Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-06
MARRIAGE, THEN DEsTH,
YouSo ARMIrAors ROMANCE.

Young ARMITAGES ROMANCE.
Strange LIrs.ssery- CHASED BY coussderasss
end saved BY soushern Girl.
tpsnsdeipAia Times.I
A life OF singular vicissitndesi Is disclosed
in a lii filed In the Common Pleas Court
hy Mrs. Fanny Elton Arn,itaQe TO recover
a dover interest In two houses In west
Philadelphia, a tract OF land In the south
western part Of the city, below the ouih-up
section, and smother near Bridesburg.
Mrs. ArmiiaQe Is the widow OF WILDER
force Armi,age. The latter, the bill
sets out. was born IN Leicester
shire. England. He came Of sn old and
once wealthy family. He was younger
son, He was educated by his maternal an
Gle. Captain Henry Standisb. lie was
graduated from Cambridge. He began 10
read Tor the bar, but before be had been
called he abandoned his studies ana an
bounced to his uncle that bis qualities were
not such as were likely TO bring him sue
cess in the forum. Captain siandish was
displeasod. but nevertheless assisted IN
placing him in the army. Armitage Wa
semitic India. After few months Oh mo-
notonous service there his impetnons toni
neranent brought him into conflict WIKI a
snrerior officer. lie sold out his commits
sion at once. The PRODUCTIVITY OF ms l!le
had left him quite without means. lie
wrote his unc,e that no desired to come
home. and suggested that II 20 were to
travel as became a gentleman hSerll re-
mittance would bo essential
hEFCslNG TO WE'D.
Captain Stardish sent the remittance, but
accompanied il with lecture half dozen
pages long. He intimated that be was
growing weary Of condoning faults: drew
up a catalogue OF youthful scrapes that he
had already pardoued; declared that II was
| sbont tina that his ward had learned to
! csntrol his temper and understand the I'M
port,nce Of going in for a career; and.
finally, required him to give earnest OF
determination 20 reform by pledging him
self to marry within distinct period. n
wife had already been selected for him.
She was sixteen. Armltage was not quite
twepty.three. She was the daughter
OF a distant relative Of Captain STAN
dish, and an heiress in her own right. \
match between her and Armitage had been
arranged by the parents OF both while the
subjects OF the delicate negotiation were
children IL was q matter, however. that
Young Armitsgc chose wiliully TO regard
with disiayOr. Az the time approached
when to his uncle's mi.d. his parents hav'
ing died, the marriage ought to take place,
! his aversion grew greater. His uncles
/ blunt lecture goaded him into rebellion.
| As il happened, an opportunity to embark
| In q minor position in the tea trade pre-
| eented Itself simultaneously with the ar
rival ~ his guardians message. He em-
| braced Il, sent back bis unclo's remittance
! with hot-headed letter. declaring that be
never would marry until his own will die
/ tated, and went TO Canton, China.
CHASED ny CoNFEDERATas.
He proSpered. His Natural abilities, en-
/ ergv. and culture stood him in good need.
/ At the end OF two years he accepted an oiter
10 90 TO Jamaica to superintend sugar
plantation that was owned by the tea con-
Germ. lie was wrecked while on his way
TO England. and lost all the money he had
| nut by. lie was picked up by an American
. shin and carried to Boston. He landed
pennilCss. The civil war was raging. The
time was the gloomy period before Gettys-
burg and Vicksburc. when the Confederate
forces seemed 10 be having everything their
own way. Young Armitage, while still a
Youth i'm England, had embraced the
doctrines OF the Manchester school,
and was an enthusiastic partisan OF
the North. He wrote 10 his en-
poycrs in Canton. giving up the idea OF
going to jamaica, and enlisted in the Fcde-
raj army. lie was wounded st Gettysburg,
but not so badly ~ TO prevent his remain
ing in the field. lie went on into Virginia.
His daring now, while 1t almost cost him
his liberty. brought him eventually the
browning glory OF his life. While scout
ing in Caroline county he was chased by a
living party Of COnfederates. lie WAS
given shelter by negroes on the plantation
Of Isaiah Elton, the father OF the COM
plainant in the present case. Elton him
self was an ardent advocate OF the south
crn caIse. The Coniedcraies were close
upon hrmitage, and She fact that be had
taken refuge with the negroes was strongly
suspected.
SAVED BIZ MISS ELTON.
The Confederate soldiers arranged for a
thorough search. They disposed OF then
force in such manner as to prevent Armi-
,age from escaping into y neighbOring
woods. Armitage was in negro hut.
Capture WAS certain il he remained there.
He determined 10 make for the woods. lie
had Just started, under cover OF n heavy
growth Of mdcrbrush, when he suddenly
came face 10 face VITA n young woman. II
was Fanny Elton, the planters daughter.
Their ewes met. and instantly each under.
stood the situation. Every moment
brought captivity or death nearer to the
Federal soldier. The woman hestated
for an instant: then, with word
and sign, she indicated that Armi-
tage should follow her. She passed
quickly by narrow way TO Der dwelling
house. II was now almost night Armi-
tage had, by Mss EltOn's direction, led his
horse with him by the bride. At the en-
trance Of the house Armilage, at sign
from the lady, gave the animal ight blow
and ordered HIM to go. The horse wildly
dashed away and in 4 moment was lost to
view in the darkness OF the woods. Armi-
tage stepped into the house. Miss Elton at
the same moment made ieint as II she had
Just come ont and was filed with surprise
| and fear. The pursueTs were caught by
the trick. They rushed past the house and
! plunged into the woods. Armitage was
safe. A negro, by Miss EltoD's direction,
! assisted him TO get back to the Union lines.
MARRIAGE AND DEATH.
Armitage at the conclusion of the war
went TO California and succeeded in making
moderate fortune. lie subsequently took
| up MS Tesluence III tDls CITY auu lnNesteu
! in real estate. He met here In 1879 his
friend OF the war DAYS, Miss Elton. Her
father had been impoverished by The war
and was dead Armitage offered marriage
and was accepted. The ceremony was per-
formed quietly. The bridegroom was
called by telegram 10 England 10 see
his uncle, Captain Standish, for, ~ was
| thought, the last time. lie asked that
the fact OF the marriage might not be
/ diyulged until his return. Captain STAN
dish recovered. His nephew, however.
died on the voyage back TO this country and
was buried at sea. Mrs. Armitage, In her
bill, asks that in the partition OF her late
husbands property one-third interest as
widow be awarded to her. She appends as
all exhibit to her bill certificate OF her
marriage. The matter has been referred
by the court to Lawyer z. +. R0therInel as
an examiner 10 take testimony.