The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-01
HER EL0PEMENT.

I
nerva saDderson's seminary, She was SUI
prised " sec girl rush to corner of tn
room and turn up the carpet, with an ex
olamation of "Here are two, one for 20,
and one for me, /" holding up two letters
Another girl, with little ecstatio shrek
caught up her prize and tore 1t open.
Another young lady thus addressed Mis-
White:
''Biddy, the chambermaid, is our post
man. She'll get all your love letters fol
you and bring them up on the sly"
II haven't any love letters have ne
lover" said Helen, blushing.
Your ma Is strict, suppose" said the
other. "Well, you'll have plenty before
you've been here six months u,
Helen listened to the epistles, which her
companions did not hesitate to read aloud.
She even helped one of the girls to an.
swer hers, and she retired by the light Of
the long wax candle to read herself to sleep
over piece of literature by some French
author.
So dawned new life upon Helen White
"A life her mother littlc dreamed of,
She also flirted. She also received love
letters from strangers. She also sub.
soribed to the library and read bad French
books by the score.
To one Of her admirers, who signed
himself Carlos" she wrote as girl
ought scarcely write to betrothed lover,
Mrs. White was delighted with Helen's
progress.
Miss Minerva gave her volume, "The
Guido to Young Ladies'" as a prize for
fino 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 constancy, not OK.
actly in black and white, for black ink
wcs voted vulgar at Miss Minerals, but
in purple.
AT last tho climax arrived.
Carlos offered his hand and heart, and
begged her to elopo with him
She read tho letter aloud to Emma Rose,
Grace and Maria, and all in fiuttcr beg.
gcd their advice on the matter.
lilo says he's u prince" said Helen,
with glow on her cheeks, land, you
know, of course, I'll he a princess if !
marry him, and, of course, we shall invite
you TO our castle. Last night / met him
Il coaxcd Biddy to watch and let me in
and lie was all wrapped up in CLOAK
But he was splendid. He has foreign
accent and black mustache."
"Oh, " cried Maria, II love foreign
aCcent!''
And I've promised to run away with
him tonight" said Helen. HE says ma
will be sure to forgive us, and he's awful.
ly rich. And, oh, how feel, grls!'
And while Mrs. White, sitting with a
dear friend who also had grown daughters,
but who kept them at home congratulate.
cd herself on dear Helen being safe at
school, this aifectionate daughter was
packing up her small bundle in prepara.
ten Tor flight, aided and abetted 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 ralid as that of ghost
She had never set foot in the streetalonc \
at such an hour before A terror seized |
hcr-a sense Of her own wickcdness,
Perhaps she would have turned back, |
but that figure in u cloak came at the |
moment from the shadow Of a porch and |
seized her by the arm.
"Ah, my own IIelenp' said voice.
1t was CaTlos-prince Carlos-her own /
prince,
Away they drove, how far Helen did not
know. Suddenly tho arm that encircled
her was withdrawn and voice said:
Look here, young woman! No noisel
III choke you if you try to scream. Yen
have your watch and jewelry with you, I
lope and the money you promised to coax
rom your mother. Hand them over"
'Oh, it Is not my Carlos!'' cried Helen.
'Oh, what shall ! do!"
1T is Carlns--at least it is the man |
you've been corresponding with, " said the
oice under the hat, But IN no prince,
md no husband for you Hand over tho
money and the jewelry and IN not hurt
7ou. l haven't much fancy for an idiot
Tho would run off with man she didn't
Know. Hurry! I'm waitingl"
Sho gayo her purse, her watch and all |
'er small possessions to the robber, who,
With loud laugh, gathered them up and
Jumped out Of the carriage, calling to the 4
lrigcr:
Take that girl back to the school,
John, will your" I
Miss Helen White stood on tho aoorstcp /
i Miss MincrVns seminary again, hut |
lot alOno. With her stood the driver in a
uTious rage. He sWoro he would be paid.
nd rang the bell and battered the door
bttl not only The servants, but Miss Mi.
elTa and four and twenty scholars 40.
cared in tho hall and on the stairway in
II sorts OF imprOnptu drapery, and, hay. /
hg decided that ii was neither fire nor |
lurder opened tho door to behold Miss
hlte and her angry companion.
MISS Minerva recognizing her scholar,
hitcd forward, rescued her, slammed the /
cor In the mans face, ordered the scrv.
MS to guard it, and asked for oxplana.
on5
The explanation ended in swoon on
ne Fart Of Miss Minerva and Mysteries on
lat of Helen White
The next morning Charles stood before
Is sister with peculiar expression on his
.ce In her lap she held u pncliUt Of let.
rs which she had pcrused.
My dear sister," said Charles, "all is
have stated, and it is as well that. on
10 part Of gentleman, 1t WAS all piece
uCtlHB, l1tieh was IN earnest, and has |
idea that her letters were from her IN
e That he, in nustacho and cloak,
oped with her, and wound up tho affair
: robbihg hor or that the driver was lis
d friend Winter who has daughters Of
i own, and WHO promised to wind up
e affair In tho most dreadful manner
'sSthlc You must, however, promise me
send for Helen tomorrow, and to keep
q truth Of this affair secret, so that it
ny lie u lifelong lesson to her"
And IL was NOT until Helen WAS married
1t sho learned that her love affair, elope-
'nt and dessrtiDn were all carried on by
+ uncle Charles, who knew what the re-
1t Of boarding school llrtatious might
New York News.
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