The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-27 00:00:00

.211 RS. lELVERTOY AND HER

HUSBAND.

In her new book, the Hon. Mrs. Yelverton is sup-
posed to tell her own story, and the work might in
fact have been written by any one familiar with the
trial, which was a nine day's wonder. the author
has taken care not to deviate in the slightest par-
ticular from her evidence. The meeting in Scot-
land, the Scotch marriage, the adventures in
Ireland, the Irish marriage, the honeymoon, the
voyeg.--,
to France, and the observations are faith-
fully related. Capt. Cyril Etherington tries to in-
duce the fascinating and romantic Thierna to marry
him in the Crimea without witnesses. As this is
the most novel part of the story, we will give it at
length:-
4 In one of our long rides the following conver-
sation occurred Do you see that ? ' said Ether-
ington, pointing with his whip to a building at some
distance. 'I do not,' replied Thierna ; it looks like
a church? Do you think we could 'take a short
cut by it, and meet the others down in the valley ?'
he asked, looking her intently in the face.' Pos-
sibly,' she returned ; ' but why do yon ask ? you
mean more than that.' I do,' he replied, riding
near and appropriating the reins and her little hand
'at the same time; `this state of things is an utter
impossibility. I was insane to think I could give
youup, for no sooner were you out of sight than
my resolve gave way, and from that moment.l have
said,never
softly, contemplatedraising
her
losing
devotedl
will wait any length of time.' 'No, we will not
l wait,'
his
put each other to that test. I cannot do without
you now, and it would be no consolation to me to
be told I should possess you 10 or 15 years hence;
putting the uncertainty out of the question. Let us
make certain of the present, and put the future be-
yond a doubt,' he added, watching her colour come
and go. We should find half a dozen priests saying
their breviary at that church, who for 100 or 200
piastres would make you mine before that cloud
which overhangs us turns to rain.' But, Cyril,
they are Greeks,' said Thierna, in astonishment.
`Greek or Roman, they can make our two fates one,
and my uncle may rub his classics before he finds
out how the knot is tied.' But how would you pre-
vent it coming tolhis knowledge ?' asked she ; some
one would be sure to tell him.' If no one knew,'
he replied cautiously, no one could tell ;no one
but the padre must know our secret.'. No one,'
said Thierna, a little alarmed; would that be a
right thing to do ? I would rather trust my friends,
from whom I never had any secrets, and I should
not like to deceive them in any respect. If that is
what you are taking me to church for, pray let us
return.' Cyril was silent, and looked disappointed ;
still he did not loosen her rein or attempt to turn
the horses. At length he said, leisurely, ' You do
not love me, Thierna—not love me as I thought you
did, with a pure devoted affection. You will not
make the smallest sacrifice of the pomps and vani-
ties of the world in order to make me a better and
a. happier man. Your presence near me is like the
shadow of an angel's wing, wafting every unhal-
lowed thought to a distance, and breathing an atmo-
sphere of peace. None but you have ever under-
stood me. Hard lessons, taught by aheartless world,
have made me bad and reckless. lam always pre-
pared to battle my way by ruse or force, and you
are the only softening influence I have known. It
was a blessed thing I could not leave you, or I
t,hould have plunged headlong into evil.' Pray
don't say so,' cried Thierna, her eyes filling with.
tears. Yet to this,' continued he, you would ex-
pose me for the sake of a little worldly display—for
a few bridesmaids sewed up in pink and blue, a
few postilions with white favours and coachmen
with large bouquets in their button-holes, stupid
uncles talking nonsense ever champagne and a
pyramidal wedding cake; ladies weeping polite
tears into lace handkerchiefs." Cyril, Cyril !'
Thierna burst in, you quite misunderstood
me. I should really shrink from all that fuss ;
it is the secrecy I object to—not the manner.' `Does
the secrecy make the tie less sacred in the sight of
God or ourselves ? If you had parents it would be
quite different ; but as we stand are we not both at
liberty to bind ourselves; do we injure any one, or
offend the laws of God, by so doing ; and when the
publishing of the act, right in itself, would injure
me, then say by what principle of right you are
bound to proclaim it ?" Indeed, I cannot argue the
point with you, but I wish you would let me con-
sult some one.' No,' said Etherington, decisively ;
you shall not breathe a word to any one of what
has taken place to-day. Consult your own heart and
good sense, then trust to my honour and knowledge
of what is right and wrong. Believe me, Thierna,
we must depend upon and be guided by each other ;
a third party must never intervene, or our marriage
will not be what I anticipate with so much ardour,
one of unalloyed trust, sympathy, and complete
union. Come, dearest," he said, springing from his
horse at the church door, and looking up at her with
his most caressing smile, his teeth doing their work
of witchery. Another moment, and she would have
been in his arms, but a galloping horse and his rider
loomed in the distance. ' Look, Cyril,' she ex•
claimed, who is that ?' They both gazed earnestly
for a moment. Captain Tudor,' cried Thierna, with
a gleeful laugh. Etherington sprang to his horse,
his mouth tightly compressed. He gave a savage
lash to the lady's palfrey, who sprang off at full
speed. You see it was not to be,' she said, as they
galloped side by side. It shall be !' said he fiercely ;
and something like an imprecation hissed through
his teeth, in spite of his usual philosphy and the
shadowing presence of the angel's wings."