Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-09-17

ents. and remember with pain their
troubled looks whenever | bad been
talking with Du Bots. Then mother
spoke to me about the matter. telling
me that when a gentleman became de
voted to girl beneath him In station
only trouble would come of It But
turned a deaf ear to what she said, so
infatuated was | with the man who
was charming me as a snake viii
charm bird.
can only refer without particulars
ing to the courtship, | have wondered
since that at SO tender an age should
have resisted one so persuasive. Per
haps this was due TO the influence Of
my mother, who. II she could not in
duce me to break with my lover. at
least convinced me that IL he was sim
cere he would ask me to be his wife.
So at last he did, but said that his
mother, who was living, would not
consent to the alliance. She was very
feeble and could last but short time.
So Harry persuaded me TO marry him
clandestinely
When | remember that was to be
made the victim OF a mock marriage |
realize how far ! am now removed
from that age. Such weddings were
then a common method of victimizing
innocent girls. Now they are unheard
of. The little church where met
Du Bots Is still standing, though the
persons who worship In it are much
- ~.o- -. xax-
place at night. for | was pledged to
keep Ii a secret from my parents. !
remember that ! passed through Sc
we're mental struggle before ! could
bring myself to deceive them, but l
tried TO think Of how proud they would
be when was acknowledged as the
wife of a wealthy and aristocratic
planter. Yet in my heart knew that
/ did not eonfide in them. for they
would surely prevent the marriage IL
they knew II was TO take place.
1t was near midnight when | got out
OF my window on to the veranda and
descended by the limb of a magnolia
tree that overhung IT. can see now
in the moonlight the manor house. the
negroes white cabins thanking II, the
double row OF moss covered trees lead
ing TO the gate. / had scarcely reached
1t when Harry ciasped me in his arms.
MY legs seemed about TO give way be-
meath me, and be carried me to two
wheeled cart, placed me In Ii and drove
me to the church. IL was dark. the
reflected light of the moon only shin
ing from pane of glass.
Some one opened q side door and |
was led I'm. the moonlight strea ming
through gothic windows, To the chancel
There stood a clergyman In his vest
meuts. A lamp such as is used 10
throw a Hight on a sermon alone was
burning low. He turned Il up. its light
falling on prayer book. Then he be-
gan to read the marriage service He
seemed to be unfamiliar with 1t and
constantly stumbled. But so far as
was able to take cognizanee of this
attributed IL TO haste He came TO the
part where an opportunity is given to
enter a protest against the marriage.
when voice from behind said:
Don't make a noise. gentlemen 1
got word of your scheme this after
noon You talked too loud at the ST
Leger tavern. On the young lady's ac-
count this affair must be Kept quiet
Du Bots. you are villain Of the deep
est dye. as for you. Markham. you are
beneath contempt"
These words sounded In my ears as
If they came from a distance. Others
We're spoken. but ! don't remember
them Then the same voice spoke to
me. the light fell for moment on the
speakers features. and saw Courtney
Carroll
VIII you permit me TO get you
home? win try to do SO without your
return being known"
/ knew now that | had been tricked
aud that ] had been sared. put my
trembling hand on CARROTS arm and
left the church with him. When / got
home was too weak to ascend TO my
room as | had come down from it, and
Carroll climbed the magnolia. went
into my room. stepped downstairs and
opened the door for me. I reached my
chamber without arousing any one.
The next morning deferred going
downstairs till all had breakfasted.
When entered the dining room. pale
and trembling. Susan. the servant. said
to me:
Laws a-massy. Missy Alice, hab 20
hearn de awful news7'
NO For heavens sake. what IS
itY-
Dis mawnin' about sun up Marse
Courtney Carroll and Marse Harry Du
Bots ft a duel. and Marse Carroll done
got pretty nigh killed"
How ! bore this second blow can
not conceive. II took Susan but a
moment 10 hurl the shaft, but the pain
suffered IS with me today. an old
woman
Courtney Carroll fingered for several
days, then died Shortly before his
death be sent for me TO come TO him.
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