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

Stuart-Gordon W
"IIa! whatw
Certainly; here"--continued Zoe, drawing
out large work-basket from under the table
" look at oil the sweet pretty little thingsp
The two girls were soon quite absorbed in ex-
aiming tiny caps, bibs, slips, &c. While thus
engaged, Louise stopped, and whispered in the ear
of Zoe this question
allow is your father, Zoe lie looks better
and happier than ever saw him happier, in
deed than any one see anywhere yet there is
something strange about him--what is it1"
Listen, Louise will tell you all about it
He has passed an innocent and a benefcent life
oh has he not %
Indeed he has from all that we have heard
of him, and from all that we have observed our
selyesn
"Yet life full of toll and privstion"
ellis life has been like cloudy day, that ends
in clearing up at set of sun-a sunset glorious as
the gates Of Heaven. When the revelation Of
my true position was suddedly made to him. the
shock, together with his apprehension of the most
terrible results, shook his mind and body nearly
to dissolution. For months he was metamor-
phOsed-unrecognisable- almost When we
got to the Lair, Brutus, by pledging himself to
avert the worst consequences that might fall upon
my head tranauillized him but he did not re-
cover his normal state of mind be fell into
sort of abstraction that lasted all the time Of our
stay at the Lair. After our return TO this cot
taae. he hegap TO rouse ND FROM this dull ahstrac-
WIN, aueAo, nOU W rnaO NO -c'Ir R5u oeen
since knew him, but TO a sort of gladness and
boyishness. And he has grown fat and fair, and
there he is-the happy child-angel that you see
him. II is profane to call this beautiful emanci-
patton of this guileless spirit dotage-it is Sec
ond childhood indeed "a state very near beati-
7 boa avar cd
Heaven to me with so much power as this old
mans so-called 'dotage' The dotage of a life
innocent as his has beeu-what is it but the bliss
full trance of spirit standing on the confines Of
both worlds-communing with both, bearing from
the one a glory that enlightens the other! He
seems to me always an angel or child. Listen,
Louise While we sit here together with my
needle, he with his pets-sometimes he lets them
run off, and closes his eyes, and sinks into sort
of happy abstraction, beautiful calm dlfuses
itself over his countenance, which anon grows
brighter and brighter, until it seems to radate
light and beauty, as an angels; and pause from
my work and gaze with awe, until my faith in
heaven reaches certainty And presently he will
awake from that abstraction, and beg to look
around, and chat with me- and play with his pets,
and laugh as gleefully as a child at the merest
trife Yet there is no folly, no imbeclity, not
the least, in all this-it is always the innocent
joy of the child, the inspratie1 Tx c2gslR
Mrs. Armstrong, while apparently occupied
with the old man, had lost no part Of this con-
versation and her brow had grown very dark at
those parts that had concerned Britannia. The
old man now arose, and approached the girls, and |
looked wistfully into the face Of Louise; then he
stretched forth his hand, and laying it on her
head, blessed her. Then he stopped, and said |
confdentially to Zoe, pointing to Mrs, Armstrong |
"Don't let her come and sit by me again, Zoe
She has made me feel cold all over, and made my
eyes dim And this little child, Zoe," he said,
laying his hand on the head Of Louise, this
poor little chilled blue-p child, she must not
stay near her, or she will be frost-bitten as the
flowers are, and die as the flowers doD
SWhat does he say about his flowers ?" asked
Mrs. Armstrong, now approaching the table
"He says they will be frost-btten if exposed to
the cold answered Zoe.
The old man shrunk gently away at the lady's
approach, passed around the table, holding by it,
and tottered back to his seat
"Have you engaged this girl to make up your
autumn dresses, LouiseP
do" replied Louise.
"Then we need not delay our return" said
Mrs. Armstrong
Louise arose to take leave of Zoe and found
an opportunity of saying to her
" | have no room, not a nook or corner, at Mont
Crystal, for my private use, Zoe share my
mothers apartments butt ever should get back
to the Isle Of Rays, spare room there shall al
ways be at your service, Zoe; and in the mean
time, dear Zoe shall be very happy to see you
at Mont Crystal, if you can take any pleasure in
seeing me always in the company of othersp
They then took leave Of tho sehoolmaster and
left the cottage.
Remounting their horses, and followed by their
attendant, Mrs. Armstrong and Louise entered
the bride path leading through the glen and up
the hill
This path was very narrow, with high, thick
woods on both sides. They rode in single file
Mrs Armstrong first, Louise next, and their SER
want behind They had nearly reached the top
of the hill, when lady and gentleman, on horse
back, appeared suddenly in sight, riding down
the path, meeting them.
It was Britannia, in high beauty, attired in an
elegant dark. blue velvet riding habit and cap,
with floating white plume, and mounted on a jet
black horse She was followed by Louis Stuart
Gordon, looking pale and haggard, in his usual
dress of simple black and mounted on his dark
bay horse.
There was no avoiding the meeting now Mrs.
Armstrong and her party paused and drew aside
for the new corners to pass.
Mrs Armstrong drew up her majestic figure to
its ofiest height, gathered her dark brows into
an awful frown, and looked sternly and straight
ahead
Louise grew deadly pale, dropped her head
upon her bosom and her eyes upon the ground
Britannia passed first She threw glance of
indignation at the naughty countenance OF Mrs.
Armstrong, and turned look full of plying af-
fiction upon the pale face Of Louise
Louis came next. Lifting his cap from his
head and bowing low as his saddle, he held it
thus until he had passed them. They rode down
the hill
With frowning brow and curling lip, Mrs.
Armstrong whipped up her horse, just as the ser
want sprang past her and caught Louise, who was
falling from her saddle!
"Take her before you on the horse! Take her
before you on the horsel Fly with her to Mont
Crystal! Quick quickl quickp exclaimed
Mrs Armstrong, who by rapid glance had per-
ceived that Louis, looking back, had seen Louise
swoon, and was now squirting his horse rapidly up
the hill toward them.
The man raised the fanting girl, and fled with
her towards Mont Crystal.
Louis Stuart-Gordon overlook Mrs. Arm
strong, who, keeping in the middle OF the path,
would not suffer him to pass her.
He addressed her with respectful courtesy, re-
questing her to give way, that he might ride on
and see Louise.
Mrs Armstrong sat straight up in her saddle,
looked straight on before her, and rode leisurely,
without replying
He spoke to her again earnestly, and inquired
after the health of his wife
Mrs Armstrong did not answer.
He argued with her, entreated her.
Mrs. Armstrong persevered in stern silence,
until they had reached the gates Of Mont Crys-
tai, when, turning to him, she said
"Sir! my daughter is in fine health and
spirits You need give yourself no impertinent
uneasiness about her ~ ---
She passed the gates. They changed to behind
her, leaving Louis, refining up his horse without.
"And Louise is dying !-slowly dying know
it n he exclaimed, as he galloped madly back to
the Isle of Rays.