The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-07
x%W ~
~ THE GOOD
OLD DAYS
OF M
X X X X X X X x
Ordeal Of q Young French Couple
Who Finally Were Married
and Lived Happily.
From the French.

"Ah," sighed the Duchess, "the good
Did days of Opponents are dead"
".All the better" said the able, Sc
yerely.
"Monsieur," replied the Duchess,
"you don't know what you are talking
about. I tell you that the end of elope-
! ments is a misfortune for this country.
I will not seek to convince you by ar
| gument, but by stories.
You know that opponents have
been a tradition in our family. All the
daughters have eloped. 1t has been
handed down from generation to gen.
| grafton. Alas! My daughters and
granddaughters have all married with
but any silken ladders and without any
post horses!
40 return, however, I will choose
but one Of my honored ancestors. Do
you see that little round portrait be-
tween the windows? Such a pretty lit
tie lady, with sparkling black eyes
and curly hair.
"She vas a H~ardincourt, and she
eloped with that splendid gentleman
that you see next to her. in his long
perruque and armor. He was Fer
raille Latour, and he became a Duke
and Marshal Of France.
HE was a splendid looking fellow,
and he met my charming ancestress
at Il ball at Rennes, when the King
returned from one Of his journeys.
He was then eighteen and not very
ball. 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 Angelique, and in spite of
The fact that she was an abbess, and
had been from her cradle, she was the
wofst little mischief that ever lived.
TO be brief, they met each other and
Sell deeply in love at once.
"The two families were equally
wealthy and equally noble. Ferraille
asked for her hand. They told him
THAT he was too young. He grew furi-
bus and drew his sword.
FINALLY they calmed him and said
THAT his love was not repulsed, but that
such a sudden sentiment could only
be a fire Of straw, and that time alone
could prove its permanency.
IA fire Of straw cried the little
Ferraille. You shall see!'
He was right. 1t was not q mere
blaze. quick to die away. but a regular
tonfagration that filled his heart. Not
b night passed but he stationed himself
beneath her chambers balcony, watch
ing for a chance to send her a note.
"Ore beautiful evening Angelique,
alone by chance, saw a stone fall at
her feet, with a piece Of paper tied to
lit. DO you love pe?' read the note.
sIf you do, I am ready to undergo any
thing to win you
THE abbeSS was not n to hesitate,
as you may see from her eyes. She
answered letter for letter, 4 love you
Two hours later Ferraille scaled
the balcony and eloped with Angel
9Que, according to rules. with the ira
Hitional ladder and post horses. But
The news soon became known and a
warming was sent out. The fleeing
lovers were caught and separated.
Y "Angelique was brought to her room
and her windows were barred with
iron. Ferraille, punished by his faith
Er. who was a mar of stone, was hon
bred with a letter de cachet.
u "He had not been imprisoned six
months before he discovered a way Of
escape. You can imagine the aston
ishment of the Count de Hardincourt
when one fine day his carriage was
stopped by a troop Of cavaliers, with
Ferraille, whom he thought still in
prison, at their head
"On this occasion Ferraille showed
himself to be an audacious, decided but
courtly nobleman. He respectfully
bound his future fnther-in-law, utter
ing a thousand apologies as he did so,
(which did not, however. prevent the
KNOTS from being very securely tied.
Then he sent him back to his castle.
las for Angelique, he took her upon his
own horse and RODE away with her.
But it was their fate to be caught,
and they We're"
"When" inquired the able.
The next day, or the day after.
Then followed q year in Z dungeon Of
1.-The Bastile for the poor Ferraille.
They thought so long an imprisonment
would cool his fiery blood, and at the
.end of that time he was set at liberty.
Hardincourt, warned of his freedom
and acting like a prudent father. con-