The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-11-21

the most superb lace. She "as IN form Pc
tlle, but perfectly sylph-like, and swee.ly
pretty. She looked little pale or so, but,
to the surprise of every one, shed no tears.
In fact, she appeared 10 Lave made up her
mind to 60 through the business with firm
ness, IN compliance with the ex"rdiums Of
her lady mother, Who, before she left .he
carriage, had paihetically en,reaied her
" not TO expose herself, by any public mani
festntion of her sentiments towards her fu-
tuie husband"
Ludy Anne was an only child, aud, Of
course a SPOILED child; she had early known
add tell her avn Importance, and had been
accustomed from her very cradle, TO have
her way in every thing. IL was only in
This most important action of her life that
she had received n serious contradiction.
Blu, in this, the Earl her father, resolutely
aud somewh hat harshlv, enforced his pa,er-
nal authority; aud, in contests of this kind,
the weaker party is generally obliged tn
yield to the will Of the stronger. Ii was.
however, plain TO all, that il was no weak,
lamb-llke sacrifice, that they were leading
81 gaily decked out to the altar, there was
u self-wiIled pe,ulance in her uir, and II
scorniui spirit in her eye, that made the
Marquis shrink, and look like the fool he
was, whenever he encountered lis disdain-
r iul glance and there wns cyen eloquence
! IN the manner IN which she irampled the
beautiful flowers that were s!snwn before
, her. II was one of the ways in which the
linle vixen vented her angry dispeasure mt
the pomps aud yaniiies prepared in honor
of the scene in " hich she was to be the re-
luctant primd donna. The Earl her fat-
er, was evidently mortified and exnsperated
with her; and there was something of bru-
tsiiiy in the rough manner in which he
seized her Tiny white gloved hand, aud drew
it through his urm, to lead her. into the
church. There was answering disdnin in
the indignant fash of her bright blue eye,
and the sudden suiiusion of the pale cheek
with glowing crimson also, there was a
certain slight, but decidedly rebellious, mo
ton of the shoulders, aud u retrogradc step,
with the pretty little foo, of The bride, as
though she would have resisted crossing the
threshold of the church. But The resolu,e
Earl drew her forcibly forward-I nm per-
|, suaded that it would have given him posi-
tive pleasure TO beat the provoking young
! slut; but there is no managing family mat
5 ters in public, and she permitted him IN
lead her up to the altar without any further
show of resistance. The Marquis took his
, proper place by her side-the minister o.
+ pened bis book. The bridemaids looked as
, interesting ns they could, aud put oil the
bushes they could command into iinmedi-
nte service. The bridemen looked quizZi-
cal, the Earl nLlhorilive, the Countess Bp-
preheosive, the bridegroom foolish and the
bride sullen. No one appeared perfectly
ni ease but Ralph Digwell, the clerk, whose
horn was nightly exalted upon the occa-
sion and he was lin his own opinion, at
least,) the most important person present,
certainly the most To be envied as he stood
in oil the glories of d bran-new black coat
purchased upon the speculation Of the no
bic bridegroom's anticipated donation, hol-
ding huge open pruyer-book, and literally
painting 10 pronounce the final amen, hIch
he always considered the most consequent
tial word in the service Of matriniony.
I There was a dead hush in the church: for
the bridegroom had already signifed his as
sent, in answer 10 that important question
80 Wilt thou have this woman for thy
welded wife 7" and the minister, turning to
iHt DIlut, sdlu, iuOugH III
) ing tone, (for he was well aware of the ma
ture Of her sentiments towards the BRIDE
E proom,O "Wilt thou have this man for thy
$ welded husband T. expecting Hesitation or
= food of tears, in reply, II not All obstinate
= silence. Lady Anne, however, wns not Of
: the crying sort she seldom besitaied upon
2 any point, md she always spoke her mind
f so she boldly and decidedly answered, II
i will not" in so loud u tone that the reso-
$ Lutte negative resounded through the church :
k then, turning quickly to the cresi-fhlIcn
Y brideproom, she said, 81 told you so before,
my lord aud now hope you will believe
! am in earnest"
"Lady Anne, blush for the improprleiy
of your conduct J" said the Countess;
4" and ! wonder you are not ashamed OF the
manner in which you have exposed your
self, by putting this public insult upon the
Marquis of Greystock."
Had the Marquis Of Greystock posses
sed the common feelings, or the honorable
delicacy of a gentleman, mamma, he would
have spared me the trouble Of coming hith-
er, and himself the modification Of public
REFUSAL" returned Lady Anne.
"Come, come, madam ! am not thus
to be triied WITH" said the Earl, sternly;
" and insist upon your fulfilling your en-
gagemen, with the Mn;quis."
al never entered into an engagement
with him." said Lady Anne, pouiing.
"But I have for you. Lady Anne"
ooh! true papa but that is quite anoih-
er Thing"
"And I tell you, madam, that you shall
marry the Marquis" said the Earl, bending
his brows most awfully upon the fair rebel.
impossible, papa; for you see the
church very properly considers the lady's
consent an indispensable part Of the mar
rage ceremony ;--and, rs l am woman
Of conscience, I find ], impossible to answer
in the affirmative, when I sm asked by the