This incident, so much to me, he never could distinguish among the many times he had "helped Olever and his seminary girls out of scrapes," and he never spoke of these adventures without that same laugh which I noticed when Father Olever thanked him.
He had elected me as his wife some years before this evening, and had not kept it secret; had been assured his choice was presumptuous, but came and took possession of his prospective property with the air of a man who understood his business.

I next saw him on horseback, and this man of giant strength in full suit of black, riding a large spirited black horse, became my "black knight." My sister hated him, and my mother doubted him, or rather doubted the propriety of my receiving visits from him.

His family were the leading Methodists of the township; his father had donated land and built a meeting-house, which took his name, and his house was the headquarters of traveling preachers.

There was a camp-meeting ground on the farm; his mother "lived without sin," prayed aloud and shouted in meeting, while the income and energy of the family were expended in propagating a faith which we believed false.

A marriage with him would be incongruous and bring misery to both.