Feather Mountain Expressions

The Wedlock Web (C)

Long ago, catching a husband was a skilled art. Women were instructed and highly pressured to get married by 20 years old, if not sooner. In the early 18th century, some believed that if a young lady wasn't married by 30, she was destined to become a spinster.

But being a spinster wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to be.

A young girl, about 18 years old, is pressed, primed, pinned, and painfully awaiting her fate. Attendants have left her alone for a moment to get her flower bouquet when she looks out the window to the massive gardens and majestic trees that surrounded the property. The gardens were the only things she loved about this forced marriage. arrangement. Walking among the tall trees and lush greenery, she hoped she could find solitude. As she was staring out across the field, a crazy feverish idea popped into the front of her mind. ESCAPE! RUN NOW! Something was telling her to bolt now while she had the chance. She always listened to these crazy ideas because they usually saved her from something dreadful.

So she bolted.

She grabbed the billowing dress, threw open the double French doors, and ran. She had no idea where she was going. She only knew that one minute she was standing in front of the mirror and the next she was running for her life across the yard. She was running towards the trees.

A few moments later, her attendants returned. She was gone! The attendants screamed for help. Several people came running asking what's wrong? The girl's mother, the bridesmaid and one of the groomsmen. The groomsman then shouted for all the other men to start searching for her. Dogs were set loose and the hunt began.

It was a hot, humid first of July in 1879. It seemed like the entire state of Delaware had turned out for the wedding at Longwood. There were hundreds of people. Family, friends, and important business associates like Thomas Edison and the Governor of Delaware, John W. Hall. Several key members of the Vanderbilt family were also there.

It was to be the event of the year in high society. No one will understand why she ran away. To marry into that level of money and power was the ideal dream wedding for any normal girl. Her life would have been one of luxury. Every need waited on hand and foot. Why did she feel the urgent need to run?

Stay tuned for more of this exciting fantasy thriller!

Meet our heroine - Ruby Killigan at work in laundry room and dressed on her wedding day

Meet her teacher and mentor

(From left to right) Meet Ruby's Father, Mother, and Uncle

The DuPont Manor House