Year: 1866

on 10 ueclaratlon- My last victim 5
name was James Frazer. He was a
tall, awkward, homely, ungainly man,


out his heart was true as steel. / re-
spected him highly, and felt panied
when witnessed his anguish at nv
rejection of him. But the fact was, /
had myself fallen in love with CAPTAIN


Elliott, who had been unremittino in


his devotion to me. Mr.. James Fra


ger warned me against Mr.. Elliott. but


L charged him with jealousy, and took


his warning as an insult.


A few days afterward Elliott and


were engaged, and my dream Of ro-
mantle love seemed TO be in fair wav


of realization. / had week of happi-


ness. Many had not so much in a life


time. Many awake from the bright


short dream to find themselves in n
lifelong darkness, and bondage from
which there is no escape. Thank
God, was not 10 be so miserable as
they!


My mother was a widow in good cir
cumstances, but having very bad
he~lth. She --@s alsa of am easy, list


less, credulous nature hating trouble.
and willing TO take things Just as they


happen to present themselves. She


therefore made no inquiries about Cap
tain Elliott-but tondly believed that
lnasmuch as he was q Captain, he
must necessarily be man of honor
also, especially as he had served in the
Crimea, and in India, and won medals.


His regiment was quartered in the
neighborhood, and he had the reputa-
tion of being one of the wealthiest, as
he was certainly the handsomest, Off
Ger in it. / remember we'll the day


we became engaged. He was on duty


but had managed to ride over to our
house in his uniform, and while we


were walking into the house he made
the tender avowal. | referred him to
mamma he hastened to her-re-
turned in three minutes, and led me in
to her presence to receive the assn
rance that the maternal consent had
been readily and freely given. NY
dear mother hated trouble, and more
over loved me tenderly, so that she
was well pleased to find husband
presenting himself in form and man
ner apparently so eligible for her be
loved and only daughter


Well a week passed quite delightful
ly, as l have said and at the expira-
ton of this there might have been seen
agay equestrian party winding through
our old Devonshire woods and quiet
country roads. Elliott and / led the
cavalcade. rode my own beautiful
brown Bess. Captain Elliott was
mounted on 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 James
Frazer. His presence had marred all
the pleasure of my ride, and l was
glad to be in advance of them ALL that
/ might not see him.


And so we rode on through the
woods, and listened, well pleased, to
the low, animated words of the gallant
Elliott whowished himself knight and
me faire ladye of the olden times, that
he might go forth to do battle and
compel all men to recognize the claims
of his peerless love- Very eloquently
he spoke of the inspirations of love, of
the brave deeds and perilous exploits
it had prompted, wishing ogain and
again that lie might proclaim aud
maintain his love before the world. 1t
pleased me to listen to this and believe
it sincere, though | 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 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 flew, the fear and madness of the
moment grew upon her. could only
cling breathlessly to name and bride,
and wonder helplessly where this mad
gallop was to end. She swerved from
a passing wagon, and turned into a
path that led to the river. In the
sudden movement the reins had been
torn from my hands and L could not
regain them. l clung to the name and
closed my eyes that might not behold
the fate that awaited me. How sweet
was life in those precious moments
that l thought my last How all its
joys, its affections, its last crowning
love, rose up before me l thought
of the pang that would rend Elliott's
heart as he saw me lying mangled and
dead and then the thought would
come if he were pursuing and trying
to save me, even, as he had said, at
the risk of life and limb. / felt sud-
den shock, fearful rushing through
the air, and knew no more until days
/ woke to faint, weak SEM
blance of life in my chamber at home.


/ never saw Captain Elliott after
wards. The last words 1 ever heard
from his lips were those of knightly
king. This last action Of his life in
connection with mine, was 10 follow
in the trains of frightened youths who
rode after me, to contemplate the dis
aster from afar, and as soon as he saw
me lifted from the shallow bed of the
river into. which / had been thrown
when my frightened horse stopped
on its bank, TO ride hastily
of. That evening he sent to make in
quiries, and learning that was severe
ly, but it was hoped not fatally injnr
ed, he thenceforth contented himself
with such tidings OF my condition and
as could be gained by


At last, it was known rnaU uo"la
never recover entirely from the effects
,fmy injury, and that very day Capt
elliott suddenly departed from the
He made no attempt
o see me nor sent me any FAREWELL
" hen was once more abroad, and
with much unalloyed bitter |
less, to learn the lesson of patience
nd resignation that awaited me, re-
eived letter from him, in which he |
merely said that he presumed my own
lDgment had taught me in my alter
d circumstances our engagement /
lust come to an end; but to satisfy
is own sense of honor This honori y |