The Litchfield County post., 1828-11-27

but as he remembered the years and the
sacred character with whom he had con-
versed, and with whom he had been upon
the point of being so nearly allied, it drop
ped again in:o,its scabbard. Edith chung
to hes father with grasp of mingled fear
and affection, and Walter stood halt advan-
ced between the angry speakers, for whom
he felt an equal veneration yet was ready.
to repress the violence of either. The ba-
ron seized his sons arm, and was with
drawing him from the apartment, when E.
I dith exclaimed, walter, Walter, leave me
not thus E
The youth sprang toward her and would
have clasped her in his arms, but the FAITH
ers were on the alert TO prevent their em-
braces. -
Edith child!' said Wulstau, load moi
my grey head with the only dislononr
(which can fall upon ii. Let moi my daagh-.
ter cling to the proud Normahs who sporn
hen! a..
Walter said the baron,are 9hy fathers
and the kingss displeasnre alike cont smned!
1t were better for thee thar thou vert in thy
grave than welded to the daughter ola man
disgracef.'
/ Wulstan's fury would, at this speech,
have proceeded to violence, had not the
Baron hastily retreated from the apart
ment, followed BY his son, who hoped
that a more favourable opportunity would
occur for reconcling these unhappy differ
fences. -.
When Edith retired To her chamber, that
teVening,A her bosom heaved with thous-
and painful reflections. For Walter Fitz-
walter, she entertained the tenderest and
most ardent affection. He was the son of
a Norman nobleman Of the highestrank &
reputation, who had married a Saxon lady,
and with whom, until the period of the in
vasion Of England by Duke William, bish-
op Wuistan had been on terms Of intima-
cy andfriendship. The addresses of Wall
ter were encouraged both by Edith and her
father.and appeared certain. of success, un-
til the period when the Duke of Norman
| dy preferred his claims to the English
Crown. That event put an end to all in-
tercourse between Saxons and Normans,
and Walter left the island, to return to it in
short time accompanied by his father in
the army which afterwards achieved the
/ victory at Hastings. The rapid successes
of the Conqueror, and the unqualified sub
mission Of all England to his sway induced
Wulslan to take the oath of fealty to the
man against whom he had not only preach
ed and acclaimed, but had Notwithstanding
mis- age and clerical character, actunlly
borne arms on the fatal day, which made
him lord of the destinies OF England. He
then began to remember that Walter had
Saxon blood in his veins-that he sincere-
ly loved and was beloved by Edith-and
would sometimes even go SO far as to argue
that the Nortnans and Saxous had one COM
mon northern origin, aud that the short So
journ of the former in Neustria was not Of
itself sufficient to cut asunder the bond of
consanguinity and amity. The Baron Fitz-
walter and his son, soon afterwards became
once more welcome visiters at the Episco-
pal palace, and the youth and maiden were
again formally betrothed to each other.
Edith sat al her easement window, rumi-
mating painfully ON the events which had
just occurred. The world, politics. claims
Of contending parties to the English crown
were nought to her--and she could not un-
derstand why things like these should bar
the love which she and Walter enter
tanned for each other. She gazed ON The
broad and rapid Severn, whose waters al
most washed the walls Of her father's pal-
ace, while the stately spires and columns
OF the cathedral rose on its opposite bank /;
and the majestic SUBMITS of Malvern tow
cred in the dis ance. She thought how of
ten, on such night as this, when the tops
of those stately hills, the spires of that VEN
cradle pile, and the waters of that iranslu-
cent stream, glimmered in the pale moon-
beams, she had wandered with her lover,
entranced in admiration at the enchanting
scenery-whlle Walter, who was pro-
fessor Of the gay science OF no mean rep
ut lion, would touch his lutte, and raise his
voice in celebration Of her beauty and his
passion. She thought too, land wept) how
like dream, all thai bliss had passed away
IL an l1stani, and ieit nothing bul the sor-
rowful reali,Ies OF life to fill its place.
Tears slreamcd down her lids, and she had
just closed the easement for the purpose Of
retiring to her pillow, when familiar sound
met her ear. Surely it was Walters hand
that played the lutte. A low sweet prelude
was played-they were the very notes with
which but a few minutes before, llcr
| thouphtS had heen nccnnipd and fl,as. !.