North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-05-02
gelert gtnry.


ucCldidIioLs N1 last Nlclltu name was
James Frazer He was tall, awkward,
homely. ungainly man but his heart was as
steel | respected him highly, and felt
panied when witnessed his anguish at my
rejection of him. But the fact was, | my.
self, had fallen in love with Captain Elliot,
who had been unremitting in his devotion
to me. Mr.. James Frazer had warned me
against Elliot, tnt | charged him with
Jealousy, and took his warning as an in
suit
A few days afterwards, Elliot and
were engaged, and my dream of romantic
love seemed to be in fair way to realiza-
toni had week of happiness. Many
have not as many in life time. Many
awake from the bright, short dream, to find
themselves in lifelong darkness and bond
age from which there is no escape. Thank
God was not to be as miserable as they
Ny mother was widow in good circum-
stances, aud having very bad health. She
was also of an easy, listless, credui0ns ma
ture-hating trouble and willing to take
things just as they happened to present
themselves. She, therefore, made no in
quiries about Captain Elliot-but fondly
believed that, inasmuch as he was Cap
tain, he must be man Of honor, especi ally
as he mad served in the Crimea and in In
dia, and won medals. His regiment was
quartercd in our neIghborhood and he had
the reputation of being the wealthiest; as
certainly he was the handsomest officer in
it. | remember well the day we were en-
gagged. He was on duty and had manag-
| ed 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 mama" He hastened to hcr-re-
turned in three minutes, and led me INTO
F'her presence to receive the assurance that
the maternal consent had been freely and
readily given-My dear mother hated
trouble, and she moreover loved me ten
derly so that she was well pleased to find
a husband presenting himself in = form
and manner apparently SO eligible for her
beloved and only daughter.
Well, week passed quite delightfully."-,
as have said, and at the expiration ofthat
there might have been seen an equestrian
party winding through our old Devonshire
woods and quiet country roads. Elliot and
l led the cavalcade. ! rode my own beau
tiful brown Bess. Captain Elliot was
mounted on a handsome black horse that
had been sent us from London. Follow
ing US was bevy of merry girls and their
cavaliers, among whom was tall, awkward
and silent James Frazer. His presence
had marred all 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, we'll pleased to the low,
but animated words of the gallant Elliot
who wished himself a knight, and me Q
fair ladye of the olden time, that he might
60 forth to do battle and compel all men to
recognize the claims of his peerless love,
Very eloquently he spoke of the inspira-
tions of love, Of the brave deeds and per-
ilous exploits it had prompted, wishing
again and again that he might proclaim
and maintain bis love before the world 1t
pleased me to listen to this, and to believe
it sincere, though surely had no wish to
put my lover to such test. A shot sud-
denly rang Trough the woods, and woun-
dec bird darling past futtered and fell at
the feet of brown Bess. With bound
and spring that nearly unseated me she
was off.
Struggling to regain my seat, had no
power to check her, and even as she flew
the fear and madness ofthe moment grew
npon her. could only cling breathessly
to name and bride, and wonder heIplessly
where this mad gallop was to end. She
swerved from a passing wagon, and turned
into path that led to the river. In the
sudden movement the reins had been torn
from nv hands and | could not regain
them. | clung to the name and closed my
eyes, that might not see the fate that
awaited me. How sweet was life in those
precious moments that / thought my last
How all its joys and affections, its crown
ing love rose up before me! | thought of
the pang that would rend Elliot's heart as
he saw me lying, mangled and dead; and
the thought would come if he we're pursu-
ing and trying to save me- even, as he had
said, at risk of life and limb. | remem-
bered no more. felt sudden shock,
fearful rushing through the air, and knew
no more for days afterwards l woke to a
faint, weak semblance of life in my cham
Der at home.
Inever saw Captain Elliot again. The
last words ever heard from his lips were
those of knighly daring. The last action
of his life in connection with mine, was to
follow the train ct frightened youths who
rode after me to contemplate the disaster
from afar, and as soon as he saw me lifted
from the shallow bed of the river, into
which had been thrown when my fright
eEed horse stopped SO suddenly on its bank
to ride hastily off That evening he sent
to make inquiries and learning that | was
severely If not fatally injured, he content
cd himself with such tidings of my condl-
ton and improvement as could be gained
from mere ramor. tt
Al Lat Il ru.a lrna.un that I mould TO.