Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-06-18
WHOLE NUMBER 66O.


roof, while its far reaching branches, bursting ou,
on every side, clad with thick and luxurianl
foliage, aiTordeda pleasant and agreeable defence
from the ngor Of the sun in the heat Of summer,
and now, as the moon sank below the horizon,
enveloped the ediice and the lawn in its vicinity
in deepest shadows. The darkness was broken
by long lines Of light streaming from the half
closed shutters Of the chamber looking out upon
the portico, which fronIed the yerdanl grass,
and extended along the entire front Of the man
sion.
"Now keep your eyes about you, lrish," ex.
claimed Harry, as he glanced hurriedly round al
The spacious mansion and the range Of out-build.
ings. by the Continental Congress, if aint
very much mistaken, them lights, flashing from
the windows, out upon the porch hayea tale Of
their own 10 tell. Let US reconnoilrs, Irish"
"Be St. Patrick what's thatl" muierei Den
mis- in tone Of suppressed wonder as they ap.
preached the porch. "Do ye see anything there
my darlint cruurl"
Harry Heli followed the finger Of the Irish
man wih his eye, and discovered fastened BY
their bride rein7 TO a pillar Of the porIco two
gallant steeds, whose Irappings, the ornamented
saddle cloth and the holsters, all showed thai
their riders were at least military men, if mol Of.
ficers frank aud authority.
With hushed breath aud cautious step, Harry
Heit stole along the floor Of the porco toward
the window shutters from whence emerged the
light, and which reached from the roof of the
portco to the floor. Each window served the
purpose ola door as well as a medium for the ad-
mitiance of daylight Gazing through the ere.
vice Of the shutters, the sashcs opened after he
fashion Of folding doors. being thrown back.
Henry Heit beheld a scene which he regarded
with evident wonder and asionishment, although
he had anticipated something Of the kind.
The apartment within was spacious, large, and
furnished after the fashion Of some sixty years
since. 1t was lighted by a chandelier, filled
with stately candles Of wax, and suspended from
the succeed ceiling. In the centre The apart
ment with his back turned 10 the window, stood
pory man with a very red, round face, very
brilliant nose, and a very small mouth, and his
ample figure was arraycd in the gown and sur
plce of u clergyman, while his lille fat hands,
with short gouly fingers, grasped gilt edged
book, from which he was reading. Ii was the
book of Common Prayer, and he read the mar.
riage ceremony. In front him were the bride.
groom and bride; on one side stood major Tracy
with a settled irown on his brow; spacious arm
chair on the opposite side contained The form Of
the invalid squire Waltham, who gazed with a
half vacant, half imbecile stare upon the compa-
ny around. At his elbow stood gentleman Of
some fifty winters, attired in the undress Of a
colonel in the British army, and with an impress.
sive countenance marked by the lines Of care
and thought. He was named Colonel Musgrove
and he held the baton Of command over the for.
tieth regiment. The arrival Of this gentleman
had been somewhat late and hurried, for his
boots were bespattered with mud, and his entire
costume was marked by the unfinished and dis
arranged air that attends a Journey undertaken
and executed in haste. Opposite to this gentle
man, and forming the right wing Of the circle,
was young gentleman, atlired as cornet in
the dragoon service of his majestys -th regi-
ment, and with face and air expressive Of moth
ing in especial, except very apparent desire to
play as critical a part in his capacity Of right
wing Of the picture, as his disordered dress and
soiled boots would possibly admit. The BRIDE
groom, arrayed in luminous coat Of snow white
silk with small clothes 10 match, buckles Of
shining silver and square-toed shoes, seemed dis
posed TO do particular Justice 10 his situation as a
pOlnt VI plC1ulC' Alo'tllAss Ou mo
left leg, with his right advanced, he extended
one delicate white hand, sparkling with rings to
the bride, displaying all the beauty and finish of
the rufIle al his wrist in the action, while his 9TH
er hand was disposed very gracefully, with the
little finger, deposited in a fold of his snow
white and gaudy embroidered vest, while with
his head erect, and his powdered hair flowing in
graceful folds over his shoulder, lieutenant
Wellwood Tracy, looked forward over the head
ofthe clerical gentleman, and complacent ex-
preston manted over his face, which seemed to
intimate that he considered himselfa very fine
point of the picture indeed, and worthy Of the
pencil Of Vandyke, or Godfrey Kneller The
whole scene was mockery ola solemn sacrifice,
| but The victim destined 10 be offered up al the
altar, appeared in all the splendor of her queen
ly beauty even at the dread hour. when The Ut
terence of a few simple words, and the transposi-
ZION of a ring, would place her destiny in the
hands of one, for whom she cared lIIle, and Of
whom she knew less, and sever her fate from the
Silken cord that entwined it with the destiny oi
him, whom she loved with all the purity and
self devotion Of maiden passion.
The golden hair, unconfned by band or cine.
ture. fell in shower Of waving tresSes over her
robes of white, and reaching even to the waist
while with head dropped and eyes downcsst, the
maiden, scarce knowing what she did, rendered
her hand-cold as The marble Of a staue-,c
her gallant bridegroom, and mutered the re-
sponse of the ceremony with vacant manner
and absent air, as though her mind wandered a
mid the shadowy creations ofa dream.
Harry Heft beheld the scene at glance anC
as he gazed he became instantly aware oil the re-
lative positions of the parties.
He had scarce time 10 think of somo means o
} delivering the fair maiden, when the marriage
, ceremony reached the point, near its accomplish
ment. where the last binding words are said, ant
the ring is placed upon the finger of the bride
7 At this moment Harry felt some one pressing
/, against his shoulder, and face touching hi:
! own, while his quick ear caught the sound o.
a suppressed breathing. He turned his head a
side, whispering-"Hist! Denns!'' when hanC