The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-23
A CHAMBER SCENE.
A light, commodious chamt er
cooking ont 10 the hills whera the shina


Mont Crystal saw the carriage of Mrs. Arm.
strong drawn up before the Island mansion
General Stuart-Gordon advanced from the house
and came down the steps to assist the lady to
alight
. am overjoyed to see you again so soon, my
dear madam, and my little dsughterin-law whom
we have missed so much She il within there,
of course. Mrs. Stuart-Gordon will be delighted
to see herr
I" My daughter has not accompanied me. sir. j
came only upon matter of business, to which |
crave your attention for few moments, sir.
"Certainly, madam" said the General, offering
his arm to the lady, with certain vague misgiV-
ings. Certainly, madam. Apollo, lead the
way into the library, and then let your mistress
know that Mrs Armstrong is here
Sir, excuse me! | shall not present myself
to your lady this morning."
"Can we not persuade you to spend the day
with us, madam said the General, in his bland
est tones.
"Once more cir business alone brought me
to the Isle Of Rays replied the lady, In
freezing tone. Again vague but gloomy present
iments darkened the mind of the General as ne
led Mrs Armstrong into the library and handed
| her chair She seated herself with cold digni-
| ty General art-Gordon followed her ex-
ample, and remained waiting for the lady to
speak.
"Be so good as to send your man from the
roomp said Mrs Armstrong
| Go Apollo commanded the General; and
| Apollo went dwell, madam, how can | serve
you ~ asked General Stuart Gordon, after wait
| fng some minutes for her to begin.
| "Sir, who is the heir Of this Island Estate "
"My only son Louis, Of course"
"Ry what right does Louis inherit this prop
erty?"
ain right of his mother, Margaret Stuart
Gordon
"Then Louis Stuart Gordon is master of this
estate and mansion-house ~
" Not as yet madam ~
LET that pass for the present. But, when
| bestowed the hand of my daughter, Miss Arm
strong upon your son, Mr.. Stuart-Gordon, it was
understood that she should take the head Of this
establishment Was this 80, or was it not so ~
Certainly, madam, that was the tact under
standing butt
"Never mind 'but' This house was re-fur-
nished, fitted up to suit the taste of Louise, was
it not?n
" OF corss, madam, butt
Louise was to have been its mistress-was
she bot?p
H.Crrxc,,. rqoiiaa b,,tn---.. ,,........,..-.
aWsC is its mistfess7' ~ y ~
" My WIFE Mrs Stuart G ordon senior
"Then the conditions Of the marriage contract
have not been fulfilled on your partp
The implisd conditions, | grant you, madam,
have been, so far, infringed. 1t was rather as
sumed than stipulated, that Mrs Louis should
take the head Of this establishment-and Mt a
time, too, when my own marriage was not in con-
temptation"
"Slr, |, for one, make no allowances for after
thoughts
81 Mrs Armstrong, pardon me- bnt this is really
very extraordinary on your partn
General Stuart-G Gordon, am one Of very few
words and, in one word, my business here to-day
is to remind you Of the conditions upon which
The marriage of Louis Stuart-Gordon with Louise
Armstrong was contracted, and to request your
fulflment of your part in short, to ask you to
give up possession here to the rightful owners
your son and his wife,
"Mrs Armstrong had any other than your
self have made so strange proposition, should
ascribe their words to disordered intellect
"Do understand you to refuse this, STRIP
Most certainly madam your singular propo-
sition is not to be entertained for a single mo-
mentw
"Then hear me, sir ! said that | was a woman
of fen words you know that | an not a woman
of rain words and | tell you she said, rising
folding her arms, standing before him with her
determined jaws firmly set, her determined eyes
firmly fixed upon him" tell you" she said,
slowly, through her closed teeth" that, until
you and your wife evacuate these premises, Mrs
Louis Stuart Gordon never sets foot upon the sle
of Rays, and nsver exchanges one word with any
one member of the Island family. waited my
time! | have her She is in my hands now p
and, turning haughtily, she strobe from the room,
leaving General Stuart Gordon standing, Won
der-struck in the middle of the floor, standing
stock STILL and staring straight ahead, until pair
of jewelled hands flashed down upon his breast,
and pair of sparkling eyes glanced up into his,
Britannia was standing before him.
"Well, what is it You are all amazed What
| is the matterp
"Ruin ruin, Brightly! Do you sec that wo-
man % he said, drawing Britannia after him to
the front window, and pointing to where Mrs.
Armstrong; carriage was rolling away. "Do
You see that woman2 sShe is the internal Ate
| in good apparel She has deceived us all her
visit her pretended reconciliation, was all q ruse,
TO get Louise into her power again would give
ten thousand dollars to have Louise once more
within the walls of this house. My dear Britain
MIA if, with your woman's wit, you will only con-
jure Louise back again to this room, ask me for
| any boon that moment, and it is yours"
"Nay | am no match for Mira Armstrong,
neither do | understand one word Of all this
quarrel, from first to LAST
Then Brightly, suppose that, first or last,
you must hear it. Mrs Armstrong had honored
me with her preference-was highly infuriated
| at my marriage-and now, that she has Louise
safe under her own thumb, and knowing rs she
knows her absolute power over Louise, and know
ing AS she does that Louis ia too fasidious to re-
sort TO legal measures for the recovery Of his
wife she has ayowed her determination that
Louise shall not set foot within the limits Of the
Isle of Rays, or hold any intercourse with any
member Of its family, until we-you and myself
shall have evacuated the premises. There | said
so Your bright eyes, my dear, are as wide open
with establishment as mine were when you came
in and found men
Rrghys eyes were now cast down she seemed
buried in deep thought for few minutes, then
suddenly breaking the thread Of her reverie, she
took his hand and said
"Come luncheon is served in the oaken par
lor y and drew him out. Over that luncheon
the General and Brightly had a long and conf
Dental conversation, of which more anon.
Ii was yet early in the morning when Mrs.
Armstrong returned to Mont Crystal. Louise sat
sewing in one Of the large front chambers whose
lofty windows commanded the river, isle, and
opposite shore. This was Mrs Armstrong; sum-
mer sleeping room. Every summer she migrated
from the thickly carpeted and heavily curtained
crimson bedroom to this large airy chamber, with
its many tall windows, its white antel-piece,
its straw mating floor, and its white dimity cur
tains, counterpanes, and toilet-covers. This was
an airy, fragrant chamber, with fine prospect
from its windows. Louise shared this apartment
with her mother, and now she sat at one of the
front windows, dling with her needle and thread;
while her heart went forth gladly into the morn
| ing glory of the sunlight The morning air had
tinged her decately fair cheek with the faintest
rose tint a little deepened Ms it budded into the
| classic Inns \ nuiaa I'D nj hnau lint
face, that could only be developed by happy
love- She was still pausing, with her needle in
her hand, still looking forth upon the glorious
landscape, when her mother entered from her
| drive Mrs Armstrong had already Invested