and he a man of refined and cultivated intellect, still I had no reason to doubt it, and was completely taken by surprise when, after an acquaintance of a few weeks, he one day made an offer of his hand and heart to me.  I told him what I had heard of his engagement to another, but he assured me it was the idlest village gossip.  ‘There was nowhere else to go,’ 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.