Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-06-13
VOL. ".

i VOL. ". aa.o sal
exclaimed the merry young lady; that is
too good Joke really and I'll wager my
darling Nep against your peerless Arabian
that if letter comes from Lady Ann asking
Miss Sowerby TO visit her, she'll go.'
q accept your wager, Beatrice, though
usually dsapprove of ladies taking BETS an
swered Lindores smiling, and desirous OF
ending the discussion, when our eldest cous-
in said; her eyes filling with tears, you NAV
safely accept Miss Delville's challenge, Lin
dores, my dear, for Lady Ann has quite for
gotten her governess that is clear; / have
become resigned to the belief though It is
mortifying, considering past attachment
Aud while the amiable Lindores tried to
soothe the worthy old creatures wounded
vanity, he held out no false hopes, but at
tributed the apparent neglect to Lady AIMS
numerous engagements and pre-occupations;
SO she listened and was comforted.
| Great was our astonishment, in about a
week subsequent to this little episode of the
bet, when a letter, bearing the mark of the
nearest post-town and addressed to Miss
Somerby, threw her into a state of absolute
bewilderment, and finally into an ecstacy of
Joy. 1t was formally and coldly-worded
invitation from Lady Ann, to stay at the
Priory for two days, the time specified being
fortnight distant, and no answer required.
The note commenced with LADY Ann Tyr
connel's remembrances to Miss Sowerby,'
and the handwriting was so careless as to be
almost illegible; but our poor cousin pro-
nounced it perfect in all respects The for
mality was high breeding, the GOODNESS high
respect for hel and SO she laid the falter-
ing JUNCTION to her soul; past neglect van
ished away from her forgiving, elated mind,
and she shed tears a5undantly over the scroll,
kissing it repeatedly, and hiding il in her bo-
som.
ALAS for my peerless Arab steed!' said
Lindores to Miss Beatrice Delville, with a
haf-puzzled, half sorrowfu look.
'What do you mean, Lindores p exclaimed
Beatrice her color heightened, her voice be-
traying agitation and surprise.
Only he replied, that cousin Sowerby
has commenced preparations on great scale
for her momentous visit to the Priory, and
carries her head an inch higher, poor soul !!
You must be joking now. Lindores, ex-
claimed Beatrice you do not actually mean
TO say that she has accepted the invitation !?
'Indeed do, Beatrice, he answered. But
a strange girl you are how astonished you
look Why, you BET me that she would i!
she could and now wherefore all this amaze.
ment? ?
Because only did il to tease her. Lin
dores and didn't believe she would go
and l don't want your Arabian. And oh
Lindores, Lndores, stop her she must moi
go to Lady Ann indeed she
must not! What shall do 2
BE kind to Selim and don't override him
Beatrice ;you have fairly won him, said Col
onel LindoTes, nevertheless good deal sur.
prised at his cousins extraordinary manner
'No, no, have not fairly won him, she ex-
claimed in still more agitated tone. Then
she abruptly stopped on encountering Lin.
dore's earnest and serious gaze. sudden
thought appeared TO strike her she started
putting her hand to her brow, was lost in
reverie for few moments, and then looking
up with a bright smile, she cried, When Sc
linn Is mine, promise you faithfully, Lin
dores,to love him dearly, and care for him as
you do So saying, she darted out of the
room, leaving Col. LindoTes much perplexed
at such vagaries even from her, privileged
person as she was.
1t twas indeed as Lindores had said, and
Miss Sowerby's preparations were on great
scale, for her small means. A new dress
and a cap were ordered from T-,and fur.
nishing old things and remodelling was go.
ing forward from morning till night in Miss
Sowerby's own room. Her heart was sc
completely in this great event of her passive
lite, that / became convinced any disappoint
would 60 hard with her.
One week mad elapsed since the summon.
arrived, and continuous heavy fall of snow
almost threatened TO block up the roads
which were very wild and rough between
our house and the Priory. Miss Sowerb,
kept watch anxiousy and my father havin,
promised her the use Of our seldom-used
numbering family.coach for The coming event
she became consoled, more particularly a
Lindores offered to be her escort, and to de
posit her safely at the gates. All that nigh
the snow continued to descend and alarm
ing accounts reached us of ay-farers mis-
sing, to say nothing Of the perishng cattl
on the hills therefore our CONSERVATION ma
be imagined when, at late hour, as tn
shadows of evening were gathering over tn
gloomy landscape, we were informed, ol
seeking Beatrice in her apartment, whilhe
' she often retired for hours, that she had beel
seen to quit our valley at an early hour Q
5 the day, mounted on her mettesome pony
, and attended only by Neptune nor had sh
yet returned. She had been seen by som
laborers speeding past Donniwell Church,
, lonely edifice on the edge of moor, and il
, the direct route to the Priory. This wa
hours ago. And now The house was in con
fusion, for every one loved Beatrice, despit
F her naughty, teasing ways for hers was tn
open heart and liberal hand, and the tongu
was the unruy member which led Beatric
into all her scrapes. As TO the grave, statel,
and somewhat indolent Lindores, he exhibit
ed SYMPTOMS of so contrary nature to hi
usual wont, that Miss Sowerby, who share
/, to the full in our alarm and anxiety, incohe
rently exclaimed, well day ! Lindores, m
dear, it's very good Of you 10 be So bris
F.: about the safety Of one you don't overmuc
: love-. But Lindores heard her not he wa
of in search of the trluant. alone over th
dreary hills and moors, desiring proper per
sons 10 follow on his track with lanterns an
' requisite assistance. Lindores knew til
danger far better than we did Of being 10.
e on the trackless wastes, and his countenanc
d betrayed horror when he heard of his youn
: cousins escapade. The only words he Vi
9 tered were, Towards the Priory, you say ?
: All, see-I understand it ALL ..r.
S Lintores had not proceeded tar when h
: met Neptune returning home in haste. VIII
d caresses OF unbounded joy he recognized I'll
colonel and turning back, as he looked up
: his face with piteous whine, the failhfi
animal kept the unerring direction towart
! Donnlwell Church and there, in the deserte
y porch nearly stfened with cold. pain, an
terror, was Beatrice Delville. Her pony ha
, slipped, rolled down bank with her, an
r broken both its own legs. She fortunate
esca ned without broken homes hut en- cor al