Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/123

Rh When her family and friends saw the impression Minnie had made upon Noble, they immediately went to work to make a match between them. Not long after Noble had left Kentucky, they started with Minnie for the East. They remained several days in the city where Noble was; and he and Minnie were thrown together as much as possible. They walked and rode together, and he accompanied her to all the fashionable places of amusement. They were finally engaged to be married, which fatal affair took place in the cemetery. It was within the walls of the dead, and among the silent tombs, that she consented to be his bride. Her object being gained, she started for home, leaving behind her broken hearts in Washington, and every other place she had stopped. When she arrived at home, she was greeted by the one she loved, but not by the one who loved her. Autumn was passing, and winter drew nigh, when they departed for the South. Shortly after, Noble, who loved her so dearly, followed her. This gave her great notoriety, as he was a man of high standing. Minnie now seemed desirous of avoiding him. I have often seen her dodge behind the one she would be walking with; when she would meet him, she, perhaps, would be on the one side of the street, and he on the other. Though engaged to him, she never loved him; she only wanted him for a while: for, after it was known she was engaged to him, she had lovers by the score. She then thought to get rid of him by persuading him to go to Europe, hoping, by the time he got back, she would be married to one she loved.

They corresponded all the time he was in Europe. The letters were sometimes favorable and sometimes