I want you to believe that I am sincerely grieved at the pain this letter may occasion you, and trust you will not think harshly of me for what I am about to say. I did not rightly understand my own feelings when our engagement took place, and mistook esteem and friendship for love. Much as it costs me to make this confession, it is my clear duty to tell you I can never entertain the affection for you that one has a right to expect from a future wife.

This knowledge has made me very unhappy, but I have now determined to ask to be released from my promise; dear Harry, forgive me; I feel convinced that some day you will be as happy as you deserve, although it is not in my power to make you so.

Believe me, with unwavering friendship,

Yours very sincerely,
Carrie Dunmore.

257. From a Gentleman to His Fiancée Offering to Release Her from Their Engagement.

P——, August 7, 19—.

My Dear Evelyn:—

I exceedingly regret to tell you that my darkest fears have been realized; the business disaster of which I have spoken to you has come, and it is more complete than our worst expectations had led us to believe. We have fought a long, hard fight, and, as honorable men, there was nothing else for us to do but to close our doors and put our affairs in the hands of our creditors.

Whether the firm will resume, or what the course of the future will be, is yet undecided. For myself I am not greatly troubled. As long as youth, health and hope remain, I am not afraid of the coming struggle. But there is one direct duty before me in relation to you that must be performed without delay. Under the most promising circumstances, it will be a very long time, perhaps years, before I could offer you the home and comfort on which my heart was set, and concerning which we have had so many and such delightful conversations; and it would not be fair to hold you to your engagement under these altered circumstances. I beg you, therefore, to consider yourself perfectly free to act in this matter as your judgment and heart may dictate. I will not trust myself to say what I feel on this subject further than this, that in offering you perfect freedom I am following the only honorable course due to you and to myself.