An Elopement.

Evening Star, Issue 6807, 22 January 1886, Page 4

An Elopement.

One of our leading hotels (says the Auckland ‘ Star ’) was the scene of the denouement to a cunningly-arranged elopement the other day. The parties to the little affair are both school teachers, the Adonis being the master of the school in question, and a married man with a family to boot, while his inamorata is a girl still in her teens. It would appear that the gay Lothario had been rather attentive to his lady-love for months past, but succeeded in allaying suspicion whenever aroused. A short time ago the girl had to come to town to undergo her annual examination, and her friends wrote to an aunt in town asking her to meet and take the fair creature under her protecting care. The aunt was duly to hand, but singularly enough the girl did not arrive. A letter was despatched to the parents, and in due time a reply was received stating that she left for Auckland on the appointed day. The additional information was afforded that she was accompanied for better security by the schoolmaster, who was going to town on business. The aunt took in the position at a glance, and without a moment’s delay proceeded on a tour of the local hotels. Her diligence was at length rewarded by the discovery of the hostelry, where they had engaged rooms, and were actually living as man and wife. They were absent on a visit to Onehunga at the time, but calling later in the day the inquirer was informed that they were in their own room upstairs, but could not see visitors. Pushing the attendant to one side, the indignant aunt hurried upstairs to the room indicated, and found the guilty couple in the enjoyment of each other’s sweet companionship. A sensational scene followed. Using her tongue and umbrella with unwonted activity and effectiveness, the unexpected visitor taught the Don Juan a severe and lasting lesson, and then in utter contempt for his puny defence, thrust him out of the room. The niece sobbed her repentance and pleaded for mercy. The aunt was, however, unrelenting, and, ordering the girl to pack up, took her to her own house, pending the arrival of her parents.