Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-06-14
ELECTRIC ELOPEMENT

ca nartly out OF plque and partly be-
,ouse her parents disapproved Of the
match she promis44 to elope with him.
r wasn't to be a3 trivial elopement
getting marlre&bsfore the register
London, and going to Paris for few
vopks. but run to Liverpool, mar
r,ore there by special license and trip
~ fastest steamer to New York. Ar
living there they would cross America
md gradually work their way around
tnp world and back to London in a
year or two. George Webley was rich
and could easily afford this kind Of q
rpdding tour. In olden times the par
ents of lilly Markham would have
hopn more anxious that their daughter
should marry George Webley rather
than the poorer, but of course more
moral young man, Tom Bantry. But
times had changed, and it was the
daughters that now looked for money
with their lovers. The girl admitted to
herself that she liked Tom Bantry best,
Init he certainly had treated her badly.
They had had an appointment for a
nicnic up the river, but without word
Tom had gone away, and worse still,
he had sent no explanation or excuse
for his desertion. So lilly thought she
would teach him a life long lesson, and
knowing well that her parents would
oppose the match, and especially it's
hurried conclusion she told George
Webley If he would arrange for the
special license at Liverpool she would
meet him at Euston station on the eth
and together they would journey to the
seaport town, be married and sail for
America on the 2Sth in the powerful
steamship Erratic. lilly concluded it
was better to be married in Liverpool
than in London as there would be less
chance Of the escapade being found out
until such time as they chose to disclose
It. lilly agreed that they would write
letters to all concerned while on the
voyage from Liverpool to Queenstown
land mail them when there would be
nothing but the broad Atlantic be-
tween them and New York.
lilly met the postman on the steps
las she was going out of the house that
morning, and he handed her a bundle OF
letters. She had no time to read them
then, nor in the cab, for there was bare
ly time to reach the station, where she
found Mr.. Webley impatiently await
ing her. He had STRONGLY advised her
to bring nothing with her. Whatever
was required could be bought at Liver
pool, he said:
II was very much afraid we should
miss the train," he said, as he hurried
her out of the cab. II have reserved
compartment"
There's another train, isn't there?"
she asked.
"Oh, certainly, but railway station
isn't the pleasantest place in the world
| to wait, and since left my hotel
seem to have met every friend I have
lin London, and all wanting to know
where am going"
"And of course you told them,
said lilly.
The young man laughed as he held
open the door Of the railway carriage
for her to enter. He quickly followed
her, and moment after the 1910 a. m.
train slid out Of the great station and
began it's northern journey. lilly sat
| in her corner by the window and care
slessly turned over the letters In her
hand. Most Of them were from girl
friends, but on the envelope Of one OF
them she recognized the fine, bold hard
writing of Tom Bantry. She stole
furtive glance at Webley as she tore
open the envelope, but he was absorb
+ ed in his morning paper now that his
mind was at rest and they were fairly
+ off.
Dear Miss Markham" the letter be-
gan, IL was unexpectedly called away
+ from London more than week ago
+ by the sudden illness Of my uncle, Sir
( John Trellyan. Before departing for
Trellyan hall wrote letter to you
explaining why could not be at the
ricnic up the river. Through my own
stupidity and the hurry of getting away
find l left your letter on my table
/ IN my rooms in the Temple. I had ex-
pected a letter from you while at Trell-
van hall and when it did not come
was greatly disappointed. I found on
my return this morning, as l said, my
own letter which was not posted. SO OF
course you did not receive it. viii you
forgive me, therefore, for breaking an
engagement with you and your friends
without explanation? And may 1 call
this evening, as 1 have something OF
Importance Ito myself, at least to
say to you? / will remain all day in
my chambers at the Temple awaiting
your answer with some anxiety"
He signed himself, Yours very truly,
Tom Bantry," and then added in post
script, as if an afterthought, Il should
have told you that my uncle died two
days ago, which makes great deal OF
difference in my plan of life, as per-
haps you arc aware"
lilly Markham was a cautious young
woman aud always considered that
bird in the hand was worth two or
three in the bush. She looked at George
Webley and he smiled across at her.
Where do we stop first?' she asked.
"Willesden Junction, I believe, and
we ought to be there now
How long do we stop?
Only a few minutes"
DO you think you could get me half
a dozen telegraph blanks while we