AN INCIDENT AT GIBRALTER. 53 



there are some curious facts, and rather unpleasant suspicions, 

 connected with the history of this Donovan. I need scarcely tell 



you what are his feelings towards Miss Waring and Captain L , 



that he loves the one, and hates the other; and yet, you will be sur- 

 prised to be told, that Donovan and Captain L are apparently 



the best friends in the world. Three years ago, Donovan saved the 

 captain's life, by an act of extraordinary daring ; and although Don- 

 ovan has since that time, twice forced Captain L to fight a duel 



with him, under the most suspicious circumstances, and as every 

 one believed, with the express intent of shooting him, Captain 



L still remembers the benefit conferred upon him, and persists 



in believing in the nice honour of Donovan, and in his friendship." 



Donovan now approached the spot where we stood, and our 

 conversation was interrupted; but when it was afterwards renewed, 

 my friend informed me, that Donovan had formerly been married ; 

 and that some years ago he was put upon his trial on suspicion of 

 having poisoned his wife; and that, although he was acquitted, 

 strong doubt yet rests upon the minds of many. " He has interest/' 

 added my friend, "and holds an important government employment ; 

 and etiquette obliges the governor to invite him/' 



This ball took place on Thursday; and on Monday morning, 



Emily Waring and Captain L were to have been united. On 



Friday, and on Saturday, I dined with Colonel Waring, his daugh- 

 ter, and Captain L ; who on Saturday evening, said in taking 



leave, that he had promised to dine the next day with Donovan. I 

 noticed a cloud a shade not of displeasure, but uneasiness, pass 

 over Emily's countenance ; and the colonel said, " Emily looks as 

 if she thought you ought not to run away from us to-morrow; and 

 besides I cannot bring myself to like Donovan/' " He is misunder- 

 stood," said Captain L , " I can never forget," continued he, 

 turning to Emily, and taking her hand, " that but for Donovan, this 

 could have never been mine; I could not refuse him." "Well, 

 well," said the colonel, " we'll see you at all events in the morning ;" 

 and we took leave. 



Next morning we went to parade, which, in Gibralter, is the 

 morning lounge. When it w r as over, the colonel complained of 

 fatigue, and returned home; I seated myself beside the statue of 

 General Elliot ; and the two betrothed strolled into the Alameda, 

 that most charming labarinth of geranium and acacia and orange trees; 

 and they stayed in it so long, that I left my seat, and returned to the 

 colonel's house, where I afterwards dined. We expected that Cap- 

 tain L would have passed the evening with us after leaving 



Donovan; but he did not appear. The colonel was evidently 

 piqued ; and Emily betrayed some uneasiness and, perhaps, a 

 little disappointment. I took my leave about eleven ; and promised 

 to accompany the wedding party at nine o'clock next morning to 

 the Government House, where the ceremony was to take place. I 

 was punctual to my time; Emily looked, as a lovely bride ought 

 to look, modest and enchanting; the colonel was impatient; for 



