While yet a child I was
contracted to Dr. Grimshaw in a civil marriage, which was never
ratified. I was full of mischief in these days, and my greatest pleasure
was to torment and provoke my would-be bridegroom; alas! alas! it was to
that wanton spirit that all the disaster is owing. Thurston Willcoxen
and Marian Mayfield were my intimate friends. On the morning of the 8th
of April, 182-, they were both at Luckenough. Thurston left early. After
he was gone Marian chanced to drop a note, which I picked up and read.
It was in the handwriting of Thurston Willcoxen, and it appointed a
meeting with Marian upon the beach, near Pine Bluff, for that evening."
Here Mr. Romford placed in her hands the scrap of paper that had already
formed such an important part of the evidence against the prisoner.
"Is that the note of which you speak?"
"Yes--that is the note. And when I picked it up the wanton spirit of
mischief inspired me with the wish to use it for the torment of Dr.
Grimshaw, who was easily provoked to jealously! Oh! I never thought it
would end so fatally! I affected to lose the note, and left it in his
way. I saw him pick it up and read it. I felt sure he thought--as I
intended he should think--it was for me.
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