The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-08-03
6G1hy She Would
Not Marry
toriginal.1

tOrt hOyul nuTDOr, 10 ralSe COllO!l'
Sea island cotton was famous for its
fine quality then, as now, and Chapman,
having bought plantation on Hilton
Head Island, settled himself with his
family, as he supposed, for the rest OF
his life. He raised ten crops, which
gave him a handsome profit on his in
vestment, and was considering the elev-
enth when the first cannon of the civil
war doomed at Charleston, so near
that he could almost hear it.
Chapman, being Union man, sold
his plantation and his slaves, making
many of them free, and returned to the
north. His son Howard, whose senti-
ments had been known to be like his
fathers, for the Union, had suddenly
shown n disposition to remain In the
south and take up arms for the Con-
federacy. His father discovered that
this change of front was not due to
principle, but TO an attachment for
Carey, the daughter of Colonel Ell
bridge, the owner of ncghborlng
plantation. He warned his son of the
probable failure of the secession move
ment and advised him to cast his lot
with the north. Colonel Eldridge had
forbidden the match, and the young
man therefore decided to take his fa-
Tiers advice.
Colonel Eldrldge had always been
improvldent and had laid up nothing.
His slaves, knowing that war was In
progress which they believed would
libcrate them, would not work. No cot
ton could be got to market, and the
colonel's affairs soon fell into very bad
shape. About this time blockade run
ners were busy along the coast, and
some rich prizes were brought into
Port Royal. Two Of these belonged to
Ralph Wellington, the younger son of
an English nobleman. The success of
both made him very wealthy.
Colonel Eldridge wished to save him
self from poverty by obtaining help
from Wellington, and to do this eff
fectively, seeing that the young man
had fallen violently in love with his
daughter. he made up his mind that
Carey should marry him. Carey had
not admitted that she loved Chapman,
bene else. Wellington was man whom
bepy young lady might be glad to get.
10 therefore the colonel did not antic-
= ooe any especial opposition.
g. Trey did not openly refuse. She
SiNvev that her father had been ac-
W hoLncd to having what he had set
congresart on and she knew on this
well XII depended his saving himself
Wells, ain. Carey put Wellington Off,
fed to dicolonel. since there was not a
office TO wefusal, encouraged the young
Tboro oro * that she would come
noee1 candle. But 1t was the colonel
r. pn o needed patience. He had
ouV ,ione large sums from Wellington
can pe vein need Of more at once. Irri-
Inc fress. delay, he finally demand
will be betMghter that she should mar.
Mr.. Stevenso ,Englishman.
good men. M. he gained-an engage
a good representploners necessities re,
teentb district hter's marriage, for
Co ~ Is, which were to be
possesses the qusiG to induce Carey
sary to naked h. At last she consent
as we'll. I'sine day approached put II
of the d., father brought all his viii
these tw, ! ar, with only the result OF
them exc 3 daughter into Mysteries
the dutj, > again she gave her promise
the OF Sing day, and every time the
DAY came near she broke her promise
Finally week before one of thesC
promised days her father, locking him
self In her room with her, overawet
her by telling her that this time he in
tended to compel her to keep her prom
ise.
Carey kept knowledge of the du
ress under which she lived from Mel
lngton. He could see by her altered
appearance that something troubled
her. She did not tell him the cause
relying on him to relinquish his claim
because she dared not thus offend hel
father. She was llstless about every
thing except her trouble and the prog
ress OF the war. An item she saw In {
newspaper especially attracted her ut
tention. 1t said that the Yankees wer'
about to occupy many important points
on the Atlantic coast as bases for thei
navy and to prevent blockade running
Az the last named wedding day ap
preached Colonel Eldridge kept hi
daughter under a sort of magnetic In
fiuence, from which there seemed to b
no escape. A few days before the da.
set whatever preparations were pos
sible in those day 80 distressing to tn
south were made, and the neighborinI
planters were invited to the wedding
which was to take place on the 9Th o
November.
At 8 o'clock In the morning OF tn
wedding day Carey was as unprepare
for the ceremony, which was to tax
place at ~. as II she had no intention
Of being married. Suddenly boon
was heard on the harbor. Carey tiey
up to the highest window In a cupol
ON the house and saw Yankee flee
sailing up to fort on one side OF tn
bay. AS the ships passed they deliy
cred broadside, then, turning passe
a fort on the other side and delivere
another.
Thus begun the battle which won fo
the Union navy Port Royal harbo
Carey WIS left alone with few NJ