Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-10-31
A coouErrE's CONFESSION.

victims name was James Frazer. H.
was a tall. awkward, homely and un-
painly man. but his heart was rs true as
sierl. ] respected him highly, and fell
pained when Witnessed his anguish Al
nv rejection Of him. But the fact was,
had myself fallen IN lore with Capt.
Elliott, who had been unremitting IN
his devotions 10 me. Mr.. Frazer
warned me against Mr.. Elliott; hut ]
charged him with jralnasy, aad took
his warning as an insult. A few davs
afterwards Elliott and I were engaged.
and nv dream Of romantic love seemed
in fair vav Of realizstion. / had q
week of happiness. Many have not 50
much in a lifetime. Many awake from
the bright. short dream to find them
selves in life long darkness. and bon
dsge from which there is no escape
Thank God, was not so miserable as
theyl
Ny mother was a widow in opulent
circumstances, but having very bad
health. she was also of an easy. listIess.
creduIous nature, hating trouble. and
willing to take things just as they might
happen 10 present themselves. She
therefore made no inquiries about Capt
EIliott--but londly believed that mas
much as he was captain, he must me-
eessarily he q man OF honor also. espe-
cially as he had served in the Cnmea
and in India, and wore medals. His
regiment was quartered in our neigh
borhood, and he had the reputation of
being one Of the w+allhIest, as he was
certainly the hsndsomest officer in it. l
remember as well as possible the day
when we became engaged; he was on
duty but had managed to ride over to
our house in his uniform, and while we
were walking in the garden he made the
tender avowal. / referred him to
"mamma;" he hsstened 10 her--return-
ed in three minutes--and led me in her
presence to receive the reinsurance that
the maternal consent had been readily
and freely given! To be surel Ny
dear mother hated trouble. as have
said-and she moreover loved me ten
DERBY; so that she was pleased TO find a
husband presenting himself in a form
and manner apparently so eligible for
her beloved and only daughter.
Well. week passed quite delight
fuIy. SIS have said; and at the expi-
ration Of this brief period there might
! ore icrenoon have bers seen a gas
equestrian party riding through our old
Drvonshire woods and quiet country
roads. Elliott and lead the cavalcade
j rode nv own beautiful brown B-ss.-
Captain Elicit was mounted on the
handsome black horse that had been
sent him from London Following wa
abrvy Of merry girls and their cavaliers;
and among them was tall. awkward and
silent James Frazier. His presence
had married the pleasure of my ride.
and I was glad to bein 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 gal
liant Elliott, who wished himself
knigh, and me fair lady Of the olden
time, that hr might 90 forth to do battle
for me-, and comprl all men TO recognize
the claims Of his peerless love. Very
eloquenIly he spoke Of the inspiration Of
love Of the brave deeds and perilous
exploits it had prompted. wishing again
and again that he might thus proclaim
and maintain his love before the world.
1t pleased me TO listen to this, and 10
believe it sincere, though surely had
no wish TO put my lover to such test.
A shot suddenly rang through the
still woods. and q wounded bird. dart
ing past, fultered and fell at the feet Of
Brown Bess. With a bound and q
spring that nearly unseated me, she
was of. 81.
Struggling to regain my seat, / had
no power to restrain her; and even as
she flew, the fear and madness Of the
moment grew upon her. ! could only
cling breathlessly TO the name and
bride, and wonder helplessly where
this mad gallop was to end. She
swerved from passing wagon, and
turned into path that lead to the riv-
ar. In the sudden movement the reins
had been torn from my hands, and |
could not regain them. ! clung to the
mare. and closed my eyes that | might
not behold the fate that awaited me-
How sweet was life in those precious
moments, that 1 thought my lastl How
all It's joys. its affections, its last crown
inp love rose up before me! ! thought
Of the psng that would rend Elliott's
heart as he saw me lying mangled and
dead; and then the thought would come
If he was pursuing and trying to save
me, even, as he had said, at the risk Of
life and limb.
remembered no more. felta sud
den shock, fearful rushing through
the air, and knew no more until. days
afterward, woke to faint, weak sem
blsnce Of life in my chamber at home
/ never saw Captain Elliott again
The last wolds ever heard from his
lips we're those Of knightly daring -
The last act of his life in connection
with mine, was TO follow in the train o.
frightened youth Who rode after ne 10
contemplate the disaster from afsr, and.
as soon as hs saw me lifted from the
shallow bed Of the river into which !
had been thrown Ehsa my frightened
horse stopped Suddenly on its bank, be