Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-07-12
ELECTRIC ELOPEMENT

60 partly out Of pique and partly be-
cause her parents disapproved Of the
match she promised to elope with him:
1t wasn't to be any trivial elopement
n getting married before the register
in London, and going to Paris for few
weeks, but n run to Liverpool. mar
riage there by special license and trip
by fastest steamer to New York. Ar
irving there they would cross America
and gradually work their way around
the world and back to London In a
year or two. George webley was rich
and could easily afford this kind Of
] wedding tour. In olden times the par
ents OF Tilly Markham would have
been 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 1t was the
daughters that now looked for money
/ with their lovers. The girl admitted to
herself that she liked Tom Bantry best,
but he certainly had treated her badly.
They had had an appointment for q
picnic up the river, but without word
Tom had gone away, and worse still,
he had sent no explanation or excuse
for his desertion. So Tilly thought she
would teach him life long Lesson, and
knowing well that her parents would
oppose the match, and especially its
hurried conclusion she told George
Webley IL he would arrange for the
special license Mt Liverpool she would
meet him at Euston station on the 9th
and together they would journey to the
seaport town, be married and soil for
America on the 2sth in the powerful
steamship Erratic. Tilly concluded 1t
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 rs they chose to disclose
1t. Tilly agreed that they would write
letters to all concerned while on the
voyage from Liverpool to Queenstown
and mail them when there would be
nothing but the broad Atlantic be-
tween them and New York.
Tilly met the postman on the steps
as she was going out of the house that
morning, and he handed her 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 Mt Liver
pool, he said:
| II was very much afraid we should
| miss the train," he said, rs he hurried
/ her out of the cab. II have reserved o
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 l have
in London, and all wanting to know
where am going"
"And of course you told them,
said Tilly.
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 Its northern journey. Tilly sat
| in her corner by the window md care
lessly turned over the letters in her
hand, Most of them were from girl
| friends. but on the envelope Of one Of
l them she recognized the fine, bold hand
writing of Tom Bantry. She stole
furtive glance Mt Webley as she tore
open the envelope, but he was absorb
ed in his morning paper now that ms
mind was at rest and they were 1airly
off,
"Dear Miss Markham" the letter be-
gan, II was unexpectedly called awoy
from London more than week ago
by the sudden illness Of my uncle, Sir
/ John Trellyan. Before departing Tor
Trellyan hall l wrote n letter to you
explaining why l could not be at the
picnic up the river. Through my own
stupidity and the hurry of getting away
I find / left your letter on my table
in my rooms In the Temple. had ex-
van hall and when 1t did not come l
was greatly disappointed. 1 found Oh
INV return this morning, rs 1 said, my
own letter which was not posted, SO OF
course you did not receive 1t. VIII you
forgive me, therefore, for breaking an
engagement with you and your friends
without explanation? And may l call
this evening, as 1 have something Of
Importance Ito myself, at least to
say 10 you! Will Teuidlu dh uds Al
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 il an afterthought, II should
have told you that my uncle died two
days ago, which makes great deal OF
difference in my plan of life, as per
hapa you arc aware"
Tilly Markham was cautious young
woman aud always considered that d
bird in the hand was worth two OF
three in tile bush. She looked ut George
Webley and he smiled across at her.
"Where do we stop first? she asked
"Willesden Junction, believe, and
we ought to be there now"
"FIow long do we stop!"
"Only q few minutes"
ITO you think you could get me halt
dozen telegraph blanks while We
are stopping there!"
"Oh. 1 don't need to go out for them,
said webley, II always carry plenty
of them with me and sixpenny stamps
nlso." As he said this he reached down
bag from the rack over his head
opened it, and handed Tilly numbel
Of already stamped telegraph forms
When the train slowed up at Willesder
she said:
'Do get out, George, and fin1 ne q
! fime hook for I want to know how