Year: 1861

A Coquette's nfessiOn.


was coquette Many lovers heart had
lacerated by refusing their offers of marriage,
after had lured them on to "declaration -
MY last victim's name was James Frazer He
was q tall, awkward, homely, 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 Cant.
Elliot, who had been unremittng in his deyo.
tlons to me. Mr.. Frazer warned me against
Elliot; but ] charged him with jealousy, and
took his warning as an insult. A few days af-
terwards Elliot and l were engaged, and nv
dream of romantic lifeiseemed to be in fair
way OF realization. had 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 80 miserable as they!


My mother was widow in opulept circum m.
stances, but having very bad health, she was
also OF an easy, listless, credulous nature, hat.
ing trouble, and willing to take things Just az
they might happen to present themselves She
therefore made no inquiries about Capt Elliot
but fondly believed that inasmuch as he was q
captain, he must necessarily be a man of honor
also, especially as he had served In the Crimea
and in India, and wore medals His regiment
was quartered in our neighborhood, and he had
the reputation of being one of the wealthiest,
as he was certainly the handsomest, officer in
It, remember as we'll as possible the day we
became engaged:-he was on duty, but had
managed to ride over to our house in his uni
form, and while we were walking in the garden
he made the tender avowal. referred him to
| "mamma:" he hastened to her-returned in
three minutes-and led me into her presence to
receive the assurance that the maternal consent
mad been readily and freely given! To be sure! (!
My dear mother hated trouble, as have said
and she moreover loved me tenderly; 30 that
she was pleased to find a husband presenting
himself In form and manner apparently go
elgible for her beloved and only daughter


well, week passed quite delightfully."-, as |
have said; and at the expiration of this brief
period there might one forenoon have been seen
a gay equestrian party riding through our old
Devonshire woods and quiet country roads
Elliot and led the cavacade. rode my own
beautiful Brown Bess, Capt. Elliot was mount.
ed on the handsome black horse that had been
sent him from London. Following Us was
bevy OF merry girls and their cavaliers; and
among them was tall, awkward, and silent Jas.
Frazer His presence had marred the pleasure
OF my ride, and was glad to be in advance of
them all that might not see him.


And 80 we rode on through the woods, and l
listened, well pleased, to the low but animated
words of the gallant Elliot, who wished himself
a knight and me fair lady of the olden time,
that he might go forth to do battle for me, and
compel all men TO recognize the claims Of his
peerless love. Very eloquently he spoke of the
inspiration OF love, of the brave deeds and per-
ilous exploits 1t had prompted, wishing again
and again that he might thus proclaim and main
tain his love before the world. IL pleased me to
listen to this, and to believe il sincere, though
l surely had no wish to put my lover to such a
test.


A shot suddenly rang through the still woods,
and wounded bird, darting past, huttered 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 restrain 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 helplessly where this mad
gallop was to end. She swerved from a passing
wagon, and turned into O path that led to the
river. In the sudden movement the reins had
been torn from my hands, and could not re-
gain them. l clung to the name, and closed nv
eyes that l might not behold the fate that
awaited me. How sweet was life in those bre.
clous moments that thought my last How
all its joys, its Affections its last crownpg love
rose up before me ! thought of the pang that
would rend Elliot's heart as he saw me lying
mangled and dead; and then the thought would
come II he were pursuing and trying to save
me, even, as be had said, at the risk Of life and
limb.


| remembered no more. l felt a sudden
shock, fearful rushing through the air, and
knew no more, until, days afterward, woke to
q faint, weak sembance of life in my chamber
at home.


| never saw Capt. Elliot again. The last
words ever heard from his lips were those Of
knightly daring. The last act of his life. in
connection with mine, was to follow In the train
OF frightened youths who rode after me, to con.
template 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 INV
frightened horse stopped suddenly on It's bank,
he rode hastily of. That evening he sent to
make inquiries, and learning that was severe.
ly, but 1t was hoped not fatally, injured, he
henceforth contented himself with such tidings
Of my condition and Improvement as could be
gained from mere rumor,


| At last 1t was known that l could never re-.
cover entirely from the effects Of my injury, and
that very day Capt. Elliot departed suddenly
from the neighborhood. He made no attempt
to see me, nor sent me any farewell. When /
was once more abroad, and beginning, though
with much unalIayed bitterness, to learn tRe
lesson Of patience and resignation that awaited
me, received letter from him, In which he
merely said that be presumed my own iudrmeu
had taught me that, In my altered circum.
etances, our engagement must be at an end;
but to satisfy his own sense Of honor (his honor n
he wrote to say that, while entertaining the
highest respect for me, he desired formal re.
nunciatlon Of my claim. 49, a Z


Writing at the bottom Of this letter, "Let /,
be as you wish," returned 1t to him at once,
and thus ended my brief dream Of romantic
love- ~ T7s :
had heard ere this Of Ellios's cowardly con-
duct on that day; and now fret bethouRht me
to inquire who had rescued me from imminent