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An Anonymous Letter.
-- Lucy Gourlay avows a previous Attachment.
Whilst Fenton was thus sketching for the stranger a few of the public characters of Ballytrain, a scene, which we must interrupt them to describe, was taking place in the coffee-room of the "Mitre." As everything, however, has an origin, it is necessary, before we raise the curtain, which, for the present, excludes us from that scene, to enable the reader to become acquainted with the cause of it.

That morning, after breakfast, Sir Thomas Gourlay went to his study, where, as usual, he began to read his letters and endorse them--for he happened to be one of those orderly and exact men who cannot bear to see even a trifle out of its place.

Having despatched three or four, he took up one--the last--and on opening it read, much to his astonishment and dismay, as follows; "Sir Thomas Gourlay,--There is an adventurer in disguise near you.
Beware of your daughter, and watch her well, otherwise she may give you the slip.

I write this, that you may prevent her from throwing herself away upon an impostor and profligate.