Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-08-21
HER ELOPEMENT.

prised To see girl rush to corner OF the
room and turn mp the carpet, with an ex-
plAlnation OF Here are two, one for YOU
Ind one for me, " holding up two letters.
Another girl, with little ccstatic shrek,
caught up her prize and tore it open.
Another young lady thus addressed Miss
White:
"Biddy. tho chambermaid, is our post
man. she'll get all your love letters for
bou and bring them up on the sly. p"
81 haven't any love letters. | haze no
Icyor," said Helnn. hlushing
'Your ma is strict, | suppose" said tho
other. "well, yOu'll have plenty before
you've been here six months. -
Helen listened to the cpistlcs, which her
companions did not hesitate to read aloud.
She even helped one Of the girls to an
swer hers, and she retired by tho light of
the long wax candle to read herself to sleep
over piece OF literature by some French
author.
80 dswned new life upon Helen White
"a life her mother little dreamed Of.
She also flirted She also received love
letters from strangers. She also sub
pcribed to the library and read bad French
books by the score.
10 one Of her admirers. who signed
himself Carlos" she wrote as girl
ought scarcely write TO betrothed lover.
Mrs. White was delighted with Helen $
progress.
Miss Minerva gave her volume, "Thc
Guide to Young Ladies', as prize for
fine department, and nobody had any sus-
picion that her head was full Of nonsense
and her pockets full of love letters from
an utter stranger, to whom she had told all
the particulars OF her life and the full ex.
tent OF her fortune, and to whom she had
given vows Of eternal consistency, not OK
nctly in black and white, for black ink
was voted vulgar at Miss Minerva's, but
in purple
AT last the climax arrived.
Carlos offered his hand and heart. and
begged her to elope with him.
She read the letter aloud to Emma, Rose,
Grace and Maria, and all in fiutter beg
ged their advice on the matter.
He says he's prince" said Helen.
with glow on her checks, and, you
know, Of course, I'll be princess il L
marry him, and, of course, we shall invite
you to our castle. Last night / met him
II coaxed Biddy to watch and let me In
land he was all wrapped up in "A cloak
But he was splendid. He has foreign
accent and u black mustache."
"oh," cried Maria, 81 love foreign
sccentl'
And I've promised to run away with
him tonight" said Helen He saws ma
will be sure to forgive us, and he's awful.
ly rich. And oh, how feel, girls!'
And while Mrs. White, sitting with q
dear friend who also had grown daughters,
but who kept them at home, congratulate.
ed herself on dear Helen being safe Mt
school. this affectionate daughter was
packing up her small bundle In prepare
ton for flight, aided and allotted by the
four young ladies' TO whose example she
owed so much
Out into tho moonlight hurried the
young girl.
The white beams showed her pretty,
foolish face pallid as that of o ghost
She had never set foot in the street alone
ct such AN hour before. \ terror seized
her-a sense Of her own wickedness.
Perhaps she would have turned back,
but that figure in cloak came at the
moment from the shadow OF II porch and
teized her by the arm.
"Ah, my own Helen" said a voice.
1t was Chrlos-Princo Carlos--her own
prince.
Away they drove, how far Helen did not
know. Suddenly the arm that encircled
her was withdrawn and voice said:
Look hero, young womanl No noisol
I'll choke you II you try 10 scream. You
have your watch and jewelry with you.
hope, and the money You promised to coax
from your mother. Hand them over"
"Oh, It is not my Carlos" cried Helen.
"oh, what shall dos"
"lt IL Cnrlos-at least 1t is the man
you've been corresponding with" said the
voice under the hat. But I'm no prince.
and M hnEipnh INV tspt IIan L..
money and tho iewelry and III not hurt
you. haven't much fancy for all idiot
who would run of with man she didn't
know Hurry I'm waiting"
She gave her purse, her watch and all
her small possessions to the robber, who,
with loud laugh, gathered them up and
lumpcd out of the carriage, calling TO tho
driver
Take that girl back to the school,
John, will youf"
Miss Helen White stood on the doorstep
Of Miss Minerals seminary again, but
not alone With her stood the driver in "A
furious rage He sworc no would DO paid,
and rang the bell and battered the door
until not only the servants, but Miss Mi
nerya and four and twenty scholars mp
peared in tho hall and on the stairway in
hll sorts OF impromptu drapery, and hay
Ing decided that II was neither fire nor
murder, opened the door to behold Miss
White and her angry companion.
Miss Minerva, recognizing her scholar
darted forward rescued her, slammed the
door in the mans face, ordered tho scry-
ants To guard it, and asked for oxplnna.
tions.
The explanation ended in n swoon on
the part OF Miss Minerva and Mysteries ON
that of Helen White.
The next morning Charles stood before
his sister with peculiar expression ON his
lace. In her lap she held packet of let.
iers which she had perused.
" My dear sister" said Charles, "all Is
MS have stated and it is as well that ON
the part of gentleman, it was all piece
oil acting, Helen was in earnest, and has
no idea that her letters were from her UNI
Gle That he, in mustache and cloak,
eioped with her, and wound up the affair
ny robbing her, or that the driver was his
old friend Winter, who has daughters of
DIS own, and who promised to wind up
the nilair In the most dreadful manner
possible. You must, however, promise me
10 send for Helen tomorrow and to keep
inc truth OF this affair secret, SO that 1t |
may be lifelong lesson to her"
And 1t was not until Helen was married 1
That She learned that her love affair, olope |
ment and dcsertion were all carried on by |
her uncle Charles who knew what the re- |
suit Of boarding school flirtatioDs might
ee,-New York News.