A ROMANTIC ELOPEMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11919, 22 January 1894, Page 2

A ROMANTIC ELOPEMENT.

An episode with more that a spico of romance in it has just cotno to light in Auckland, according to the Herald. A young Dunedin girl, whose mother still resides iu the Southorn city, and who is a tniloress by trndo, a few yeurs ngo went to Melbourne, whore she met a young follow whoso name unmistakable shows that his progenitors came from tho Emerald Isle. The couple beoamo engaged, and oxcopt for a few little tilt's over her flirtation with •• some other fellow," tho course of love did in this cisy run smoothly. Eventually they were married, and then tho tide of felicity appoarod to bo nt flood This was two years ago. The son worked with his father, who had worn tho Queen's uniform, but, who in his 68th year had lapsed into the moro peaceful profession of a grocer. By all accounts, however, he was an " old soldior " in more senses than one. A fter a time tho son and his wifo wont to live with tho old mun ; then father uod son liegnn to quarrol, and noxt the two parted company. Finding work difficult to get in Melbourne lio went " up country, 1 ' tho daughter-in-law going to keep houso for tho old man, taking with her her child, for by this timo a littlo ono had boon born. On his return to Melbourne about fivo weeks ngo, tho husband was astounded to find that father nnd wife had disappeared, nnd his suspicions that all was not nil that it should be, were awakened by the fact that amongst tho household eflbcts, that had been sold before they left, was a double bedstead. He consulted with the neighbours and his suspicions received added strength whon ho found tho female portion ayorrud that a double beditond waa not required fpr a woman and a twolve-montii-old baby. Feeling anxipus to know tho worst or bosfc, and desirous at nny rate, of obtaining possession of the child, ho set to work and traced the couplo to Auckland. lie then started off in pursuit, and arrived here on I riday week. Scarcely had he got here whon in walking up Queen-street ho espied his wifo with » lady friend, carrying the child, his father bringing up the roar The wholo party then turned into a procer'a shop. The husband followed and demandod the baby, which was snatched up by the (l huly friend," The old man intorposod, was struck by tho son, tho wife fainted in her husband's arms, and the friend dianppoared with the child. By-atid-by things ccolod down and the wife consented to go back to her husband, who had obtained temporary employment. Lodgings wore taken at a boardinghouso in Qucenstreot, and thing appeared to go on quite smoothly for fivo days, but on Friday both father, wifo and child again disappeared. Tho husband now bhvb he has ascertained a passage under an assumed name was booked for a very southern port ; that so far as he cares father and wife may now go " rip," but that he intends having the baby— if he goes all over the world for it,