Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-09-01
x * x
y THE GOOD
~ OLD DAYS
y OF ELOPEMENTS.
WIk 4 4 4 4 X K X
~I ordeal of n Young French Couple
~ Who Finally Were Married
and Lived Happily.
Tx X K 4 4 4 X X

"Ah," sighed tie Duchess. "the good
sid days of cIopcmcnts are dead
"All the better" said the abbc, Sc
yerely.
"Monsicur." replied the Duchess,
"you don't know what YOU are talking
about. tell you that the end of clopr-
nents is a misfortune for this country.
sument but by stories.
You know that elopoments have
been a tradition in our family. All the
daughters have eloped. Ii has been
handed down from generation to gen
sration. Alas. My daughters and
granddaughterS have all married with
,ut any silken ladders and without any
post horses.
ITO return, however. | will choose
out one of my honorcd ancestors. DO
you see that little round portrait be
tween the windows? Such Il pretty lit
lie lady. with sparkling black eyes
and curly hair.
"She was Il 1Iardincourt. and she
eloped with that splendid gentleman
that you see next to her, in his long
perruque and armor. He was Fer
:aille Latour, and he became a Duke
and Marshal of France.
''He was splendid looking fellow.
and he met my charming ancPstreSs
at a ball at Rcnnes. when the King
,eturned from one of his journeys.
He was then eighteen and not very
tall, but, so far as fighting blood went.
he was more than worthy of the name
he bore.
"She was sixteen. and although her
name was Angrlique. and in spite of
the fact that she was an abbcsS, ana
had been from her cradle. she was the
worst little mischief that ever lived.
To be brief they met each other and
fell deeply in love at once.
"The two families were equally
wealthy and equally noble Ferraillp
asked for her hand. They told him
that he was too young. He grew furi-
Gus and drew his sword
FINALLY thoy calmed him and said
that his love was not repuscd. but that
such a sudden sentiment could only
be fire of straw. and that time alone
could prove its permancncy.
"A fire of straw. cried the little
Ferraille. You shall scc,'
"He was right. 1t was not a mere
blaze, quick to die away. but II regular
sonflagration that filed his heart. Not
a night passed but he stationed himself
beneath her chambers balcony. watch
ing for chance to send her Il note.
zone beautiful evening Ang"lique,
alone by chance, saw n stone fall at
her feet, with piece of raper tied to
it. 'Do you love me" read the note.
IF you do, | am ready to undergo any
thing TO win you
"The abbess was not one to hesitate,
as you may see from her eyes. She
answered letter for letter. 4 love YOU.
1.-TWO hours later Ferraile scaled
the balcony and eloped with Angel
ique. according to rules, with the ira
ditional ladder and post horses But
the news soon became known and 4
warning was sent out. The fleeing
lovers were caught and separated.
"Angeliquc was brought to her room
and her windows were barred will
iron. Ferraille, punished by his faith
er, who was man Of stone, was hon
ored with letter de cachet.
"He had not been imprisoned 81!
months before he discovered a way o
escape. You can imagine the aston
ishment of the Count de HardincOur
when one fine day his carriage WI
stopped by troop of cavaliers. witt
Ferraille, whom he thought still ii
prison, at their head
"On this occasion Ferraille showe
himself to be an audacious, decided bu
courtly nobleman. He respectfull
bound his future father-in-law, uttel
ing a thousand apologies as he did st