In old Narragansett; romances and realities

								

in his action to prevent the lovers from meeting, Hannah--the true
daughter of her father--was equally determined not to give up her
sweetheart; and as the Narragansett neighbors, like the rest of the
world, “dearly loved a lover,” they gladly assisted the romance by
exchanging letters and arranging meetings for the lovers. Months of
harassing suspicions and angry words at home, and frightened meetings
with her lover away from home, told so upon Hannah’s health that her
mother finally permitted to be carried into execution a long-planned
scheme of elopement. It was finally arranged through the agency and
assistance of a young friend of Hannah’s--Miss Belden--and the ever
sentimental colonel-uncle.
Invitations for a great ball had been sent out all over Narragansett,
and to many in Boston, Providence, and Newport. It was to be given by
Mrs. Updike, Hannah’s aunt. She lived eight miles north of Rowland
Robinson’s home, in the old historic house which is still standing and
is now known as Cocumcussuc. A portion of it was the first house or
fort built by the English in Narragansett in the year 1636. Though
Hannah’s father was unwilling to allow his daughter out of his sight,
he at last consented that both Hannah and Mary should go to their
aunt’s ball. They set out on horseback, accompanied by faithful Prince,
the son of Queen Abigail, and were met, as had been arranged, in the
thick woods on the top of Ridge Hill, by Mr. Simons with a closed
carriage. Into this conveyance Hannah entered with her lover, in spite
of her sister’s tears and Prince’s frantic appeals, and rode off to
Providence, where the eloping couple were married.
When the news of Hannah’s disobedience came to the knowledge of Rowland
Robinson, his rage and disgust knew no bounds. He forbade his family
ever to communicate with Hannah again; and knowing well that she must
have been assisted in carrying out her plans to elope, he offered a
large reward to anyone who would make known to him the names of the
persons who had aided her escape.
It would seem that the fair bride should be called Fortunate Hannah,
since she managed to evade her father’s vigilance and wed her
ardent French lover, but alas! Peter Simons, like many another
hero of an elopement, did not prove worthy of the great sacrifice.
Disappointed through the implacable anger of Rowland Robinson in the
hope of obtaining any of his wealth, the unprincipled husband soon
neglected his lovely wife and at last deserted her for days and weeks.
Broken-hearted, alone, and poor, the unfortunate girl began to fail
rapidly in health, and spent many weary, lonely days in her wretched
home in Providence, having for her only companion her dog Marcus, that
had been secretly sent to her by her mother from her Narragansett home.
In the meantime her sister, Mary Robinson, had died of consumption;
and her mother, worn out by grief, had completely failed in health.