The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-09-22
I %*k% kkR*
. THE GOOD
OLD DAYS
OF ELOpEMENTS.
4 4 X X X K 4 +
Ordeal Of . Young French Couple
Who Finally Were Married
and Lived Happily.
From ne French.

An, signed TIE DucneSS, the g0Oo
old days of elopements are dead"
IAN the better" said the able. Sc
verely,
"Monsieur." replied the Duchess,
'4you don't know what you are talking
about. tell you that the end Of elOpe-
ments Is a misfortune for this country.
I win not seek to convince you by ar
gument, but by stories.
"Y0a know that elopements have
been q 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
cut arly silken ladders and without any
post horses!
''To return, however, I will choose
but ore Of my honOred ancestors. Do
you soe that little round portrait be-
tween the windows? Such a pretty lit
tie lady, with sparkling black eyes
and curly hair.
"She was a Hardincourt, and she
eloped with that splendid gentleman
that you see next to her, in his long
perruque and armor. He was Fer
railie Latour, and he became Duke
and Marshal of France.
ale was a splendid looking fellow,
and he met my charming ancestress
at ball at Rennes, when the King
returned from one of his journeys.
He was then eighteen and not very
ta1i, but so far as fighting blood went,
ne 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
worst little mischief that ever lived.
To b. brief. they met each other and
fell deeply in love at once.
"The two families were equally
wealthy and equally noble. Ferraille
asked for her hand. They told him
th2+-6e was too young. He grew furi-
Gus 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 fire Of straw. and that time alone
could prove its permanency.
ga fire of straw" cried the little
Ferraiile. You shall see"
.'He was right. 1t was not mere
blaze. quick to die away. but regular
confagration that filed his heart. Not
night passed but he stationed himself
beneath her chambers balcony, watch
ing fcr chance to send her note.
"One beautiful evening Angelique,
Alone by chance. saw stone fall at
her feet, with piece Of paper tied to
1t. Do you love meT read the note.
IF you do. I am ready to undergo any
thing to wiz you.
''The abbess was not one to hesitate,
as you may see from her eyes. She
answered letter for letter, I love you.
1.-TWO hours later Ferraille scaled
the balcony and eloped with Angel
ique, according to rules. with the ira
ditioDai ladder and post horses. But
the news soon became known and q
warning was sent out. The fleeing
lovers were caught and separated.
"Angelique was brought to her room
and her windows were barred will
iron. Ferraillc. punished by his faith
er, WHO was man Of stone, was hon
oreii with letter de cachet.
'']He had not been imprisoned 81,
months before he discovered way o.
escape. You can imagine the aston
ishment of the Count de Hardincour
when one fine day his carriage wal
stopped by troop of cavaliers, will
Ferraiile. whom he thought still il
prison, at their head.
DON this occasion Ferraille showed
himself to be an audacious, decided bu
cosrtly nobleman. He respectful,
bound his future father-in-law. utter
ing thousand apologies as he did SC