Year: 1865

l was cOquette. Many aloVer's heart
had lacerated by refusing his offer OF
marriage, after | had lured him on to a
declaration. My last victims name was
James Frazer He was tall, awkward,
homely, ungainly man, but his heart was
true as steel. | respected him highly,
and felt panied when | witnessed his an
guish at,my rejection of him. But the
fact was, l had myself fallen in love with
CAPTAIN Elliott, who had been unremit-
ting in his devotion to me.


Mr.. James Frazer warned me against
Elliott; but I charged him with jealousy,
and took his warning as an insult.


A few days afterwards Elliat and were
engaged, and my dream of romantic love
seemed to be in fair way for 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, L was not to be so miserable
as theyl


My mother was a widow in good cir
cumstanees, but having very bad health.
She was also of an easy, credulous nature
hating trouble, and willing to take
things just as they happen to present
themselves. She therefore made no in
quiries about Captain Elliot-but fondly
believed that inasmuch as he was a cap
tain he must necessarily be man of hon
or also, especially as he had served in the
Crimea and India, and had won medals.
His regiment was quartered in our neigh
borhood, and he had the reputation of
being one of the wealthiest, as he was
certainly the handsomest officer in it.


l remember well the day we became
engaged. He was on duty, but had man
aged to ride over to our house in his uni
form, and while we walked in the gar
den he made the tender avowal. I re-
ferred him to mamma He fastened to
her; returned in three minutes, and led
me into her presence to receive the as
surance that the maternal consent had
been readily and freely given


My dear mother hated trouble, and she,
moreover, loved me tenderly; so that she
was well pleased to find a husband pre-
senting himself in form and manner so
apparently eligible for her beloved and
only daughter.


Well, a week passed quite delightfully."-,
as l have said; and at the expiration of
this there might have been seen an eques-
trian party winding through our Devon
shire woods and quiet country roads,
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 from Lon
don. Following US was bevy of merry
girls and their cavaliers; and among them
was tall, awkward and silent James Fra
zer. His presence had marred all the
pleasure of my ride, and | was glad to be
in advance of them all, that might not
see him.


And as we rode on through the woods.
listened, we'll pleased, to the low but
animated words of the gallant Elliot, who
wished himself a knight and me a faire
ladye of the olden time, that he might 90
forth to do battle and compel all men to
recognize the claims of his peerless love.
Very eloquently he spoke of the inspira-
ton of love, of the brave deeds and per-
ilous exploits it had prompted, wishing
again and again that he might proclaim
and maintain his love before the world.
It pleased me to listen to this and to be-
lieve it sincere, though l surely had no
wish to put my lover to such test.


A shot suddenly rang through the
woods, and wounded bird, darting past,
futtered and fell at the feet of brown
Bess. With a 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 few.
the fear and madness of the moment grew
upon her. could only cling breathlessly
to the name and bride, and wonder
where this mad gallop was to end. She
swerved from passing wagon, and turn
ed into path that led to the river. In a
sudden movement the reins had been
torn from my hands, and could not re-
gain 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 l thought INV
last How all its joys, its affections, its
last crowning love rose up before mel /
thought of the pain that would rend Ell
lots heart, as he saw me lying mangled
and dead; and then the thought would
COM come II II ne & were pursuing SI gar and trying to
of life and limb.


I remember no more. I felt a sudden