ompanion, and seek consolation
in my society and conversation, from the coarseness of her father, who
was a very gross man. It need scarcely be confessed by me, that I was
nothing loth to be thus distinguished; neither can it reasonably be
expected that I was long insensible to the charms of my amiable
companion. I would walk by her side, while she rode my horse the whole
march; and in this manner, day after day passed away like so many hours,
and our attachment grew stronger and stronger, and at length settled
into a deep-rooted affection, and was cemented by an interchange of
protestations of mutual love. She was a year younger than I; my age
being then sixteen, and hers fifteen; but the appearance of both was far
beyond that tender age.

Convinced of the reciprocity of our attachment, thus we journeyed on,
indulging in visions of bliss; and it was not until we had approached
within a short distance of our destination, that the idea first crossed
my mind that we must soon part. Until this moment all my faculties had
yielded to the fascinations of my enslaver, from the contemplation of
whose beauty it had seemed treason to steal a thought; but, now that the
time approached when my duty must tear me from her, and when I
reflected, that from that duty there was no possibility of shrinking,
without disgrace, the absolute necessity of separation from my beloved
Sabina rushed upon my senses, and almost drove me to despair. These
bitter thoughts having thus suddenly and painfully intruded, I revolved
within my mind, in all ways, the possibilities of extricating myself
from my perplexing situation; and the more I reflected, the more was I
distressed and embarrassed. Marriage would not have been consented to by
my commanding officer, on account of my extreme youth; the thought of
any less honourable proposal I could not myself encourage for a moment;
and, in short, it soon became clear to me, that there was but one road
of escape from the heart-rending necessity of parting at once, and for
ever, from my lovely brunette--desertion. The idea of being compelled to
resort to such an alternative startled me; I knew the enormity of the
offence, and the consequences of such a step; but the recollection that
it was my only resource, haunted me day and night. As often as it
intruded upon my distracted mind, I endeavoured to drive it from me; but
it stuck to me like ivy on the crumbling tower. What to do I could not
resolve. I at last m