Ellen Walton | Page 2

wretched beyond endurance!"
"I am glad to hear you talk so. Still I fear you will not consent to serve
me as I shall wish."
"Try me and see."
"Are you of a jealous disposition, my love?"
"Jealous? What a question for you to ask!"
"It may appear strange, yet I would be pleased to have you answer me
truly, and without reserve. Tell me your real sentiments without reserve
or disguise. Much depends thereon."
"Truly, I cannot say, never having been tried; but I can verily believe
that intense hatred would arise in my heart toward one of my sex who
would attempt to supplant me in your affections."
"Suppose I should disregard their efforts, what then?"
"Nothing. If sure of your attachment, I would care for nothing beside."
"'Tis well! But suppose that I should tell you that I once loved another
than you?"
"As you love me?"
"No; with a boyish affection, soon forgotten."
"Then I would care nothing for it."
"Not if it left an incurable wound?"
"Did it?"
"It did!"

"My God! How have I been deceived."
"Don't be alarmed, my dear, the wound was not in the heart--it was in
pride."
"How?"
"I was not troubled at heart, but the girl I fancied gave me mortal
offense, and I would be revenged!"
"How so? What is this? Don't love, and wish revenge! Revenge for
what? And that dark frown--what means all this?"
"Be calm; you are excited; you fear my truth; and where there is no
confidence, love soon departs. I can soon explain all. In my young days
I fell in love with a beautiful girl of my own age; but soon learned that
she was not virtuous, and with this knowledge my love changed into
desire. As the least return for my love, to gain which she had recourse
to all the wiles and blandishments of a coquette, I wished to possess her
for a time; but she spurned me from her presence as she would a dog!
From that hour I have sworn to have my revenge and gain my point.
My hour has now come, and I can accomplish my oath, provided I am
secure of one thing."
"And what is that?"
"Your co-operation."
"Me aid in such a scheme!"
"Why not?"
"_Why not?_ Shall I turn the enemy of my own sex, and aid in the
destruction of one who has never injured me?"
"She has injured you."
"In what way?"

"By destroying, in a good degree, my confidence in the sex. Had that
confidence been unshaken, you would, long ere this time, have been
my wife; but how could I trust my happiness with woman when woman
had proved treacherous? I had been once deceived, and distrust had
taken the place of faith, when I met you. You know the result. Now tell
me, has not this girl injured you deeply?"
"It may be so; but why not let her go? What good can it do to pursue
her with vengeance? Perhaps she has repented. How wicked, then, to
destroy her peace of mind."
"Dream not that such as she will ever repent. But to satisfy you on this
point, I can say, _I know she has not changed from what she was_; and
it is this knowledge that, above all things, urges me on in my plans."
"Well, what do you wish me to do?"
"Listen. I have just learned that this girl, in company with her family,
will be in town to-day, on their way to Ohio or Kentucky, and will put
up at this house. Now I wish you to so place the young lady, that I can
have access to her sleeping apartment; this is all."
"I cannot do it."
"You can; I will take number eighteen for the night; put her in
seventeen, and it is all I ask. I am sure this is easily done."
"And thus bring about my own shame and her dishonor?"
"I tell you she is already dishonored; and instead of bringing shame
upon yourself, you take it away forever."
"Do not tempt me to do wrong! Alas, I have done too much evil already!
I pray God I may be forgiven!"
"Come, now, be a good girl, and do me this one favor; it is the last I
shall require of you until I give you my name."
"I cannot. Such conduct would disgrace our house."

"It need not be known."
"It is hard to prevent such things being spread abroad."
"I will take care of that point. Your house shall not be injured one
particle by the occurrence, I give you my word for it. Now do you
consent?"
"Perhaps you still love this girl, and are trying to deceive me."
"I swear that I do not, that I