Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-06-05
MY PLAIN LOVER.

I was a coquette. Many lovers
heart I had lacerated by refusing their
offers of marriage after had lured them
on to a declaration" My last VIC
tim's name was James Frazer. He was
a tall, awkward, homely and ungainly
man. but his heart was as true as steel.
I respected him highly, and felt panied
when / witnessed his anguish at my
rejection of him. But the fact was, |
had myself fallen in love with Elliott
Tracy, city gallant, who had oeen
unremitted In his devotions 70 me.
James Frazer warned me against FL
liott, but charged him with Jealousy,
and took his warnings as an insult. In
a few days after Elliot and l were en-
gagged, and my dream Of romantic love
seemed to be In q fair way OF reaiiza-
ton. I had a 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 Ia no escape. Thank God. was
not to be so miserable as they.
There was an equestrian party vino.
ing through our grand old woods and
quiet country roads, Elliott and 1 led
the cavalcade. rode my own beauti-
full Brown Bess. Elliott was mounted
on the handsome black horse that had
been sent him from the city. Follow
ing us was bevy of merry girls and
their cavaliers, and among them, tall,
awkward, and silent, rode James Fra
ger. His presence had marred all the
pleasure Of my ride, and was glad to
be 10 advance of them all that l might
not see him. AK
And as we rode on over the soft,
sandy road, that echoed not the tramp
of horses hoOfs, and listened well
pleased to the low but animated words
ofElliott Tracy, who wished himself a
knight, and me fair lady of the olden
time, that he might go forth to DO bat
tie for me, and compel all men TO rec
ognize the claims of his peerless love-
Very eloquently he spoke the inspira,,
ton of love, Of the brave deeds and
perilous exploits it had prompted,
wishing again and again that ne might
proclaim and maintain his love before
the world. 1t pleased me to listen tG
this, and to believe 1t sincere. though
surely had no wish to put my lover to
such test. H.
A shot rang through the still woods,
and q wounded bird, darting past, nut
tered and fell at the feet of Brown
Bess, with bound and q spring
that nearly unseated me, she was off
Struggling to retain my seat, l haC
no power to restrain her, and even. a.
she few the fear and madness of thu
moment grew upon her. could only
cling breathlessly to name and bride
and wonder helplessly where this mac
gallop was to end. She swerved from
passing wagon, and turned into a car
track. that led to the river. In the sud
den movement the reins had been tori
from nv hands, and / could not regail
them. Iclung to the name and closed
nv ewes that might not behold tn
fate that awaited me. How sweet wa
life in those precious moments that ;
thought my last. How all Its joys, 1t
last crowning love rose up before me
thought of the pang that would rent
Elliott's heart as he saw me lying
mangled and dead, and then tn
thought would come If he were tryin
to save me, even, as he had said at tn
risk of life or limb.
Remembered no more. felt a sud
den shock, q fearful rushing througl
the air, and knew no more until, day
afterwards, woke to q faint, weak re
semblance Of life, In my room at home
I never saw Elliott Tracy again
The last words I ever heard from hi
lips were those of knightly daring
The last act of his life, in connectio
with mine, was to follow in the train .
frightened youths who rode after mi
to contemplate the disaster from afaI
and as soon ashe saw me lifted fror
the shallow bed Of the ryer into whic
I had been thrown when my Fighter
ed horse stopped suddenly on its banl
to ride hastily back to the villag'
That evening he sent to make inquire
and learning that was severely but
was hoped not fatally injured, b
thencefOrth c0ntented himself wit
such tidings of my condition and In
provement as could be gained from vi
Iage rumOr. (" = 'F
At last it was known that woul
never recover entirely from the etiec
of fmy injury, and that very day Ellio
Tracy departed suddenly from the vi
lage. He made no attempt to see m
nor sent me any farewell. When 4 w
once more abroad, and beginnin
though with much unallayed bite
ness, to learn the lesson of patience az
resignation that awaited me, ! receivi
aletter from him, In which he mere
said that he presumed my. own jud
ment had taught me that, In my .
tered. circunistanc e0nf engageme
4. - L.,t As%N k4o$xr !,