The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-27

fare of the whole community depend upon its be-
| ing held So III Louise and myself have contract
ed an ill.udged marriage, We must suffer for it,
and bear the penalty. Better that individuals
should suffer- than that the general tone of moral
sentiment should be lowered. Oh observe, sir
in modern times, in Christian countries, divorces
were so rare as TO be almost unheard Of until two
men in the power of place set very baleful ex-
ample, that spread like slow pestilence over
| their respective countries. Since the divorce of
the Empress Josephine by Napoleon, and that of
Queen Caroline by George iii, divorces have be-
| come far more common | trace il TO the infu-
ence of that high example! My father, we ex-
crt in - county an influence quite as strong,
if not as extensive as that of the ilustrous per-
sons have named, and, behs,s snv, AZ 10 aanger.
| GUS to introduce respectable precedent for an
act of questionable morality in a neighborhood
| Still--stll-I have not considered this very
deeply the suggestion is new. Perhaps, were
| the happiness Of Louise really involved might
be induced to set aside all objections not positive
| ly founded on pure night, were il not for one
thing-one fetter that binds us together, and
must never, never be broken but by deathp
"Aud that7n
IL our daughterp
| .Louis nonsense! The little one is in the
handeof her mother and grandmother, who it is
to be presumed love her fondly She is sure of
the best education that wealth can procure for
her, and will be, besides, the heiress of large
fortune. And, Louis more than all, by the
time you are thirty-fve or six years, when you
will be still young though not youthful, she your
daughter will be grown, and most probably mar
ried and settled in life. Mrs. Armstrong Is a
great hand at early marriages, as you know to
| your cost-and you at tbirty-six will find your
self unsettled as now, Louis! No weakness, if
| you have any regard for me. Observe you mar
| rie of al xta vpifh harf for Eve
or six months, when she left you. She became a
mother, and took away her child to distant city,
and has absented herself for nearly two years, re-
aNsiHg i,a yourcF fSGxc
family, even by letter Poop pooh! Your mar
| riage was farcep
Not so, sir p said Louis, with a sort Of bitter
mile, since we have daughter who is heiress to
two immense estates that comprise more than one
half of - county, and are valued at nearly
| two millions p
|. "Hum! you might marry again and have
son, Prince of Wales might disinherit the
Princess Royal POUNDS sir ! this girl has
abandoned you with the levity Of a mistress.
Treat the case even So Divorce her settle prop
erty on her. and forget her--as paid-off mis-
tress ~
The pallid brow of Louis Stuart-G Gordon flush
ed to crimson, as he replied
Enough, sir Thrill not. The honor Of my
wife and daughter are dearer to me than my
own y and, lifting his hat from the table, he bow
ed and left the ROOM
81 wonder if | could not get writ of lunacy
out against that young gentleman p exclaimed
General Stuart Gordon, testify as he arose to re-
join the ladies.
A month passed AWAY month during which
nothing more was heard of the Mont Crystal fam
| ily Then General Stuart Gordon, accompanied
by ali his family and Miss Somerville, went to
| spend August and September at the sea shore.
They returned to the Isle of Rays about the mid
| die Of October.
Gorgeously beautiful was the Isle of Rays in
early autumn. The scarlet foliage Of the oak, the
golden leaves Of the hickory, the rich purple hue
of the dogwood tree, and the bright dark green Of
the pine and cedar all growing tall from the lsle
made it resemble from a distance large and
splendid bouquet, set in the clear waters
The family returned in renewed life to their
gorgeous home. Even Louis, by the healthful
| ministrstions Of nature and the soothing compan-
inehip Of his good angel, Susan, was visibly i'm
proved in health and spirits.
itwaslate In the afternoon OF glorious day,
just cool enough to make the prospect of home
blazing fire, and warm supper, highly inviting !;
and twilight was gathering duskily on, giving the
neighborhood sweet, dim, mysterious obscurity;
and the wind was rising in the northwest, with
that shrill hollow blast pleasant to hear in the
early winter, when one has snug ireside and
new warm hued autumn dresses, waiting to be en-
| joyed-when the large family carriage stopped
| before the portico at the Island mansion.
Lights were glowing through the crimson-cur.
tanned windows of the drawing-room; and as the
carriage approached, a perfect flood of radiance
poured from the hall doors, that were flung wide
open by Gertrude Lion, who bounded out to well
come the new corners, as they descended from the
carriage She caught Britannia in her arms
first.
"Oh Brightly, you are 80 handsome! your
cheek is like carnation rose And you too,
Susan you are blooming like peach blossom
And Louis!n roared the amazon, breaking into
loud laugh, {" vow aud declare - how Louis
does grow il he is not almost man And you
Generall" exclaimed she, starting back and clap
ping her hands" you, General drums and flies
steeds and spursl how grand how sublime! how
heavy and pompous you look! Oh! General
Stuart-G Gordon shake hands with me- that may
catch some of the gori6caton, as school children
catch then-
Here General Stuart-G ordon interrupted her,
by starting forward and Offering warm response
to this sancy salutation. But the beautiful giant
ess arrested him by one strong grip Of the shout
der and held him with one hand, while she lifted
the other and raising her snowy finger, shook IL
sdmonshingly at him, as she said, with queer
mixture Of fun and solemnty-
"Nn-o-you-doxfl Pm not Zoe, nor Louise.
My lips are not as common as a barber's chair
Everybody has their pet pride. You are proud
Of your military fame-ofa name that will blaze
down the centuries, illuminating the history of
our country. Britannia is proud Of h1sett-Bru- |
anna. Mrs Armstrong Is proud Of her p,ids.
also am proud.
alt must be Of your incredible strength, my
audacious beautyp
"It is this-that my lips have never been stain |
ed by falsehood or touched by kiss - no. |
never. even in my loving childhood and that
which made the sorrow Of the child, makes the
glory of the womani There; I've made my |
speech and now you'll understand sir, that II in
your exceeding great affectionateness you were to
deprive me of that glory-there'd be a row"
And the amazon relaxed her hold, gathered up
her falling torrent Of golden hair, and fastening IT
by running the blade Of her hunting knife
through the knot, stepped back TO let them pass
! g .Sc aAease. General STANDARDIZATION laughed
heartily as he drew the arm Of Britannia through
his own, and walked into the house. Louis fol-
lowed, with Susan on arm, and leading little
Brightly by the other hand. Gertrude shook
hands with the goodman, patted the horses
heads-talked to them-a good supper and good
rubbing down-and then sprung, with three
bounds, into the house. The travellers had re-
tired 10 their rooms TO change their dresses.
Zoe, after having welcomed the party had gone
into the wainscoted parlor to await them.
This room was the very perfection Of comfort.
The dark and polished oak walls, the crimson
carpet, curtains and chair covers, and the blazing
hickory FIRE, all impaired glowing and genial
warmth. The tea-table was set, and the wax can
dies on the mantel-piece shone down upon the
dazzling white damssk cloth and the glittering
silver tea.service Zoe was tripping about, re-
ceivine dishes from the waiter as he brought
them In, and arranging them on the table AZ
last. all was ready, and Zoe rung peal OF bells
Soon Britannia and Susan entered looking charm
! ingly in their rst fall dresses--Sasan In dark
slste-colored silk, and Britannia 10 rich purple
| satin They were attended by the General aud