Year: 1878

slant companion, OF my eluesU piO''Oi'
Tomorrow is the day fixed for the
wedding. am certain | should not
have made this engagement i'll had
greater freedom of intercourse with
other men, so as to compare and JUDGE
of character. This freedom L have
never enjoyed until lately, and the re-
suit of my observation has beer any
thing but favorable TO my intended
Daily I discovered in him traits OF
character which eA'ectually destroyed
all the romance of my prediction. But
still | forebore to break with him, con-
soling myself with the reflection that ne
man is perfect, aud that must expect
TO meet with defects in whosocyer l
might take for my husband. | tell you
this that you may understand why l
did not seek to put an end to this en-
gacement until it had approached so
near its completion. I felt dissatisfied,
and wished that were free; but it was
not till this evening that l perceived IN
him points ofcharacter, which excited
nv contempt. l need explain what
those points are-it is sufficient that |
ieel contempt for him; and with such a
sentiment in my heart, can it be right
l should marry him''


Decidedly not said the doctor en-
phatically.


Then what course would You advise
me to adopt to be rid ofhim:' demand
ed The lady.


'Wsuld not this be question for a
clergyman or a lawyer to settle asked
the doctor. gently, rather than Tor a
physician, whose skill is mainly direct
ed TO curin. the ills Of the body
Nevertheless, as you ask my advice, l
cannot hut give it to the best of my
knowledge and judgment. 1t seems TO
NE that YOU have one of tive courses to
pursue-either TO decline openly to
keep your engagement, or to throw
Yourself upon the homer Of the gentle
man. He could net insist on your
keeping promise Of this nature, if you
EXPRESSED a wish torc.racti it.


Under ordinary circumstances, and
ordinary people to deal WITH said the
lady. either of these plans or a combi-
notisn Of the two, would no doubt be
successful. But l have already told
ven in what formidable array my family
can muster 10 oppose; and they would
do so. every one of them, If l were .
attempt to briss such disgrace on them
(sr such they would all consider it) as
to refuse this marriage from apparent
caprice at the the eleventh hour


In matter SO entirely concerning





yourself, and in which your happiness
for life IS involved. l should imagine
that, in these enlightened days, every
one wsuld yield to yeur wishes and
Judgment said the doctor.


The days are certainly past when a
lady could be stormed and carried at
the point Of the bayonet.' replied the
visitor; but an immense amount Of
coercion can protect US from


Then it seems to NE that ysur own
fnmncss and resolution should supply
the deficiency SAID the docter.


You are ofagc. l presume:'


Yes she replied, and year beyond
it. But ny beng legally entitled to
act for myself does net, as I told you,
protect me from the peculiar kind vi CO.
ercien winch dread. Do you remem-
bcr tie ballad Of Aud ROBIN Gray:'
Ny father urs, re 'air, but my ni'h'r did''
YET .se IooAi. in ny face, til my hear; vas lik'


to break


Can you say the was no coercion to-
ward the heroine Of that sad tale ? And
II is precisely this kind Of influence that
| fear: and fear my own strength to
withstand it. On every hand l shall
be beset with arguments, anger, re-
proaches, upbraidngs, lectures, appeals
to flial and sisterly affection, sobbngs,
sighings, and hlstericks. Ny conduct
would be ascribed to every motive bui
the true one, because they have seen nc
change IN the gentleman, and will moi
allow that am blessed with keenel
s;oht. At one moment shall be tolC
that am a shameless jilt and an arden
coquette; that crave so inOrdlnateil
for notoriety at any cost taat can cool
lv sacrifice the most sacred feelings o
a con idng lover in order to become
nine-days' talk. And the next momen
| shall be informed that such cenduc
as mine can only be explained on th'
supposition Of my having formed som'
attachment 50 excessively unworthy o
my birth and connection that L all
ashamed 10 acknowledge it; and thu
kind surmise will come from my Aun
Matilda, my maiden aunt, who is SO on
lly because she was stopped when abou
to run away with my grandfather's valet
? should, IN fact, be assailed by al
amount of talk against which it woul
be impossible to stand


Then why not take the other altena
tive [ mentioned, ami throw yoursel
upon the honor and generosity OF tn
rentleman:' said the doctor.


Simply because there IS nothing c
the kind to threw myself upon, she re
phed. If there were, L shesld no


wish 10 be freed from him. He possess
es neither honor norgensrosity, but II


heir place are the most groveling dc