Ellen Walton / Or, The Villain and His Victims

ory, a planter, who had once been wealthy, but whose princely fortune had become much reduced by indiscriminate kindness. Possessed of a nobl

move to the West, as a means of retrieving his affairs, as well as to cut loose

ty-one, the latter eighteen, at the time we wish to introduce them to the reader's notice. Both were worthy, the one as a man, the other as a woman. He was noble, inte

s beset with admirers; some loving her, some her wealth, and some both. To all but one she turned a deaf ear; that one, though the least presuming of the many, and too diffident to urge his claim until impelled by the irresistable violence of his love, possessed, unknown to himself, a magnetic power over the heart of the

case with those who had an eye to the fortune rather than the heiress, taking the latter as the only means of obtaining the former; and first among this number was Louis Durant, a man of corrupt principles, and deeply depraved feelings. A sprig of a noble family of small pretensions, whose pride far exceeded their means, he was desirous of obtaining wealth; and being too indolent to enter a profession, too poor to become a merchant, and

ortune, and construing her reserve into the bashfulness of a first passion, being too vain to acknowledge the inability of his powers of fascination to carry all before them,

ghter to decide the matter. Thus referred, he lost no time in making Ellen the recipient of his "tale of love." All his theatrical powers were called in action; his eloquence commanded; but the impressions made were far different

e your heart will yield when you are convinced o

eel that I shall never be able to love you; an

erate, so good, is too pure, too near akin to heaven

u shall ever

I but prove worthy

friend, he could ever have access to the heiress, and be received more familiarly than in any other capacity, save as an acknowledged

til even Ellen began to think she had done him injustice by her suspicions. This is a favorable moment for a lover. Prove that you have been dealt with unjustly, and a woman's heart is opened by sympathy to let you in. It was well for Ellen th

earable, 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 acc

g? Oh, think, Ellen, think of my misery, of the untold wretchedness into w

that it was kindness to tell you so. If you have disregarded my oft repeated declaration,

I loved too fervently for the passion ever to die before you denie

inking of them whether I chose to or not. Let me now say, once for al

your presence; and this being the end of your kindne

I would have them do to me. If you think

ou all manner of good will, until your affections were won, an

m desiring such conduct

r way of 'doing as y

if I have been the unwitting instrumen

r sorrow work

and I will t

e ignorant of

know how your remarks can

lured by that hope, founded on those actions, I have placed my affections so strongly, that I fear it will be death to tear them

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 lo

you are a hear

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 re

foe! The love you have rejected has turned into bitterness, and the dregs of that bitterness you shall drink till your soul sickens unto death! I will never lose sight of

ter an 'open enemy than a secret foe.' I am glad you have unmasked you

ife of even a villain is be

ll a slave to put you out! Infamous w

of her indignant eye, which made h

d, and the reaction prostrated her strength. She sunk up

h! In Thee I put my trust. Let thy watchful eye be over me, and thy power protect me. Oh, let me

ng, with firm faith, on the goodness and watchful care o

s awakened fear. For a year she heard nothing of him, and, at last, the old

among which was distinguished by a slave, grated out between his clenched teeth, "I'l