Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-04-28
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MY PLAIN LOVER.

gainly man, but his heart was true as steel.
/ respected him highly, and felt panied when l
witnessed his anguish at my rejection Of him.
But the fact was, had myself fallen in love
with Captain Elliott, who had been unremit-
ting in his devotion to me.
Mr.. James Frazer warned me against Ellioti
but charged him with jealousy, and took his
warning as an insult.
A few days afterwards Elliot and l were
engaged, and my dream of romantic love
seemed to be in fair way Of realization. |
had a week Of happiness. Many have not so
much in lifetime. Many awake from the
bright short dream to find themselves in life
long darkness, and bondage from which there
is no escape. Thank God, | was not to be so
miserable as they
Ny mother was widow in good circum-
stances, but having very bad health. She
was also of an easy, listless credulous nature
hating trouble, and willing to take things
just as they happened to present themselves.
She therefore made no inquiries about Cap
tain Elliot-but fondly believed that mas
much as he was Captain he must necessarily
be man Of honor also, especially as he had
served in the Crimea and India and won med
ais. His regiment was quartered in our neigh
borhoud, and he had the reputation of being
one of the wealthies, as he was certainly the
handsomest officer in it.
remember well the day We became enga-
ged. 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 imam
ma . he fastened to her-returned in three
minutes, and led me into her presence to re
ceive the assurance that the maternal consent
had been readily and freely given
Ny dear mother hated trouble, and she
moreover loved me tenderly, so that she was
well pleased to find a husband presenting
h imself in form and manner apparently so
eligible for her beloved and only daughter.
Well a week passed quite delightfully."- as
have said and at the expiration ofthis there
might have been seen an equestrian party
winding through our old Devonshire woods
and quiet country road. Elliot and led the
cavalcade. rode my own beautiful brown
Bess. Captain Elliot was mounted on a
handsome black horse that had been sent him
merry girls and their cavaliers; ana among
them was tall awkward and silent James FRA
zar. His presence had marred all the pleas
nra of my ride, and was glad to be in ad-
vance Of them all that might not see him.
Aud so we rode ON through the woods ana
7 listened, well pleased, to the low but an'ma,
ted words of the gallant Eliot, who wished
himself knight and me faire ladye OF the
olden time that he might go forth to do battle
and compel all men to recognize the claims
Of his peerless love. Very eloquently ne
smoke Of the inspiration of love, of the brave
deeds and perilous exploits it had promoted
wishing again and again that he might pro
claim and maintain his love before the world
Il rleased me to listen to this and to believe
sincere, though surely had"o wish to put m
lover to such test.
A shot suddenly rang through the Woou
and wounded bird, darting past huttere
and fell at the feet of brown Bess. win
bound and spring that nearly unseated me
she was off.
Struggling to regain my seal ! had no pow
or 10 check her, and even as she few' u
fear and madness Of the moment grew upo
her. | could only cling breathlessiy to II
name and bride, andwonder hopelessly whei
this mad gaIlop was to end. She swerve
from a passing wagon, and turned into pal
tho. led 10 the river In the sudden NOV
mont the reins had been torn from my ham
and could not regain them. chung to u
name and closed my eyes, that | might ne
behold the fate that awaited me- How swe
was life in those precious moments that
thought my last! How all its joys, its aiie
t;ons. its last crowuing love rose up befo
me thought of the pang that would re
Fllot's heart as he saw me lying mangled a
dead and then the thought would come II
were pursuing and trying to save me- eve
as he had said, at the risk of life and limb.
7 remembered no more. | felt sudd
shock. fearful rushing through the air, a
knew no more until days afterwards, | wo
at a faint, week sembIance of life IN
chamber home.
never saw Captain Elliot again. The
words I ever heard from his lips we're th'
Of L,niqhtly daring. The last action OF
life IN connection with mine, was to follow
the train of frightened youths who rode al
me- to contemplate the disaster from a
and rs soon as he saw me lifted from
shallow bed of the river, into which
been thrown when my frightened horse st
ned suddenly on it's banks, to ride hastily
That evening he sent to make enquiries
learning that / was severely, but 1t was ,
ed not fatally, injured, he thencetqrth c
tented himself with such tidings Of my
dition and improvement as could be gan
from mere rumor.
At last it was known that | would nj
recover entirely from the effects Of my
nv, and that very day Captain Elliot depa
ess'' suddenly from the neighborhood He m
/, no attempt to see me, nor sent me any
well. When / was once more abroad.
beginning, though with much unailoyed
terness. to learn the lesson of patience
resignation that awaited me, received q
tor from him, in which he merely said th'
presumed my own Judgment had taught
that in my sltered circumstances, our eng
) mant must come to an end but to satisfy
own sense of honor {his honor , he wro
49, chile entertaining the highest rel