The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-01-02

! ry at Richmond. and graduated
two years
Ithen went home and settled dow
to an easy, country life and was ha1
p py in a quiet way.
l. At that time, q young man came
j. 'isit at a neighbOring plantation. u
d Was a nephew of Mr.. Reed, the onl
son of his sister. His home was i
New York state. He had just grad
ated from college, and was about
enter the law Office of q friend in th
: city
g This was his resting spell, and b
'ulIy enjoyed it. in u beautiful X
: caiity.
' Asa friend of our neighbor he wa
cordially received ut our home, an
=, finally became a frequent visitor.
My parents, regarding ME, still
their little girl. let US g. out on innI
me:abi- excursions, where we Wei
prac. ically alone together, and ou
. love grew and strengthened right un
. der their unobserving ewes.
at last Frank, for that was hi
name, mustered up courage to asi
father for my hand.
You cannot imagine the %consterna
ton that followed the confession o1
our 1--we. My father raved in ange
and Frank was mvstifi ID beyond
measure, until q chance sentence
revealed the cause of his excitement
He vowed his daughter should never
marry a Yankee. There was the
trouble, and it proved a terrible one
to US.
As q true sOutherner he could not
forgive the desOlatiOn war had
wrought in his beautiful country.
He did not FULLY concur in all the
sentiments of the southern leaders,
but it was too soon after the terrific
strife for the bitterness to have passed.
And So, Frank was forbidden
the house and I was commanded to
hold no communication with him.
What could I do? I loved and
feared my father, and I loved Frank
too truly to think of giving him up,
at the command of anybody.
Notwithstanding our separation
and the strict watch kept over me
we managed to correspond,
A mutual friend told me I would
find notes from Frank under a stone
at the foot of a big willow neal the
brook. That was u post Office, for
1 left my answers there too, and
Frank came after them in the night.
NV father remained firm. He
would not even hear Franks name
mentioned, and at last we laid a plan
to elOpe.
1t would have been impossible for
me to have escaped, ordinarily, but,
as a reward for seeming obedience to
their commands, my parents invited a
large party on Christmas eve, in
honor of that season, and of my
birthday, which was on the 18th.
Frank and I planned that when
gaiety was at its height, and I could
Slip away unnoticed, l should meet
him at the big willow tree, and he
would have q carriage near, which
would take us to the station, to the
midnight train.
1 suffered a great deal in a few
days. 1t was terrible to me to leave
my luxurious home, and the parents,
who in all other respects, were so kind
and loving, but on the other hand, 1
could not give up my love.
So l made my preparati n quietly
and unnoticed. In a small pOrtman-
teau ! packed changes of clothing
and one or two plain dresses, all my
money and jewels. e except those I was
to wear at the part.. A bundle con-
tanned q travelling suit and stout |
shoes. Just after dark, while I wa.
supposed to be in my room, dressing, |
l told my maid I would be gone GU
a moment, and taking my luggage
from the hall closet. where 1 had con-
ceaIed it, 1 a swiftly to the willow
tree, and left it. It was a very agi- J
tated girl that Lulu dressed that
and she noti"ed it, aud hoped
I was we'll. She compIimcnted me
on my appearance. and a glance
into the mirror, confirmed her fiat
words. I am no longer young,
20 you will not consider me vain, if
| say, that in those days l was called
beautiful, and I was often called
''Pretty Nellie Elliott" I do not
think 1 was vain, even then, but [
was pleased with the distinction, and
was gratified with my appearance on
that night.
I wore a rose colored satin, low
neck and short sleeves, with a looped
lace overdress of white, and an i'm
mense Spanish lace scarf was so
arranged over my shoulders as to
cover them, and, crossed in front was
fastened at my waist behind, with a
pearl and diamond pin. Pearls nes-
led in the heavy braids of my brown
lair, and diamond drops glittered in
ny ears while bracelets of pearls and
clasped my arms. In the
arge party l was universally praised
md eomplimented, and if I had been
ess troubled, I should have been a
III hly elaCed and girlishly triumph
mt. AS it was, I forced q gaiety and
emained the life of the party, until
bout eleven. Dancing had cons
nenced and I had danced
everal sets. A waltz was about to
,egin which I had refused to Join.
Wy partner in the last quadrille
to keep me company, but I
fatigue and babe him ask a
shy little girl to dance, which
le did.
Watching my opportunity, I glided
ut of the room and into the hall,
where, behind the hat rack, I had
hidden a long, dark cloak. Wrapping
t closely about me, I ran hastily /.
own to the willow, and there, await +.
ng me was Frank, whom I had not .
cen for three months. We en- .
raced without words, then taking f,
~ luggage we made our way to the !
arriage and were driven rapidly to {
he station. In the hotel near by I .
xchanged my conspicuous ball '
ress for a travelling suit, and in half Z
n hour we were whirlling awav.
.orthward bound, as fast as steam a :
ould carry us. !
My emotions were mixed as Won a
lay suppose, and Frank did not find q
n entirely happy girl at his side. Il
till, ! would not have gone back and n
him up. .
At Washington, where Frank had .
lends we stopped and were married. a
rom there we botn wrote to NV pa y
ents, asking forgiveness, and giving I,