Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team CHARLEMONT; OR, THE PRIDE OF THE VILLAGE A TALE OF KENTUCKY. BY W. GILMORE SIMMS, [Illustration: no caption, but contains the word Charlemont. Two men are riding a horse and a woman stands nearby.] “Nor will I be secure. In any confidence of mine own strength, For such security is oft the mother Of negligence, and that, the occasion Of unremedy'd ruin.” Microcosmus--THO. NABBES. TO THE HON. JAMES HALL, OF CINCINNATI: AS ONE OF THE ABLEST OF OUR LITERARY PIONEERS A GENUINE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GREAT WEST; WHOSE WRITINGS EQUALLY ILLUSTRATE HER HISTORY AND GENIUS: this story of “CHARLEMONT,” and its Sequel “BEAUCHAMPE” are respectfully inscribed by THEIR AUTHOR ADVERTISEMENT The domestic legend which follows, is founded upon actual events of comparatively recent occurrence in the state of Kentucky. However strange the facts may appear in the sequel--however in conflict with what are usually supposed to be the sensibilities and characteristics of woman--they are yet unquestionably true; most of them having been conclusively established, by the best testimony, before a court of justice. Very terrible, indeed, was the tragedy to which they conducted--one that startled the whole country when it took place, and the mournful interest of which will long be remembered. More on this subject need not be mentioned here. The narrative, it is hoped, will satisfy all the curiosity of the reader. It has been very carefully prepared from and according to the evidence; the art of the romancer being held in close subjection to the historical authorities. I have furnished only the necessary details which would fill such blanks in the story as are of domestic character; taking care that these should accord, in all cases, with the despotic facts. In respect to these, I have seldom appealed to invention. It is in the delineation and development of character, only, that I have made free to furnish scenes, such as appeared to me calculated to perfect the portraits, and the better to reconcile the reader to real occurrences, which, in their original nakedness, however unquestionably true, might incur the risk of being thought improbabilities.