Then the town, which knew nothing of the case and accepted her goings on as proof of wrong, rose; and she had a veritable ovation, coming away with flying colors.
This, however, served to satisfy her.

Thenceforward she desisted and left poor John Throckmorton in peace.
I knew her well.

She used once in a while to come and see me, having some story or other to tell.

On one occasion I said to her: "Ellen, why do you pursue this man in this cruel way?
What possible good can it do you ?" She looked me straight in the eye and slowly replied: "Because I love him." I investigated the case closely and thoroughly and was assured, as he had assured me, that he had never done her the slightest wrong.

She had, on occasion, told me the same thing, and this I fully believed.
He was a man, every inch of him, and a gentleman through and through--the very soul of honor in his transactions of every sort--most highly respected and esteemed wherever he was known--yet his life was made half a failure and wholly unhappy by this "crazy Jane," the general public taking appearances for granted and willing to believe nothing good of one who, albeit proud and honorable, held defiantly aloof, disdaining self-defense.
On the whole I have not known many men more unfortunate than John Throckmorton, who, but for "Old Hell's Delight," would have encountered little obstacle to the pursuit of prosperity and happiness.
III Another interesting Kentuckian of this period was John Thompson Gray.
He was a Harvard man--a wit, a scholar, and, according to old Southern standards, a chevalier.