The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-11

means OF curing his mslady
General Stusrt-Gordon observed the migrate
full neglect Of Miss Someryille BY HE son, and be-
came seriously displessed.
Brightly was as much yexed as Il was possible
for Brightly to be-
The marriage ceremony was 10 be performed
very quietly on the next Sabbath, at church, be-
fore the morning service.
] Saturday came, and the despair Of Louis was
| frightful to look upon. General Stusrt-G ordon
was indignant, and Britannia herself was strug.
Cling against an increasing irritsbslity.
Gertrude Lion and her brother were to be the
bridal attendants. They arrived 70 an early lin-
ner-intending TO remain all day and night The
So -. - - A. - -A- - 49,
abstraction Of Louis much as ne struggled to over
come IL, dsmped the spirits Of the whole party
! even Gertrude's laughter was smothsred in some
thing very like great sigh.
In the afternoon little Zoe arrived
After an early tea, the household separated
thai Is to say, Louis went of TO his own apart
ment-Susan disappeared, no one knew where
the General betook himself to the wanscoted
parlor to suIk and Brightly follazed him, in an
! amiable spirit Of contradiction, 20 defsst THAI
profitable object. Brutus Lion stalked off to the
stables, and the two girls, Gertrude and her pet,
| went to their own rooms to have good oonfden-
tal girlish talk about matters and things In gen.
erai, and the approaching marriage in particular.
Up to this time, be il remembered that Gertrude
had not CHANGED to know that the aspirant to the
hand Of Louise Armstrong WAS her own ei-depdm
admirer, Frobisher. No! that Gertrude had now
to learn but we will leave the girls gabbling in
their chamber in good time, before the unlucky
little tongue of Zoe shall have told the news, or
applied the match that shall explode our dear
grenade, Gertrude. We will follow Louis, though
he is not just now an agreeable object Of study.
Louis had left the tea-table, and wandered in
an abstraction to his own chamber Ii was situs-
ted in the trout of the house, - I sslaSs}t s5as
80 early in the evening that the window blinds
- , -,,s 49,, 7. =
es. crowned by Mont Crystal, the old home Of
Louise. 1t was very distinct in the evening
light
The sun had already set but the western sky
was gloriously beautiful, with its reflected light.
Gorgeous crimson, purple, and golden clouds were
piled up like the mountains Of ruby, topaz, al d
amei hyst, in the Arabian Nights, and reflected in
all their marvellous splendor in the crystal river
below. On the eastern side, the moon was just
rising, and striking an arrow Of diamond light
down the stream Before him was the opposite
bluffs, crowned by the lofty colonnaded white
front of Mont Crystal
sickened at 1t.
He closed the blinds, and sat down in dark
ness. He sat down In deep and high-backed
chair, and dropping his head upon his open
palms, gave himself up to sad thoughts.
An hour passed, and he had not changed his
attitude.
Suddenly he felt two light, soft hands descend
like blessing on his head.
He looked up in surprise, and recognised
Susan Somerville.
Her hands slipped down over his temples and
then dropped kindly upon his hands which they
took and pressed.
"My dear Susan - exclaimed Louis, in tone
between surprise and remorse.
She silently pressed his hands, went quietly to
the window, opened the blinds, letting in a food
of moonlight, and returning, half leaned over his
chair, as che addressed him -
"Louis, you are very wretched-vhy do you
not deal frankly with met"
"My dear Susanl"
o Why do You not honestiy'' pstha cause of
"Oh, Susanln
"Why not have said to me, tStsan, / loved
thee as dear sister, drew health from thy pres
ence, and cheerfulness from thy talk; but, Susan,
! mistoOk my heart when thought that could
wed thee!'
@Susanl Susan!n ..
GCome, Louisl we have both acted fooisbly-
we have both been weak and wicked; let us re-
trace our footsteps while there Is yet time !
What mean you, Susan 7"
"Let us break this ill-omened eagagemeut-it
mas wrong do not let it become fstal-comc, let
us consider it!n
Never, Susan Neprl Pardon, dear Susan
pardon few regrets given to the p.st-they will
soon themselves be past they are past Susan,
you merit my entire devotion lyon have II
"Thank you, dearest Louis! but my purpose
is fixed Since you will not agree With me to an
null this engagement, break through 1t | came
here for that purpose
"But, Susan, this is hasty-this is rash You |
have not considered all the consequences! -
.aMy friend ~ said Susan, with mild solem-
nifty, al have erred, and suffered somewhat from
rashness. ! will never be rash sgain No, Louis
have thought Of this some weeks, but resolved
to do nothing rashly ~
"But Susan
"To-bight my mind Is made up finally, and y
said Miss S6merville, standing up aud resting her
hand upon the dressing table-"and Louis here
| take God and his holy evsngelists to witness
that will never, under any possible circumstan-
ces, give you my hand in marriage, or sustain any
other relation to you than that Of sister and
friend ~
Louis started to his feet-would have arrested
the hand that fell upon the Bible but 1t was too
late the oath was recorded.
With q sudden revulsion Of feeling by q
strange contradiction, Louis was struck powerless
by the sight Of the consolation 20 Unexpectedly,
80 irretrievably snatched from him. At last he
faltered out
ooh, why why have you done this : rash and
hard-hearted girl ~
"To cut this matter short at once and forever.
Louis! And now, dear Louis, We shall be friends
aootn Wa hev heeu s1rh sfpa n0era siuce mr. |
betrothsl, Louis Now that that 10 annulled, we
shall be friends again. I shall be thy sister and
CONSIDER as heretofore Whenever thou art lonely,
or wearied, or troubled, thou shalt come 10 me-
yes, in season and out OF season, at ell times and
at all hours, Louis, and ind sisters affection
and sisters consolationl"
cob but, my dear Susan, the world the
world,s
@As told one gentle one, who 10 nameless
here, the world will make no rhiAgakes about me
Good night Louisi ] 20 10 announce this new
phase Of affairs to Britannia
Louis caught her hand, and pressed II fervently
to his lips, and then permitted her to leave him
She went out, with the purpose Of descending
into the oak psrlor to talk with Brightly, when
the opposite door Of the chamber jointly occupied
by Gertrude and Zoe, was thrown open, and
Gertrude Lion, In state Of high excitement,
burst out aud fed past her down the stairs, and
into the oak psrlor. Amazed, Susan drew back
and returned to her own room
an be hanged, drawn, and qu'rtered, before
stand I'll mi be torn to pieces by wild beasts
before stand H. III be blown up from the era
ter Of my own volcano before stand i!p tbun-
dsred Gertrude Lion, bounding Hike storm into
the midst Of the room-her tall figure elevated,
her fine head thrown back, her yellow hair falling
like n cataract, her broad white bosom now red |
and heaving, her neck, her cheets her very brow,
flushed to bright carnstion her transparent nos-
trils distepded, quivering, her light-blue Saxon
eyes dilated, blazing! go
General Stuart Gordon and Britannia looked |
ut her in silent establishment
a. LII h.~~ A rUsh IL L