re so many fashionable people there.' She used
to go out driving with Mr. and Mrs. Pattmore, and sometimes with Mr.
Pattmore alone, often going as far as fifteen or twenty miles into the
country. I did not at all like the way she was acting, and I determined
to use every effort to induce her to return to Massachusetts with me.
This visit, Mr. Pinkerton, took place about two months ago.

"After remaining in Greenville a few days, I went to visit Lucy in
Morristown. We had a long talk together about Annie, and finally, Lucy
confided to me that she feared that Annie was _enceinte_.

"'Good heavens, Lucy! that is impossible!' I exclaimed. 'Our family has
never had such a disgrace cast upon it before; it has always maintained
its purity. No, no; it can't be possible.'

"'I am not _sure_ of it,' said Lucy; 'but I know there is something
wrong with her, and I greatly fear that she is a ruined woman.'

"I hardly knew what to say or do, the mere suspicion was such a terrible
blow."

Here the Captain became greatly affected; the perspiration started on
his forehead in large beads, and he often made long pauses, as he
continued. His emotion would sometimes entirely overcome him, so that he
could not speak.

"Well," he went on, "Lucy wrote to Annie, and back came the answer fully
confirming the horrid suspicion. Annie freely confessed that she was
_enceinte_, and that Pattmore was the father of her unborn child. She
said that she and Pattmore dearly loved each other, and that she could
not bear the thought of separating from him.

"My first impulse was to curse her and never see her again; but my old
love for her could not be set aside, and pity soon took the place of
anger. I could see that Pattmore had thrown a spell around her by his
fascinating manners, and she was completely under his influence. I
determined to save her from exposure and disgrace, if possible, and,
therefore, started for Greenville immediately. I had intended to speak
to Annie in a severe and indignant tone, but she rushed to meet me with
such a glad little cry that my anger melted away, and tears sprang
unbidden to my eyes.

"'Oh! Annie! Annie!' I exclaimed, 'what have you done! How has this man
acquired such a terrible power over you as to make you forget your
marriage vows and live a life of infamy with him? Have you no stings of
conscience? Think how our sainted mother would feel if she could see her
little Annie in the power of a heartless libert