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

newly married couple viii depart for New Yors
whence they will sail by the first packet to EGG
land. accompany them.
With due respect,
HoRrENsE BLACKSTONE ARMSTRONG.
Whenever Louis received a wound his in
stincts sent him to Susan Somerville, to have i
dressed. So, as soon as he had received this crue
| letter, he felt that he needed the gentle girl
whose kind words and soft tones and chances haC
such power 70 soothe his excited mind He place.
the letter in his fathers hand, and stood cap anC
riding hip In hand, waiting for him to read it,
aYOu are going to the crags Louis, suppose
49, q, "a II - - ~ ;;eclaeles
! and returning the letter.
al am, sirD
! "You remember your promise, Louis-nevel
to return thither unless it was with the Intention
Of offering your hand TO Susan Somerville."
g remember 1t, sir, and | go for that pur
posen
at is wellr
aSusan-Susan Somerville-I know that an
utterly unwoyshy Of youl am bowed, niser
able, and yqiring mani You are frm, strong
and e.anusNppy in your strength. Yet Susan
aom1 live without you at least, so j
seems ~ -. 50 and am about 10 ask you to under
take the drrection, the redemption, of Just socf
! lost ID (ch as ] ami
Th9ke Of Susan grew deadly pale, and ther
flashed bSck to crimson. She withdrew the hand
that he had taken, arose, and walked in an agi
tated manner 10 the window. Louis got up and
followed her.
Susan dear Susan is It such presumption
to hope that may be able to persuade you to give
me your hand in marriage Why do you not
| speak 10 me, Susan?"
Louis !" she faltered, and her frame trem-
bled from head to foot
"Well. dearest Susan, but that is no answer y
aeAlas Louis, do not dream Of another mar
{ riase-especiaiiy with ms-xfth me- who had
such an affection forn-
- .h2ssS& .a.s-A.E '~.=, 49, 49, n e. :. ID
very last time. She is to be married in three
weeks, Susanp
"Grscious Heavens Mop
"This Is sop
"And you, Louis 70
"Look at me, Susan am very calm and
quiet! Come, Susan | have passed two years
OF widowhood; that is a long time TO wear the
willow for o faithless woman. She win marry,
she will 20 10 England an ocean will separate
us; we shall never meet again. She Is indeed
dead to me- Read Mrs. Armstrong; letter.
ooh! all this is very horriblep Susan said,
when she had concluded it
"Now then, Susan, during all this time that
she has deserted me, you have been my good an
gel you have kept me from the grave. Say,
Susan, will you not bless the life that you have
saved | feel, Susan, as though could not live
without your society. Come, Miss Somerville,
make my father, Britannia, and myself, happy r
"Louis, as far as in me lies, nil make you
all happy. will be your friend and sister, as
heretofore-and nothing more, Louisn
"Alasl Susan, do you not know that the world
does not recognise such q relstion between those
whom the ties Of blood or Of marriage do not
uniter
Susan leaned her elbow on the window sill,
| dropped her brow upon her hand, and remained
silent.
"Susan, you must either give me your hand,
or must totally resign the comfort Of your So
ciety. Nay, have passed my word to my father,
to do son
"Louisl this is STRANGE this startles me
Louis, leave mep
SNot without my answer, Susanp
"Then take 1t, Louis. An impulse, strong as
| life, impels vs in one direction--a power inexo
| am on the rack. Go Louis! angel tempter
| Go, and let me draw into the quiet ~
aNot without my answer, Susanw He took
her hand, and pressed it to his lips; he argued
implored, but failed to persuade After some
hours he left, and returned to the Isle Of Rays.
Susan dropped, pale and langrid, upon the old
settee. When Harriet came in to give her cup
of tea, she looked up languidly, and said
"Hsrriet, you are old and experienced; did
you ever know any one who was miserable all
their lives~
"No, Miss Susan, I never knew any one, not
even the poorest slave who was miserable from
youth to age-except II was from renorse. No,
Miss Susan, bat ! have seen many cloudy morn
l. -nfy F..1lxx tova Nc dav l.
the sun breaking through the clouds Of your life
now, Miss Susan ~
General and Mrs Stuart-Gordon came up to
the Crags in the afternoon. Their object was to
persuade Susan to accept the hand Of Louis The
truth IL, that General Stuart. Gordon was tired
of having bis family deranged with uncertainty,
anxiety, grief anger, and Illness and all the va
rous passions, emotions, and calamities, that had
apitated the Island Manor for the last two years
He longed to see Louis comfortably married, and
with young nursery growing up around him.
He knew that Louis never could be persuaded
to address any young lady, unless 1t was Susan !;
he knew, also, that such was the feeling against
divorce, In the neighborhood that scarcely any
father could be induced TO give the hand Of his
daughter to q divorced man. Miss Somervie
had no parents or guardians to interfere, and be-
sides, she loved Louis. Lastly, she had great
veneration for "those In authority and for the
opinions Of her elders In general, and General
Stuart-Gordon In particular. She would he
likely TO yield her prejudces TO his psrsnasiona
As for Britannia, she loved sunshine, and Louis,
delicate as he was made great shadow ut the Isle
of Rays, especially when Susan was away. And
she wanted female companion she could not
make one Of her housekeeper, or her maid. She
wanted lady, an equal So that am afraid there
was little alloy of sel6shness In the pure gold
Of. benevolence with which the General and
Brightly wished to secure the happiness of Louis
and Susan.
Miss Somerville did not long hold out against
all those influences brought to bear upon her.
Not because she was alone and poor, and denied
the pleasures of social family circle, and the
comforts of wealth-not because she loved Louis
not for eli these strong reasons would Susan
Somerville have consented, but because the hap
pipess of Louis and the cheerfulness Of his fam
| ily seemed to depend upon her decision Az last,
while Britannia was clsspipg her hand, and smil-
| ing Ia her syes Susan assentcd. Then Brightly
fondly embraced her. The next day, Britannia,
attended by Louis and servant with led horse,
came up TO the Crsgs to bring Miss Somerville
back TO the Isle Of Rays. Having arrived, Brightly
took Susan up stairs. A wide hall divided the
second floor, ss the first. This hall was lighted
| by two large bay windows, one at the front, and
one at the back Ii was also lined with paintings,
and furnished with book cases rich reading desks,
and lounges On the right side Of this hall were
the winter rooms Of Britannia Throwing open
door on the left side of the hall, Brightly said,
smilipgly, "Theee are TO be your apartments,
Miss rville-thcee on the opposite side being
mine Throwing this foe wide hall between us,
We shall not como In contact, or quarrel, you
know Then she conducted Susan In. They
were beautiful suite of rooms, consisting OF q
boudoir, dressing ROOM and bed-chsmber, run
ming parallel with the hall from front to back 10
the order have narrated them, connected by
doors, and each having door opening upon the
hall. The drsperies were all lghi-blue sift, and
gave singulArly cheerful aspect TO the rooms.
aNow, my rooms, you know said Britannia,
asrs In the reverse order Of this. My bedroom