The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-04-23
ELOPED AT HOME.

ELOPED AT HOME.
Julia de Force was a chip off the old
block. The very same unbending will,
indOmitable courage, untiring energy
and wise strategy that had made her
father one of the ablcst generals during
the civil war had been bcqueatked to
her at her birth, together with her
fathers lofty brow, finely chiseled nose,
and lips far too thin to be handsome in
a woman but for the proud curl that
gave beauty to the mouth rs well as
strength to the expression, and made
one acknowledge them very kissablc in
spite of the scorn in their downward
curve. Her eyes were blue and deep;
her hair golden-brown; her form slender
and graceful. with q carriage dignified
and stately, the pose and step of queen.
Julia loved, and loved against her
fathers will.
HE is old enough to be your father,
and only seeks you for the,sake of my
money. Besides he is failure, 40. and
nobody" said the father in burst of
indignation ut what he chose to term
his daughters folly.
He is not boy, will admit, father.
But that he is failure l positively
deny" said the daughter, in tone
whose pride and scorn seemed but an
echo OF the words he had Just uttered.
eff success in money-making were all in
life he would, indeed, be magnificent
failure. But in all that makes a man
he is q grand success He is a scholar
of the largest culture, a lawyer of the
finest ability, poet of no mean capa-
city, and moreover these things. though
his greatest, are not his only success,
for he has succeeded in gaining your
daughters undying love-"
"You carry it with a high hand"
broke forth the general. "but it's mighty
little good your undying love will do
him; about as little as my influence in
getting him into congress. If you marry
him-which you can do, of course, with
out my consent, since you are of age
you will have to elOpe, for mY house
shall never be the theatre to reduce
such roaring farce as that"
'You have said il. And with n low
bow, the very essence of hauteur and
humility combined, Julia swept from hei
fathers presence.
Graham Morton. the individual under
discussion, had been an officer in the
army, and though not brilliant in that
role, his genius leading in different
direction, he had been faithful soldier,
and since the close of the war some of
his admirers felt moved to propose him
as member of congress. A nominal
ton by his party in the district to which
he belonged was equivalent to election,
since they had held large majority,
and a few such men as Gen. de Force
could easily secure it for a candidate
That will never do, Graham, not
even for you," said Julia one evening,
in reply to some proposition just made
by her lover. This home is my birth.
right" continued she; 81 have never
forfeited it by any act of disobcd"noc
during my whole minority, or even
since. have earned the right, there
fore, to 90 from this house to that which
shall be my second home when l have
achieved it. i can not 60 to orr mutual
home till am your wife. will go no
place else to become so. l will not
stand confessed bcggar on my wedding
day."
This means, Julia. that you rcpudi-
ate our engagement
at means no such thing. unless you
| choose il should" she replied. at only
means that | am too proud to run away
to get married. if you are not above tax
| ing a castaway for wife,"
81 would take you, julia" he replied,
clasping her proud form in his arms,
"werc you castaway a hundred-fold.
But did not even hint an clopcmen:;
| that is not necessary, since we are both
of age. merely suggested going boldly
| to hotel and then, in the presence OF
our friends, performing the marriage
ceremony. Nothing so dreadful in that,
is thercp"
"But owe duty to myself" she re-
joined, "and ! never will consent to
abate one jot of my claim. l am n per-
feet Shylock where my title to honor is
| concerned. But, dearest, l love you well
enough to brave much for you" she adj
ded, with dOwncast look and deli
cate blush on her check, land have q
plan. all my own, if You are soldier
enough to reinforce me-" =.
"Test my courage in that direction, "
he whispered, kissing the glowing
cheek; "you will never find me recrcant
when / am promised, as tho spoils of the
warfare. the priceless loot of this dear
hand. What is it, lover"
Nancy's holiday came on bright
day two or three weeks after the fore
going conversation took place. Nancy
II A. n xxyl,N he. IL
in addition to the parlors and chambers,
the care of the dining-room also. In
her absence Julia and her sister Kate
undertook those duties. The dining
room had but two doors, one leading
directly into the kitchen and the other
opening into the main hall, the street
being visible to one sitting ut the end OF
the table next that door.
Julia, upon this very warm day,
brought in all the courses ut once, to
save trouble, she said. Then she closed
the door communicating with the kitch-
en-, as was usual, too keep out kitchen
odors and flies; but she did not explain
why she locked 1t and put the key in
her pocket. Kate was in the back par
lor, running her fingers lightly over the
piano KEYS, and Julia sat Mt the table
/ tho place next the hall-door- eating her
dinner. She was dressed in pretty,
| white muslin, her usual home dinner
dress in summer time, though this was a
now one, first worn that day. The meal
had proceeded quietly for some time,
when the gate was heard to open and
close, and many steps at the door pro
claimed the arrival Of more than one
caller. Julia, from her seat, could see
that it was the gallant major, accom-
panied by the minister of their church
and his wife, which fact was not dis
closed to the rest of the family.
Excuse me, mother, l have com
, pany," she said, rising. Upon going
J out she closed the door after her. "A
, very uncalled-for proceeding" though
: the mother, but again the occupants o
Fl tho d;n;nc .oor, fe;led to perceive a Ike,