St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-19
AN ELOPEMENT.
A Story of q Daughter OF WeaItn
.,vH Luxury.


A Story of n Daughter on Weai'n
and Luxury.
Flora Bushnell was an only child, who
had been petted and INDUCED IN every way
until the refusal of request wouio DC leiI
like blow. 1t had come at last, anu Size
was in a rebelliouS mood one morning when
Cordelia came in with flowers 10 III Tue
vases. Mrs. Phelps-or Cordena, Us sac
was called-waS remarkable chsiac'eI,
She had come to the Bushnell nome wen
recommended as housekeeper, and proved
a most efficient person, although SUBJECT W
strange fits of melancholy and OF humor.
She remained an unusually long time IN
the parlor to-day. all the while earnestly
regarding her young mistress. Flora at last
hecame impatient OF her delay and sharply
incurred if she were not through, wheh sle
clasped her hands and answered earnestly:
mo. my dear young lady, I'm not
through; for make so bold as TO want 10
speak to you about what's on your mlnd
this morning"
Flora regarded her scornfully, without
deigning reply.
Il know you're thinking about an elope-
ment, miss, for heard what Mi. Robert
Preston said when he parted with you on
the veranda last night.
$50 you play eavesdropper and spy upon
my movements, do your" SAID flora,
sternly.
No, Miss Flora, but l was looking on
the lawn for your mammals handkerchlel
last evening, and supposed you knew
was there until l heard what you SAD, anu
then knew was unseen"
Il presume you did your duty ana IN
Indeed, miss, did not; but would IKE
to talk with you about 1t. Know you nave
set YOUR heart on having Robert Preston Tor
your husband, and that your papa and'
mamma will not consent to the marriage.
Will you let me tell you story, mIss?'
Flora was afraid to offend Cordelia, now
that she was acquainted with her secret
plans. so she said: You may go on"
Il know what it is to run away and get
married. for did it. l was an only child,
like yourself. and had good home. with
everything comfortable, for my father was
a farmer and owned the finest farm in our
neighborhood.
L was perfectly cOntented with my lot
until John Phelps came one winter to teach
our district school. l was called pretty and
rich, and so it wasn't long before the
teacher began to flatter, court and make
love to me. OF course lost my heart, and
deeming him perfection, would have fol-
lowed him to the end of the world. When
spring came and he was going away, he
asked father if he might have me Tor his
wife. Ny father was proud, cold man,
and was often harsh and severe toward
those he didn't like, and he had never liked
John Phelps Then he was ambitious for
me, because he thought me handsome and
smart So, when the teacher asked him If
he might marry Inc, he said No with char
acteriStic SternnesS, and forbade him the
house l was indignant and resentful, and
would not listen to reason or be comtorted.
| Sulked around the house, making myself
and everyone else miserable. A few days
after | had parted with my lover l went,
one evening at sunset, into the old school
house to indulge my sorrows and dream OF
him. I took my old seat, and, dropping
my head on the desk in front of me, [
sobbed aloud. Oh, the joy and the sorrow
that had come into my life with the winter
Just gone! My weeping died away in faint
echoes as hand touched my shoulder, and
looked up to find my lover at my elbow,
instead of miles away as l supposed. He
had stayed at the village awaiting an OPP
portunity of speaking to me. On, how
happy [ was at seeing him again! and he,
taking advantage of the sentimental mood
in which he found me, persuaded me to
elope with him that evening. We drove to
the village, five miles away, and were mar
ried by Justice. The train that night bore
us away to the city, 100 miles distant,
where we arrived just as chill, gray dawn
was ushering in rainy April day. The
sentimental romance of the night had
HA1 RI o.
sick longing filled my heart, which
even the presence of my new husband
could not dispel. He took me to his home,
dingy, comfortless house on the outskirts
of the town, where | learned for the first
time that he had a mother and sister de-
pending on him for support. They were
respectful toward me, but had no welcome
for the intruder until he whispered to them
that my father was wealthy and that they
would be provided for. was so unfortu-
nate as 10 hear what he said, and no words
can express my wretchedness and despair
Bitterly did l repent my folly as l threw
myself on the bed in my room and Sobbed
out my misery like little child. When
my father discovered my flight, and with
whom L had gone, he fell in fit of apo
pleXy, from which he never recovered, and
1 never saw him again. His executor
robbed my mother of all she had, obliging
her to seek home with her brother in the
far West, all the fruits of my folly and dis
obedience. My husband was a weak man,
INDECENT and aimless, possessing none of the
manly attributes of one who appreciates
the great responsibilities of life. He was
greatly disappointed when my mother lost
all her property, and was not always kind
to me.
My husbands health had been failing
for some time, and when we had been mar
ried ten years he died, leaving me with two
children to support, boys of z and years.
l tried, oh, SO hard, to live with and work for
them, but became ill. AS 1 grew better
was persuaded by the friends who took
care OF ME during my illness to put my
children in an orphan asylum. Oh, my
dear girl, profit by my experience and lis
ten to your parents; be guided by them
now, that your future be not filled with re-
morse, despair and grief"
Flora, who had been for some time
quietly weeping, took the hand Of the poor
woman and said:
Il thank you, Cordelia, for telling me
the story of your life, and promise you l
will never marry any one without the con-
sent OF my parents"
And Flora kept her word.
She is now cherished wife and happy
mother. but her husbands name is not
Robert Preston.