Ellen Walton / Or, The Villain and His Victims

f the mountains, and kept by one Fleming, whence it derived the name of "Fleming's Hotel." This house, a small one, and indifferently furnished, was a favorite resort of

hat nice discrimination between propriety and politeness, which is a natural characteristic of the modest woman, had become somewhat obliterated, and the hold which virtue ever has by nature in the heart of the gentler sex, had been somewhat loosened. In short, the young Misses Fleming fa

lemn promises of marriage at an early day, which if he failed to perform, the direst maledictions of heaven, and the most awful curses, were called down upon his own head, even to the eternal consuming of his soul in the flames of perdition, he succeeded in his design. Virtue was overcome, and the jewel of purity departed from the heart of another of earth's daughters. Vain were the tears of the repentant girl to induce a perform

ward each other, when, one day, the betrayer entered the

d to repay your constancy and devotion by making you my bride in a few days; but

id you in such a manner as will insure me

f your devoted love! But the service I

e prove its

doubt my truth?

tions, or the strongest oaths, that my confidence is unbounde

Still I fear you will not cons

me an

jealous dispos

a question fo

answer me truly, and without reserve. Tell me your real sen

believe that intense hatred would arise in my heart toward one

disregard their ef

ur attachment, I would

t I should tell you that I

ou lo

ish affection,

ld care not

eft an incur

d i

di

w have I be

r, the wound was not in t

ow

the girl I fancied gave me mortal

d wish revenge! Revenge for what? And

e 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

hat is

co-ope

in such

y n

my own sex, and aid in the destructi

s injur

what

ave been my wife; but how could I trust my happiness with woman when woman had proved treacherous? I had been once deceived, an

t do to pursue her with vengeance? Perhaps she has rep

is point, I can say, I know she has not changed from what she was; and

do you wis

to-day, on their way to Ohio or Kentucky, and will put up at this house. Now I wish you t

nnot

the night; put her in seventeen, and it is

bout my own shame

d; and instead of bringing shame upo

s, I have done too much evil alre

his one favor; it is the last I shall r

conduct would di

d not b

vent such things b

l not be injured one particle by the occurrence,

ve this girl, and are

do not, that I

ek the society

y told you; and this oath must be

ay you again, d

lp me. I cannot

nk, for a moment, what it is you ask of me! Think what would be my feelings! Love is in

between this and a worse deba

mean

on condition you will accede

wife by the highest of all laws, the laws of nature and of God? How,

me, be kind, be gentle and loving, as you ever have been, and we will soo

Oh, tempter,

NEVER! Whose, then, will be the shame? Which will you be, an honorable wife,

I am in yo

you co

e will make me your wife? Have you not

and I will give it; as I mean wha

a written

as she di

. This promise I most solemnly give, calling on heaven to witness it, and if I fail in its

s Dur

ll do,"

ay depen

mind, all must be done quietl

I will be responsib

as she, and what the cause for this unrelenting and re