The memoirs of Dolly Morton

CONCLUSION

I remained in New York for three weeks after Dolly had related her story to me, and I frequently paid her a visit, not only because she was a pretty little woman and a splendid poke, but because I had grown to like her and because I also pitied her very much. She certainly had been hardly dealt with by men while she was in the South.

On the day when I bade her goodbye, I gave her my address and told her that I should like to hear from her if she ever felt inclined to write to me. I think that she was a little sorry to part with me, for there were tears in her eyes and her voice shook when she wished me goodbye.

The next day I sailed from New York in the Scotia, and, after a rather rough passage, arrived in Liverpool, from which I went straight home and settled down to my usual life. Six months afterwards, I received a letter from Dolly, telling me that she was going to be married to a man in a prosperous business. She described him as a good chap, a few years older than herself, who loved her, and whom she really loved.

I was glad to hear the news. She was a good-tempered, amiable young woman who, though weak in many respects, would, I was convinced, make a good and faithful wife to the man she loved.

I wrote her a letter of congratulations and sent her a wedding present, which she acknowledged in a nicely-worded letter. Our correspondence never was renewed, but I hope she is a happy wife.

The poor little woman, who had suffered so much from no fault of her own, deserved, after all her troubles, to enjoy some good fortune in…