The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1861-12-12
popnlar 9taoing,
A coQUETTE's CONFESSION.

uccidId'iCu W last |iCt!A udule Was
James Frazer. He was a tall, awkward,
ungainly, homely man, but bis heart was
as true as steel. [ respected him highly,
and felt panied when | witnessed his an
guish at my rejection Of him. But the
fact was. | had myself fallen in love with
Captain Elliott, who had been unremitting
in his deyotions TO me. Dir. Frazer warned
me against Elliott; but l charged him
with jealousy, and took his warning as an
insult. a few days afterwards Elliott and
| were engaged, and my dream of romantic
life seemed to be in a fair way of realiza-
ton. had week of happiness. Many
have not so much in lifetime. Many
awake from the bright, short dream to
find themselves in lifelong darkness, and
bondage from which there is no escape.
Thank God, was not so miserable as they,
Ny mother was widow in opulent cir
cumstances, but having very bad health,
she was also of an easy, listless, credulous
nature, hating trouble, and willing to take
things just as they might happen to pre-
sent themselves. She therefore made no
inquiries about Captain Eiliott-but fondly
believed that inasmuch as he was captain,
lie must necessarily be man of honor also,
especially as he had served in the Crimea
and in India, and wore medals. His regi-
mcnt was quartered in our neighborhood
and he had the reputation of being one of
the wealthiest, as he was certainly the
handsomest, officer in it. | remember as
well as possible The day we became engag-
ed--he was on duty, but had managed to
ride over to our house in his uniform, and
willie We were walking in the garden he
made the tender avowal. / referred him
to "mamma )" he FASTENED to here
turned in three minutes-and led me into
her presence to receive the assurance that
the maternal consent had been readily and
freely given. TO be sure! My dear
mother hated trouble, as I have said, and
she moreover loved me tenderly; so that
she was pleased to find a husband present
ing himself in form and manner apparently
SO eligible for her beloved and only daugh-
ter
Well, week passed quite delightfully."-,
as have said; and at the expiration of
this brief period there might one forenoon
have been seen gay equestrian party
riding through our old Dcvonshiro woods
and quiet country roads. Elliott and | led
the cavalcade. [ rode my own beautiful
Brown Bess Captain Elliott was mounted
on the handsome black horse that had been
sent him from London. Following us was
bevy of merry girls and their cavaliers !;
and among them was tall, awkward, and
silent James Frazer. His presence had
marred the pleasure Of my ride, and | was
glad to be in advance of them ALL that
might not see him.
And so We rode on through the woods,
and | listened, well pleased, to the low but
animated words of the gallant Elliott, who
wished himself a knight and me fair lady
of the olden time, that he might go forth to
battle for me, and compel all men to recog-
nize the claims of his peerless love. Very
eloquently be spoke Of inspiration of love,
of the brave deeds and perilous exploits it
had prompted, wishing again and again
that he nigh. thus proclaim and maintain
his love before the world. 1t pleased me
to listen to this, and to believe it sincere,
though had no wish to put my lover to
such test.
\ shot suddenly rang through the still
woods, and wounded bird, darted past,
huttered and fell at the feet of Brown Bess
With bound aud spring that nearly I'M
seated me, size was off,
Struggling to regain my seat, had no
power to restrain her; and even as she
few, the fear and madness of the moment
grew upon her. 1 could only cling bresth-
lessly to the name and bride, and wondered
helplessly where this mad gallop was to
end. She swerved from passing wagon,
and turned into path that led to the river.
In the sudden movement the reins had been
torn from my hands, and could not regain
them. l clung to the name and closed my
eyes that | might not behold the fate that
awaited me. How sweet was my life in
those precious moments that | thought my
last How all its joys, its affection, its
last GROWING love rose up before me !! l
thought of the pang that would rend Ell
liott's heart as he saw me lying mangled
and dead; and then the thou ght would
come if he were pursuing and trying to
save, even, as he had said, at the risk of
life and limb.
remembered no more 1 felt sudden
shock, fearful rushing through the air,
and knew no more until, days afterwards,
| woke TO faint, weak semblance of life in
my chamber at home.
l never saw Captain Elliott again. The
last words | ever had from his lips were
those of knightly daring. The last act of
his life in connection with miae. was to
follow in the train of the frightened youths
who rode after me, to contemplate the