The Rock Island Argus

THE ELOPING EPIDEMIC.

A Canada Case Which So Far Takes the Belt.

New York, Sept. 23.—A special to The Times from Ottawa, Canada, says: The elopement mania appears to have struck Canada in earnest. This time the subjects, who belong to Glencoe, are barely in their teens, their ages ranging between 13 and 16 years. One day last week, while some men were engaged in stacking hay near the town, they discovered a large valise containing girls' clothing, bearing the names of three young ladies belonging to three most respectable families in the place. It appears that for some time past the young ladies longed to see the wonders of larger cities. Three young lads, also well connected, had for several months past been bestowing their childish affections on the young ladies in question, and when informed of the plans laid by the girls to leave the paternal roofs they decided to share their fortunes. They arranged to leave on the night express for London, where they would be married, and then take the first train for Detroit. There they planned to all go to work until they had laid up enough money to take them to San Francisco, where the lads had been assured they would find lucrative situations awaiting them. Tickets had been purchased for Detroit and every arrangement made for the flight of the romantic youngsters Wednesday night, when the plot was discovered by finding letters which had been written by the girls to leave behind them apprise their friends of what had become of them and imploring the forgiveness of the parents.