Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-12-24
By D. E.&P.C. JOHNSON.

dsl coverlld aud my funeral pall!"
Ellnor seldom made such speeches. and as
tihc walls Of the chamber echoed back her last
Iwo words, she sarlcd al whit she said.
CHAPTER Il.
Percvd o'Nell WaS a Young man Of noble
bearing, aud manly and pleasing ia his looks.
dIS skin was much brunzcd by ths sun, but his
check had rich and glowing color.
lie approached EinOr wilh smile and in.
roduced himself Eljpor ros. and slightly re.
IgSned the couttcsv.
I. US father will be here in an instant, do not
be discoGpsscd."
'6E no, Lady Eliuor. | can remain where
Sm. can wait here. Meanwhile may |
sing"
!, "ics' SIR; | sing, but my voice has never
Oeca much cultivated"
Ion Will not refuse song however. | am
ANXIOUS enough to hear some naive melody
ltOm the lips OF u lady of my own country.
have heard The songs Of the French and Ger.
man peasants Of the village, of Italian dunes
on NeDllan balconies, aud of Spanish senoras
"a HE orange groves Of Madrid. but never has
has The harp of Erin sounded in my cars. You
are, hope, going to sing"
"Nll if you wish it, Sir Pcrcivul, but you
have no doubt pracliscd ear, and You must
look tayorably on lhe performances Of nov.
icr."
She touched her guitar with slight blush,
aud poured forth a Spanish love song. The
words were ardent and impusSjoned, the mu-
sic oi the same nature, aud Pcrcivul listened
SurpriS d..
"lt is beautiful" said he. when she had fin
ished, "bcau,lul indeed. know the song
welt The fair Dolores, AnnaS. and nrzcs, in
SPAIN used 10 chaunt it frequently 10 their ser.
cnadcra. But can you not give me some Of the
wild native airs Of this land!"
81 can, aud if you wish it. will. | know
them better than these foreign songs"
She drew her hand across the Strings; and
began Wild strain in that old language for
merIy spoken throughout ireland, and which
50 much resembles the (}alir.
When EIinor had finished. she raised her
eyes eyes aud perceived pcrcivaI's dark orbs
fixed upon her. She coIorcd.
ia is the most beautiful song know" she
observed.
! cs. and sung by the most mcIodous voice
that ever listened to-" he replied.
At this moment the Earl entered.
CHAPTER Ill.
For some limc Pcrcival O'NciI visited Elm
or constantly, and she began to feel how unrea-
Sonabe had been the rcpugnancc she had at
first cherished against him. Her former dis.
like gave way 10 feeling Of esteem, which APP
FrJa-a,l a3 acarly loyo Us il could, without BE-
ing that passion.
PcrcivaI O'Ncil well knew that he was dos
tined 10 BE- the bridegroom Of tn fair Elinor.
lie was n Keen observer. however, and had per-
celvcd, on the first meeting, thai Elinor's cour-
loouSncSS was forced and that she Shrank al
the thought of their approaching marriage
lie had avoided mentioning the sub ect for some
time, hoping to find chang in her manner
This change he found, but he imagined that il
might be The resolution Of despair and wishing
to sound her, he broke the silence of an even
ing walk in the park by saying
Lady Elinor. our situations regarding each
other have caused me some uncaSincss Of late,
but think is but right 10 III cnuon my thoughts
TO YOU"
Proceed" said EIinor, violently agtated.
/ ~ on must know that we arc berothcd.
have long feared that it is against your will
1t would be difficult for me to break off an al
lance like this. II Ibid. | fear my happiness
for life might be destroyed. for love YOU sin
cerciy and passionaleIy. Believe me, however,
were that the only obstacle would not hesitate,
BUTT islhe will ofour parents that we should be
united, and that it might not be right to oppose.
However, Lady EIinor, il it is your wish that
. our marriage should not take place, will use
all nv efforts To prevent it,
Elinor was silent, but as he cast his ewes upon
her for an answer, she bIushcd painfully.
''Spcak Ellinor! and though the word should
blight my hopes. yet will endcavor TO crafty
your wishes. Shall prevent our marriage or
shall not!'
EIinor became pale and red by turns, but was
silent. "Oh! Elinor, If you have any compass
sion, speak"
"No," replied EIinor, emo"
Percival O'NoiI seized her hand with rapture.
"EIinor! EIinor do YOU indeed love mel" Ell
inor'S beaming eyes were alone a sufficient re-
4 sponso but she also answered,
81 do"
Before they returned to the castle, Pcrcival
had won full confession from his companion.
She rccountcd to.him her sorrow at the thought
Of being obliged to marry, her former repug-
nance 10 him, her cs.Ccm her friendship, and H.
naIly her love.
The days now passed swiftly over the heads
of Pcrcival and EIinor. The time for the we'd
ding had been fixed, and everything promised
,fwel. Elnor went from room to room leaning
on Porciva's arm. experimenting the many pre-.
parations for the bridal. Costly dresses and
sump,uous mantIes were being made by the
damsoIs employed for that purpose, and as Eli
nor examined their work, and went from each to
each with her gentle smiIeand kind words, they
secretly resolved that no bride should have
better made wardrobe.
twas night Sir Percival and Elinor were
standing together in the recess of a deep, en-.
bayed window. They gazcd out upon the qui-
ct landscape, silvercd by the rays of the full