Little by little the man succeeded in weaving about me the web of his fascination, until I was ready for any sacrifice he might propose.

Naturally ardent, easily impressed by outward appearances, assured as to my own and his social position, ignorant of the wiles of the world, I was an easy victim.

Somewhere he had formed the acquaintance of my brother, which fact merely increased my confidence in him.

I need not dwell in detail upon what followed--the advice of romantic girls, the false counsel of a favorite teacher, the specious lies and explanations accounting for the necessity for secrecy, the fervent pleadings, the protestations, the continual urging, that finally conquered my earlier resolves.

I yielded before the strain, the awakened imagination of a girl of sixteen seeing nothing in the rose-tinted future except happiness.