Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-25
AN ARDUoUs ELoPEMENT.
The Long Way Miss Hopwood and Her
Hebrew Lover Had to Go to Marry.

0utkt}'1Ore San.
Social circles in the western section of
the city are agitated over the recent elope-
ment of young lady reared in the Epis-
copal Church and Young Hebrew
from Norfolk, Va. The young lady was
MISS Colista Hopwood, daughter of Mr..
JnO. j. HOpw00d, No. 365 West Lombard
street, we'll known in musical circles, and
member of the choir of the p. f. Church
OF the Ascension, Lafayette square.
Sne is IN her sixteenth year, and though
unusually well developed for her age. was
regarded at home as a mere child. being
the youngest of Mr.. Hopwood's children
by deceased wife. The family are men,
Ders of st. Marks p. f. Church. on
Lombard street. Last spring, when a
confirmation class was being formed by
the rector, Rev. E. L. Kemp, Miss Hop
wood was urged by her father TO become
a candidate, but she replied, as they then
Jewess."
The young man is Mr.. VIM. Obendorfer,
| aged % years, of Norfolk, Va. He was
frequent visitor at the residence of Mrs.
Lauer, No. 334 West Lombard street, op-
posite the home of Miss Hopwood. 1t is
thought the two young folks have been
acquainted about two years. The present
Mrs. Hopw0od says Miss COlista was
never out later than O'Clock D. m. Since
the elopement, however, she says she has
learned that they met afternoons at Mrs.
Lauer's house.
On Saturday afternoon. June 8, Miss
COlista left home, saying she was going
out for walk, and would return in the
evening. Mrs. HOpwoOd, her step-mother,
was absent in Philadelphia. Night COM
ing on and the young lady not making
her appearance, Mr.. HopwOod became
alarmed and made inquiries in the neigh
6orhood. He gained, no tidings, however,
OF the missing daughter, and the night was
passed in great anxiety. On Sunday it
was learned that neighbOrs had seen the
young lady join Obendorfer and
enter carriage. 1t is said by friends
that they had applied to several minis
tiers and Justices-Of the Peace to be mar
ried, but were refused on account of the
youthful appearance of the lady, not
outstanding the young man produced a
| license. To surmOunt this difficulty they
visited well-knOwn dry goods store on
Baltimore street, where more womanly
outfit of silk was purchased for the
Young lady. The long, girlish, flaxen
curls were caught up into
demure-lOOking Langtry knot, and other
devices of the toilet resOrted to that the
yOuthfulness of the little wOuld-be bride
might be concealed. All in vain, how
ever, for ON applying to have the cere-
mOny performed after these preparations
Jney again met refusal. 1t was then
growing late and the marriage had to be
postponed, but was by no means given
up. The young couple proceeded to the
Norfolk boat, where Mr.. Obendorfer
had engaged passage, registering him.
self and intended wife in their
proper names. On arriving at Nor
folk they again made persistent
efforts to be married, but were refused,
because no one could state under oath
that the young lady was of age, as re-
quired by Virginia laws. Mrs. Obendor-
fer, mother of the young man, it is said,
took an active interest in her sons mar
rlage, and it was arranged that thew
should go to North Carolina, where the
laws are less stringent to accomplish it.
Accordingly on Monday the party drove
thirty miles to village just over the Dor
der, where the ceremony was performed
by Justice of the Peace.
Meantime the young lady's family in
Baltimore were in state of painful sus-
pense. They were relieved, however,
few days after by the news of the mar
riage, but in order that she might be fully
satisfied Mrs. HOpwoOd visited Norfolk
last week and found her daughter appar-
emily happy with her husband in the home
of Mrs. ObendOrfer. Mrs. HopwOOd init
mates that the elOpement was planned by
| older heads than the principals in it. The
ObendOrfers are understood to be pos
sessed of considerable means. They are of
the more liberal school of thought in the
Hebrew Church.