The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-03-20
ELECTRIC EL0PEMENT
LUKE SHARP.

So 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,
u getting married before tho registrar
in London and going to Paris for lew
weeks, but run to Liverpool, a mar
riage there by special license and a trip
by tastes; steamer TO New York.
Arriving there they would cross
America aud gradually work their way
around the world and back 10 London
in a year or two.
George Webley was rich and could
afford this kind of wedding tour
In olden times the parents of Tiily
Markham would have been more anx-
ious that their daughter should marry
George Wcblcy rather than the poorer
but Of course more moral young man,
Tom Baniry. But times had changed,
and it was the daughters that now look
ed for money with their lovers.
The girl admitted TO herself that she
liked Tom Bantry best, but he certain
ly had treated her very badly.
They had an appointment for pie
ME up the river, but without word
Tom had gone away, and worse still, he
had sent no explanation or excase for
his deseriion.
80 lilly thought she would teach him
lifelong lesson, and knowing well
that her parents would oppose the
match, and especially It's hurried con-
clusion, she told George Webley if he
would arrange for the special license at
Liverpool she would meet him at Eus-
ton station on the 9TH and together
they would Journey TO the seaport town,
be married and sail for America on the
3Sth in the powerful steamship Erratic.
Tilly concluded it was better to be
married in Liverpool than i'm London a.
| there would he less chance of the casca-
pade being found out until such time a.
| they chose to disclose il.
Tilly agreed that they would write
letters to all concerned while on the
voyage from Liverpool to Queenstown,
and mail them there when there would
! be nothing but the broad Atlantic be-
tween them and New York.
Tilly met the postman 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 barely time to
reach the station, where she found Mr..
Webley impatiently awaiting her.
He had strongly advised her to bring
nothing with her. Whatever was re-
quired could be bought at Liverpool.
II was very much afraid we should
miss the train," he said, as he hurried
her ont of the cab. ~ have reserved II
compartment
"There's another train isn't there? ,"
she asked.
"Oh, certainly, but a railway station
isn't the pleasantest place in the world
to wait, and since left my hotel |
seem to have met every friend have
in London, and all wanting to know
where ann 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,
and a moment after the l0:l0a. IL. train
slid out of the great station and began
| its northern journey.
Tilly sat in her corner by the window
and carelessly turned over the letters
| in her hand. Most of them were from
girl friends, but on the envelope of one
she recognized the fine, bold hand
writing of Tom Bantry.
She stole furtive glanced mt Webley
as she tore open the envelope, but he
was absorbed in his morning paper
now that his mind was at rest and they
were fairly off.
TIE letter ran rs follows:
"DEAR Miss MARKHAM: | was un-
expectedly 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 picnic up the river.
| Through my own stupidity and the
hurry of getting away, | find | left
your letter on my table in my rooms in
| Temple, had expected a letter from
| YOU while at rrellyan Hall and when
/ il did not come | was greatly disap-
pointed. / found on my return this
morning, as / said, my own letter
which was not posted, 50 of course you
did not receive il. VIII you forgive
ME, therefore, for breaking an engage
ment with you and your friends without
! explanation And may | call this
evening, as have something of very
great importance Ito myself, at least }
to say Ia you? | will remain all day
in my chambers at the Temple await
ing your answer with some anxiety" I"
He signed himself "Yours very tru-
ly, Tom Bantry," and then added in n
postscript, as if an afterthought:
al should have told you that my un-
Gle died two days ago, which makes a
great deal of difference in my plan of
life, as perhaps you are aware"
Tilly Markham was a cautious young
woman and always considered that a
u