The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-14
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CONTINUED FROM FOURTH PAGE.
years older than myself-true, this will be a de- |
scent on my part-that il is a grave departure |
from high sef-respect in woman Of my mature |
age, 70 marry, under any circumstances; but |
must maintain my authority over Louise ! must |
DO il by residing with her and can only reside |
with her as the mistress of this house and estate
cannot take subordinate position in the house
Of my daughter and son-n-law. must make up
my mind to marry this old Stuart Gordon. The
neighborhood presume, will have a great deal
to say upon the subject, when it is known to be
in prospect. Let them say it If can gain my
orH consent to the step, the opinions Of others
are unimportant, as they are impairment More
over, these opinions will only be whispered in
subdued tones none will be found daring enough
TO raise their voices against any act of mine. After
ALL this will be only alliance. IL will give me
almost absolute power over this estate; for, once
mistress here | shall do as | please with the old
man, with his son, and will see If the affairs of
this estate will not be better administered by me-
than they have ever been by this fox-hunting and
dinner-givin bOn-uiUam, OF this hute-playiDg,
verse-makiDg sentimentslstl The government
of two such estates as those Of Mont Crystal and
the Isle of Rays, estates, that joined, form half
the county, will give me as large share of power,
aye, and more absolute power than that enjoyed
by any petty sovereign in Europe. Come il is
decided will form an alliance with this-this
old General And recognising no appeal from
her own high will, the arrogant woman set about
the execution of her purpose. She became very
exacting of attentions from General Stuart Cor
don pressing him with commanding haughtiness
into her service upon all occasions. She never
arose to cross the room, without saying with the
air of an empress ordering her chamberlain
General, will trouble you for the support OF
your ARM She made him -feteh and carry her
fan, reticule, and knOttng open and shut doors
L.. Il 4. ls.E
do her errands, and all with the air Of comforting
great honor upon his Generalship. The climax
was in the evening, when she would command
him 20 open the chess-board and play game Of
chess with her. General Stuart-GordOn, gallant
od-natured, and at leisure, was very much at
the command of any lady who would do him the
honor Of exacting his services. Besides which
he had a very great respect for Mrs Armstrong
both upon account Of her imposing rank, charac'
ter, and department, and by reason of her posi-
ton his guest In addition to his universal
gallantry and particular devotion, General Stu
art-Gordon had two very important reasons for
employing and concilatng Mrs Armstrong
First, he saw that her surveillance over Louis and
Louise impaired their happiness, and he wished
to deliver his children, as be called them, from
her espionage by absorbing her attention him
self Secretly, he stood in great awe Of Mrs.
Armstrong he felt preseDtimeht that she would
be Mortified and. outrageous al the news OF thf
projected marriage between himself and Miss
O'Riley, and he wished TO conciiate her good
feeling before he should dare to announce 1t.
And as the y,nI7i6go was wScS.sss ,-sSis.tSS bn&
approaching, this aununciation was an impera-
tive necessity. All little did he dream Of the
matrimonial designs of the lady herself upon him
Old gentlemen see nothing improper or unusual
in their own connubial Intentions are grievously
shocked when they hear Of any such projects find
ing Judgment in the brain of an elderly lady.
This feeling may be natural and right. General
Stuart Gordon, then, never suspected the drift Of
Mrs Armstrong; thoughts and purposes He
was charmed that she treated him well, with kind
ness, with sympathy and as days passed, and as
every day saw them somehow better friends, he
did not despair Of her consent to his marriage
with Miss O'Riey. And this consent was OF
more importance to the General than any one at
frst-thought would suppose; for General Stuart
Gordon loved family peace and good fellowship
above all things-srcep Brighy! Encouraged
by Mrs Armstrong; gracious and condescending
manners, he began to feel his way, as it were, TO-
wards an explanation
Finding himself alone with the dowager in the
morning when Louis and Louise would be roam
ing about the garden or reading poetry in their
room, he would begin to say something pathetic
about the solitude Of his position, forgetting-thc
egotist that the lady to whom he spoke was
just precisely in the same predcament rs himself
and therefore extremely likely to misapprehend
the drift Of his discourse! And so he would say
very moving things about his loneliness-very
touching things about going down the vale of
years alOne-expecting to move Mrs Armstrong;
pity for his condition, and by and by win her
sent to his marriage. And Mrs. Armstrong, to-
tally Misunderstanding his purpose and misapply-
ing his words, would receive these condolences
with much more indulgence than he could have
hoped to obtain! Nay Mrs. Armstrong would
fully agree with General Stuart-Gordon, that it
6Sf % 16G1a bso isft alSpe the decline Of
selves partners and leave their parents alone, it
behooved the latter to secure companions on the
downward journey of life D.! And it was wonder
ful upon what good terms they would part after
just such condolences these each misunder-
standing the other very thoroughly! General
Stuart-G ordOn would step off tiptoe, as though
he trod on air, thinking his paths made straight
before him Mrs. Armstrong would sail out with
her stately mien, and assume an extra degree of
authority over Louise, Louis, the negroes, the
mansion and the estate--fully believing this au-
thority to be but slightly anticipated