wedding was in process of consum-
nation. The young lady, one of the most
beautiful in the state, was Miss Sallie
Moore, her father, Mr. John P. Moore, of
| the firm Of Jacks L. Co., the young man,
parently acknowled betrothed, a young
Mr.. Lucy. The father drew a large amount
of money from the bank, the firm Of which
he is member. and expended it lavishly
IN fitting up the youg ,lady's matrimonial
wardrobe. The young man, the winner
of so handsome a prize, seemed to be near
er heaven than earth, and every circum-
stance forming links In the chain encir-
cling the camp Of the happy tribe shone
with Joys sentimental lustre. But the
chain broke and-was severed by the mule
Of truth--the truth that the young lady S
pulsator, or rather heart, belonged to
some one else. On the night before the
dawning OF the fathers day of pride
(which didn't GOMEZ. the young lady went
to a ball in the city, and while there, by
arrangement, no doubt, met Mr.. Joseph
jackson. This they knew full well-so
well, in truth, that they left the ball. went
,..so L.. bteb hU fha \
time, adversely to the young romantics
hopes, was falling in torrents. Hasten
ing With feet encompassed by the elastic
shoes Of firm conviction that they bet
ter get out of the way, the couple sought
the river. Mercy ofmercies! he boat W IS
on the other shore. The rain fell heavily,
and the lightning's glare, that came IN
rapid flashes, made the drops descend
with the brilliancy of streams and sparks
of fire. Taking shelter under cotton
shed, the lovers stood looking in the dlrec-
ton of the road, first blinded by the inky
darkness and then their eyes rendered al
most sightless by a glare Of lightning,
that came and went like the light from a
rapidly opened and closed dark-lantern.
A hurried footstep, and the lovers drew
close to each other. Another glare, and
the form of the girls angry father, n few
PAGES away, was visible. The glare be
trayed them, and with an exclamation OF
anger the parent rushed forward and
with revolver in hand, seized his daugh-
ter. The lover drew pistol, the father
leve!ed his weapon, and the girl sprang
between them and exclaimed: Dom
shoot my husband"
This startled the father, and, lowering
his pistol. he forced his daughter to ac-
company him. Her exclamation. though
forable, was incorrect, for no marriage
ceremony had been performed. She was
taken home and locked in n room, close
watch kept over her. Young Jackson
| remained in the city. and sent a pleas
ant reminder to young Lucy, for whom
such grand preparations had been made,
that any attempt to consummate his en-
eagement would be fruitless. The question
tnen arose, in Jackson's mind as TO
''How shall We become as oneI The
father did not relent, and the strict watch
was kept up. Going to very shrewd
lawyer the determind Jackson explained
matters of emotion, for everything concern
ing the elopement had become known.
The lawyer drew a marriage contract, and
the young man affixed his signature. The
| paper was then. by some means not known,
conveyed 10 the young lady, who also
signed it. Then came the force OF the
law. Upon the strength of the marriage
contract, a writ of habeas corpus wa:
issued and ithe sheriff, vested with IL
authority, went to the residence OF Mr.
Moore and demaned :he body ofthe young
lady. The streets were crowded, and
when the young lady in the sheriff I
possession appeared, a shout went NJ
sending an echo down the alleys and streets
that rang and rang again. Ike young
lady is now Mrs. Jackson and the former
lover is still Mr.. Lucy.