o,' he said, 'till I
came there, and so he had occasionally visited at Mr. G----'s, but
without the slightest intention of paying any serious attention to
either of his daughters, who were girls not at all to his taste.'"

"The idea of this gentleman appearing in the character of a lover of
_mine_ was so new to me that I was obliged to take time to accustom
myself to it, and to ascertain the nature of my own feelings, which I
soon found were such as to satisfy me that I should commit no perjury in
giving him my hand. I will not tell you how I loved him! I cannot write
about it now! But for a short time I was very, very happy, and even my
bitter disappointments were forgotten. But suddenly he ceased to visit
me. Day after day passed and he did not come; and yet I knew that he was
in the village. At length I could no longer conceal my distress from my
old friend; who, being very indignant at this treatment, called my
truant lover to account."

"My cheeks glow with indignation as I write it! A story had been
circulated, which was afterwards traced to the G---- 's, that I had left
a _husband_ in an Eastern State; and this man, without coming to me for
a word of explanation, believed the story and deserted me. I had no
friend of long enough standing there to contradict the report; I wrote
to you, Mr. Wharton, but the letter could never have reached you, for no
answer came; and this only confirmed the suspicions of those who had
heard this slanderous story. All but my kind hosts looked upon me with
suspicion; the object of the slander was accomplished; my former lover
resumed his visits at the house of Mr. G----, and his attentions to his
daughter. He was not worthy of a love like mine! Stranger as he had been
to me, could I have believed a tale like that of him, without making an
effort to investigate its truth, or giving him full opportunity to clear
himself from the imputation? That place could no longer be a home for
me. I left it, dear friends, and turned my face once more towards those
who had been for so many years tried and true to me. But strength
failed! I have been here I know not how many weeks, enduring torment of
mind and body. My hope of reaching you is dying out. I _have_ no hope
but in God; my friend and refuge in time of trouble! I have--'"

Here the writing ceased; and the next moment she had seen her faithless
lover hand his bride from the carriage, and reason fled from her poor
brain forever.

The day