Ellen Walton | Page 5

arrived, he prepared the way, and
again declared himself a lover, with more eloquence than before. Again
his suit was gently declined; but this time he persevered until his
importunities became unbearable, and with them, all Ellen's old
prejudices returned, strengthened ten-fold. If he could and would force
himself for weeks and months upon an unwilling victim of his
importunities, and attempt by such means to force her to accept his
hand, he was depraved enough for any other wickedness. So she plainly
told him she could not and would not submit longer to his unreasonable
conduct; that he must consider himself as finally, fully and unrecallably
dismissed.
"And give up all hope--the hope that has sustained and given me life so
long? Oh, think, Ellen, think of my misery, of the untold wretchedness
into which you plunge me, and let your heart, your kind, generous heart,
relent!"
"Mr. Durant, I have told you often and often that it was impossible for
me to love you, and that it was kindness to tell you so. If you have
disregarded my oft repeated declaration, the truth of which you must
long ere this have been convinced, the fault is yours, not mine."
"I know you have so spoken often, but still I have dared to hope. I
loved too fervently for the passion ever to die before you denied me
hope. Think of all these things, and then recall your words."
"You have repeated them so frequently, that I could not well avoid
thinking of them whether I chose to or not. Let me now say, once for
all, that importunities are utterly useless, and can prove of no avail."
"Then I am to understand you as casting me off from your presence;

and this being the end of your kindness, may I ask what was the object
of that kindness?"
"I always endeavor to do unto others as I would have them do to me. If
you think such a course wrong, I cannot help it."
"Then you would wish some person, who had the power, to show you
all manner of good will, until your affections were won, and so firmly
fixed as to be unalterable, and then cast you off?"
"No, I should be far from desiring such conduct on the part of any one."
"And yet that is your way of 'doing as you would be done by!'"
"I am not aware of ever having done so; if I have been the unwitting
instrument of such acts, I am truly sorry for it."
"Then let your sorrow work repentance."
"Tell me how, and I will try to do so."
"You cannot be ignorant of my meaning."
"I am totally at a loss to know how your remarks can apply to me, in
any way."
"Then I will speak plainly. Your actions for the last few months have
been such as to bid me hope for a return of my love, and allured by that
hope, founded on those actions, I have placed my affections so strongly,
that I fear it will be death to tear them away. As you have caused me to
love, is it demanding more than justice that I should ask you to at least
try to love me in return?"
"Mr. Durant, you know that your accusations are untrue. Did you not
just tell me that you loved before you ever spoke to me on the subject?
and have you not repeatedly, aye, a hundred times, told me I was cold
toward you, ever evincing a want of cordiality? How, then, can you
have the face to ask a return of love on this score? Since you have been
at such pains to make out so contradictory a case, I will say that you but

lessen yourself in my esteem by the attempt!"
"I see, alas, you are a heartless coquette!"
"Because I will not place the half of my father's wealth in your
possession. I have read your motive from the beginning, sir, and have
only refrained from telling you my mind, because I make it a rule to
have the good will of a dog, in preference to his ill will, when I can.
But as your conduct to-day has removed the last thin screen from your
real character, and revealed your naked depravity of heart, I care not
even for your friendship. You know, you feel, that you are a degraded
wretch, and that you are unworthy of the society of the virtuous."
"Madam, those words just spoken have sealed your fate! Dog as I am, I
have the power to work your ruin, and I will do it! I go from your
presence a bitter and unrelenting foe! The love you have rejected has
turned into bitterness, and the dregs of