The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-05
some RUNAWAY WEDDINGS
Romances in Which Famous Woo
ers Won Daring Brides.
sheIiey's First and Tragic Marriage.
sheridan Riskcd His Life tn Win
Miss LipJe,-gia, aer and Miss HoI-
combF 4 100 Miles.

connie 4 100 Mics.
Low x the romantic cannot help a
PASSING /, cling of regret that the days OF
runaway matches are gone. with their
stirring incidents of chaise-horses dashed
to a break-necl gallop. the trembling and
half-fainting maid and the lover altern-
ately casting an apprehensive look back
to where a growing speck means pursuit
and possible capture. and, through the
rafting and rocking of the chaise. hurting
sho.s.s ct the post-boy to urge his desper-
ate horse to still greater speed.
Such scene might have been witnessed,
sayso''Tit- Bits" OIL a memorable day in
November. 1772. nthe road which led
from Newcastle, over the border. to Black
shields. then the Mecca of scores of fly
ing lovers; only few who saw the flying
chaise would have suspected that it held
future Lord High Chancellor of England.
thus Tomantically beginning brilliant ca
reer in love and law" John Scott, the
filters son, of Newcastle, was no bastard
or laggard in love, for when the wealthy
banker. Mr.. Surtees. laughed him to scorn
when he dared to propose for the hand Of
his daughter-.I want peer for my SON.
in-law, not pauper," he said-John con-
ceived a daring plan to defeat him.
der the young lover made his way on the
night of the 18th of November, to the
bankers house in the Sandhill mounted
the ladder to his lady loves chamber win
dow, and brought her down. "a willing
captive" to terra firma. few minutes
later he was speeding toward Blackshieids
as fast as whip and spur could take him
Shelley's first marriage had similar
romantic overture, although, unlike Lord
Edson's, il closed in tragedy and disgrace.
When he was expelled from Oxford for
his atheistical writings, and came to Lon,
don with his friend Hogg, penniless and
disgraced, he would have starved had 1t
not been for the pocket money of his four
sisters. TO whom pretty schooifeiiow,
Miss Harriet Westbrook, daughter OF
retired hotel keeper, acted as almoner:
The little Methodist as Shelley called
her, was only child of fifteen at the
time, but she was quite old enough 10 fali
head over ears in love with the courtly
and accomplished young poet, who was
never averse to an affair of the heart; and
when, after some months of fatal DALI
ance, the girl wrote to Shelley TO say
| that resistance Ito her fathers determi-
nation to send her out Of dangers way
to school was useless, and threw herself
on my protection, II is not surprising
that the gallant poet flew to her rescue.
He found her agitated and wayering;
but she needed little persuasion to fly with
him. They Travelled as fast as horses
made husband and wife on the 18th OF
August, 1911.
six years later, after desertion and in
fidelity. had driven her to intemperance,
the lovely and ill-starred Harriet
drowned herself in the Serpentine.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the famous
statesman and dramatist. was in his
youth the very paragon Of daring and I'M
petuous lovers. Although he was only one
of the most obscure of the scores OF men
who would have died for a smile" from
Miss Linley, the sweetest and fairest OF
all the peerless NEST of nightingales" of
Bath. he won her from them all; but on
ly after risking his life more than once in
the struggle
He fought two desperate duels with a
too aggressive rival. a Captain Matthews,
who was more skilled in the duel than in
his amours; and when he despaired OF
less heroic and extreme way of winning
his coveted bride he boldly carried her or
to a nunnery in France. taking care, how
ever, to make her his wife on the way.
At the very time when Sheridan was
abducting his nightingale an intimate
friend and fellow-Templar, Cecil Hayden,
was in the thick of an equally hazardous
love enterprise in the north OF England.
When he was at Oxford he had fallen
madly in love with the sister OF Fellow
student, whose father, wealthy York
shire squire. had much more exalted views
for his daughter.
When young Hayden boldly declared ms
Intention to elope with Miss Holcombe, in
defiance of her father, she was locked IN
her room and guards were placed rounu
the house. But love laughs at bolts
the brave girl let herself down from her
window by knotted sheets, and, stealing
past the sleepy guards. Joined her lover IN
a lane at the back of the house. where
ehaise with four horses was awaiting ner-
In a moment they had started on their
| long Journey of 100 miles to Gretna
Green; and barely two hours later, when
| it was found that the birds nad Town.
| the father. with posse of mounted men.
were in hot pursuit. every man armed
| and determined at all costs to stop the
| runawayS.
| continued the pursuers often catching
| sight of their quarry, but, so carefuily
| had Hayden arranged for supplies OF
| fresh horses never coming within mile
| Of them After the most exciting race on
| record the father. having outstripped MS
Followers, reached Gretna Green only 70
find that he had lost the matrlmon aa.l
minutes, and gain son and lost daugh-
ter in that time.