GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK
Philadelphia, February 1850

THE ELOPEMENT.

BY HENRY G. LEE

( Plate.)
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" YOUNG man, it is useless to urge this matter. In declining your offer of an alliance with my family,

I am in earnest. "

" I am not content with a simple rejection of my suit, Mr. Carlton. I give reasons for my own con- duct, and like to have reasons for all acts affecting myself. Will you say why I am not deemed worthy to claim the hand of one whose heart I already possess? Is not my family as good as yours? "

The young man spoke eagerly, while his brows were knit and his eyes firmly fixed on those of the person he addressed.

" William, " said Mr. Carlton, manifesting a good deal of excitement as he spoke, " I do not recognize your right to demand of me reasons for my conduct. I will say, however, that the happiness of my child is in my keeping as a natural right, and I am bound to protect her in every possible way. I regard only her happiness when I decline the offer made for her hand. I know the heart of Jessie well, and I now that, if committed to your keeping, it will be a broken heart in less than five years – it may be in less than one. "

" I love your daughter, Mr. Carlton, " replied the young man to this. " Why should I break the heart of one I love? "

" William Levering, such love as yours falls upon, the heart as a blight, not a blessing. I know you well, your principles and your life – both are bad. "

A red spot burned on the young man's cheek, and his eyes flashed. But Mr. Carlton looked calmly at him.

" Think, " he added; " picture to yourself one of your companions in vice approaching your own sister, and offering the love of his corrupt heart. Would you not step between, abandoned as you are, and risk your very life, rather than permit the sacrifice? "

" Mr. Carlton, " said Levering, " I cannot permit you, nor any one else, to insult and outrage me in this way. "

" As you like, " returned the other, coldly. " You ask reasons for my conduct, but are not willing to hear them. "

For a short time, there was silence, the young man standing in an attitude of irresolution. Then muttering something in an under tone, he retired from the presence of Mr. Carlton.

A few hours afterwards, n servant tapped softly at the chamber door of Miss Carlton, the young lady referred to in the brief conversation just given.

" What do you want, Philip? " asked Jessie, as she opened the door:

The servant slipped a sealed note into her hand, with an air of secrecy, and then retired.

Quickly re-entering her room, and turning the key, Jessie broke the envelop of the billet she had received, and read what was written within. The communication was from her lover.

" I have seen your father, " said he, " as you so earnestly desired, and the result of the interview is just what I expected. He was not content with an angry denial of my suit, but threw me off with smarting insult. He says I cannot make you happy. Heaven knows how ardently I desire to fill your cup with joy, even until it overrun the brim. If the passionate love of a sincere heart can make you happy, Jessie, then your whole life will be blessed. I cannot imagine the ground of his dislike towards me. I have never injured him nor his. This opposition on his part makes me wretched. Are we, then, to remain ever separate'? or will you leave all, and throw yourself into my arms? I shall await your answer to this in the wildest impatience. When you have made up your mind, place your answer in the hands of Philip. He will keep our secret inviolate; for he is under obligations to me of the strongest character. "

" My heart is wholly yours, " wrote Jessie, in reply.

" Shall heart and person longer be separated? " answered Levering. " To-morrow week, I hear, your father will leave home, to be gone several days. This I learn from Philip. 'What better opportunity to pass from his protection to mine ? "

Two days elapsed, and then the maiden wrote —– " Let it be as you desire. "

Weak and foolish maiden! In that decision, how much was involved! Not the happiness of a day or a year, but, it might. be, of a whole lifetime.

What Mr. Carlton had said to Levering of his principles and his life was true. Both were bad, and very bad. He did not truly love Jessie, for of that he was incapable. No man who lacks virtue can love a woman truly. It is a moral impossibility.

Levering had first turned his thoughts to marriage because it was necessary, as he said to himself; to form such an alliance. He belonged to a wealthy family, and, by marrying into a family of equal wealth and standing, he would take proper care of the future. Of course, he must have a beautiful and accomplished wife. In looking around him, no one struck the young man's fancy so strongly as Jessie Carlton; and, after weighing all in favor and against an alliance with her family, decided to storm the citadel of her heart. Handsome, intelligent, and with a good address, he was not long in making the impression he desired. Jessie Carlton's young heart was quickly won.

Philip, a servant in the family of Mr. Carlton, whom Levering had secured to his interest, was informed of the intended elopement, and employed to give such aid as his position would afford. Of course, the utmost secrecy was enjoined upon him; and his faithfulness was sought to be secured by threats as well as promises. But Philip found it hard to bear up alone under a secret of such great importance; he wanted some one to share with him the heavy burden. So, confiding in the discretion of another servant in the house, a female, he divulged to her, after first obtaining her promise not to betray what he was about to communicate, the fact of Jesse's intended flight.

On the night previous to the day on which Mr. Carlton was to leave home, he sat up late, engaged in writing. It was past eleven o'clock, when there was a light tap at his door, which was opened immediately, and a female servant glided in noiselessly, closing softly the door after her.

" Well, Hannah? " said he, in a voice of inquiry, as she approached him, in a somewhat agitated

Hannah sank into a chair, so much disturbed, that it was some moments before she could speak.

" Mr. Carlton, " she at length said, " oh, I have something dreadful to tell you. "

" For Heaven's sake, Hannah, speak out quickly, then. What has happened? " exclaimed Mr. Carlton, agitated in turn.

" Nothing has happened yet; but, if you go away to-morrow, it will happen. Oh, sir, do not go away. "

" Hannah, what is the meaning of this? Speak out plainly at once. "

" Miss Jessie – "

" Jessie! What of her? "

" She is going off with Mr. Levering. "

" When? Where is she? " The father was on his feet, and moving towards the door. " Speak, girl! "

" Oh, sir, don't be frightened, " said Hannah; " it isn't to-night. Miss Jessie is in her room. I have only come to tell you about it in time. "

" Ah! thank you, my faithful Hannah. "

Mr. Carlton spoke in a calmer voice; and, returning to the secretary where he had been writing, sat down again.

" Now, " he added, " tell me all you know about this matter. "

" All I know, " replied Hannah, " I got to-day from Philip. He told me that he has been carrying letters from Mr. Levering to Jessie and back again, for some time, and that it is all arranged for her to go off with him, just at daylight, the morning after you leave home. "

" Can it be possible? Mad girl! " exclaimed Mr. Carlton, passionately. " And you are sure of all this, Hannah? "

" Philip told me, and I'm afraid it is all true. "

" Very well, Hannah. I thank you from my heart for this act of duty. You have saved Jessie, it may be, from a lifetime of misery. Mr. Levering is a bad man, and if she marries him, he will make her wretched. Foolish, foolish girl! Could she not believe her father? "

After some further conference, the girl left the room; and Mr. Carlton, closing his secretary, walked the floor for the space of an hour ere retiring. On the next day, greatly to the surprise of Hannah, he left home at the time previously appointed.

No sleep weighed down the eyelids of Jessie Carlton during the night that succeeded. Through the long hours that intervened from the time the family retired until the hand of Aurora gently raised the curtain of darkness from the east, she either walked the floor of her chamber or lay wakeful upon the bed. At the early dawn, she was to pass from beneath her father's roof and from under his protection, committing unto another her destiny. Well might her heart tremble and grow faint as she tried to look into the dark future; well might she shrink back, half repentant, and hesitate about the step she had resolved to take. The silent midnight gives to the wakeful solemn thoughts. Such thoughts came to Jessie; and, as the winds sighed through the trees or moaned beneath the eaves, it seemed as if a spirit were addressing her in tones of warning.

At last, a feeble line of light was seen upon the horizon; and it gradually widened until the dawn appeared. Hurriedly throwing a shawl around her; Jessie stood for some minutes near the window, as if awaiting an expectant signal. Presently, a hand was laid upon the lock. Silently crossing the room, she opened the door. Philip stood there with his finger on his lip.

" Is all right? " asked Jessie, in a low, agitated whisper.

" All is right, " returned the man. " Re quick; he is waiting for you. "

Gliding through the door, Jessie went noiselessly down stairs. As she passed into the open air, Levering received her, handling, as he did so, a purse of money to the treacherous servant as his promised reward.

A few minutes prior to this, a scene even more exciting took place a short distance from the mansion of Mr. Carlton, where a carriage stood in waiting for the fugitive. The driver had left his box, and was standing near his horses, when, suddenly, a man was by his side, pistol in hand, uttering, in a low, peremptory voice, " Silence, and you are safe! "

The driver started back a few paces in alarm; while the stranger who had presented his weapon, kept it directed towards him.

" Now leave these grounds as quickly as you can go, " said the intruder.

The driver hesitated, when the sharp click of the pistol-lock was heard.

" Go, instantly! " repeated the man. " Your horses and carriage are safe. You will find them at the. Stag and Hound in an hour from this. Now go, if you, set the. value of a hair upon your life. "

The. driver, by this lime thoroughly alarmed, fled. As soon us he had left the ground, the stranger mounted the box and grasped the reins. Hardly had he taken his place, ere Levering and Jessie appeared, and hurriedly entered the carriage.

" Where did you say I must drive '! " inquired the man, leaning over from the box.

" To Mr. Liston's. Arid see that no grass grows beneath your horses' feet. "

The man spoke sharply to the spirited animals, and away they dashed at full speed. Liston was a minister, who had been engaged to perform the marriage service for Levering and Jessie. He lived in the town which lay a short distance from the beautiful country residence of Mr. Carlton. In a few minutes, the horses were reined up at the dwelling of the minister, when Levering sprang from the carriage; end lifting Jessie, as she attempted to descend, actually bore her in his arms across the pavement and into the house. Just as the fugitives disappeared, another vehicle drove up at a rapid pace. The sell-constituted driver of Levering's carriage left his own horses, and hurrying to the door of the second carriage, spoke rapidly a few words to some one within; and then turning away, entered the minister's house, and throwing off his rough hat and coat in the hall, presented the figure of a well-dressed gentleman. For a few moments. he stood, as if awaiting some one, while his ear was bent towards the door of a room that opened from the passage, to hear what was going on within. Then he placed his band on this door, and gently pushing it open, entered. The young couple were already on the floor; and the minister, in his robes, stood before them, ready to begin the ceremony. So softly had the stranger entered, that no one perceived his presence but the minister, who did not permit the intrusion to interfere with what he was doing. He began, and progressed until he came to that part of the ceremony in which it is demanded of those present to show cause why the parties about to be joined in holy wedlock cannot lawfully enter that state, when the door of the room was thrown suddenly open, and a woman rushed in, exclaiming, " I forbid the banns! "

" Who are you, and by what right do you forbid them? " inquired the minister, in an agitated voice. Levering and Jessie started at this unexpected interruption; and, turning, looked in astonishment both at the woman and the man.

" Miss Carlton, " said the woman, coming up to Jessie and grasping her arm, " you have no right to this man; he belongs to use by a prior claim, that I will not see canceled. There is your natural protector " – and she drew her, with a sudden jerk, across the room towards the man who had entered just before her – " your father. And, in Heaven's name, lot not a man like this tempt you thus madly from his side again! "

Jessie scarcely hoard the closing words of the sentence. Overcome by so dreadful a termination of her elopement, she sank into the arms of her father – for it was he who had driven her to the minister's. Before the vile companion of his unbridled hours, Levering stood, for a few moments, covered with shame and confusion.

" Now go, young man, " said Mr. Carlton, sternly, as he supported the form of his child; " go with this frail, unhappy creature, whom you have reduced from virtue to a level with yourself. Go, consort with her as your equal; but dream not again of an alliance with the pure being I have saved from your unhallowed grasp. who can never be yours. If, before, you could deceive her into the belief that you were an angel of light, the power of deception is now gone, for you stand before her in all your native corruption and deformity. Go, sir! "

Confounded by a denouement so painful and humiliating, Levering, as soon as he could collect his bewildered senses, sprung from the room. As he gained the open air, the driver who had been so suddenly deprived of his carriage, came up. Levering hurriedly entered the vehicle, exclaiming –—

" Drive me home! "

The man needed not a second invitation to mount his box. Quick as thought, ho had the reins in his hands, and the horses were soon springing before him at a gallop.

The reader doubtless understands all this without further explanation; and Levering had but few inquiries to make ere he comprehended the whole affair to more than his entire satisfaction. As for Jessie, she, too, understood enough to make her heart sink in her bosom and tremble, whenever she thought of the narrow escape she had made from an alliance that could only have produced wretchedness, if it would not have borne her down to the grave, in a few short years, with a broken heart.

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