The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-28

child. And indeed the heart of Louise was ex-
banding well under the paternal fondness OF
General Stuart ordon, as in the warm and ear
nest affection of Louis.
What are YOU going TO do, Brightly ~ in
quired the girls as Britannia took her seat with
them.
81 do not know, indeed | have decided on
nothing as yet,n said Brightly, growing serious in
spite Of herself.
Susan Somervlle had not joined in the inquiry,
but now she looked up with interest upon the
sobered face of Brightly, and, passing her hand
once or twice across her own pale and troubled
brow, fell into thought.
"Miss O'Riley, Brutus and myself would be
very happy to have you pass some months with
us at the Lair Ii is true that the housekeeping
is rather topsyturyy, and that the old garden has
more rocks brambles, and snakes, in it than flow
ers, fruits, or birds; but then horses are the
finest in the country, and our dogs equal them
said the Ger falcon, with blending Of rudeness,
arrogance, and courtesy, that was very strange.
Britannia 0'Riley bowed courteously but, be-
fore she could decline this invitation, Zoe Dove
caught her hand, and exclaimed, quite breath
lessly- .,--4S>.. $3.50 $780,,
"No, no. no, no! Come to the Dovecote,
Brightly %he housekeeping th-rv is FIRST rate,
You shall have my little chamber | have just
made nice blue and white quilt for the bed and
1 will sleep on pallet in fathers roomn
Britannia took her hand and pressed 1t affec-
tionately, and then said
81 thank you both very sincerely, dear girls.
But, as yet, my future is all undetermined and
the tears swan in Brighty's eyes, as much from a
sense of wounded pride in the thought that heg
homeless condition had moved the sympathy of
these girls as from an emotion of gratitude for
their kindness-and then she thought of General
Stuart Gordon as one who could deliver her from
all such notifications in the present and protect
her from their return in the future; and her
heart warmed towards him with the grateful but
unimpsssioned affection that the young-loved
sometimes feel for the aged-loving.
Susan Someryille had remained silent but rs
soon as she got an opportunity Of speaking to
Brightly unobserved, she said
"Wil you come to my room as soon as you can,
q viii attend you theSe paWy If you please"
said Brightly.
And the girls rose and sought the apartment of
Miss Somervile.
As soon as they were seated by the quiet, little
wood fire, Susan again passing her hand over her
brow, like one who tries to dissipate pertins-
cious and intensely concentrated idea, said slow
ly, and in broken voice--still like one trying
unsuccessfully to break the bondage of an over
mastering thought, and give attention to the SUBJ
ject in hand
"Britannia, after these-these wedding festivi-
ties are over, come with me to the Crags 1t is
wild, blasted-not nice now-but it will he better
in the spring. and, without waiting for an an
swer, Susan relapsed again into thought forget
ting that she had given the invitation.
Brightly had penetrated her secret. She gazed
on that pale and altered brow those wasted cheeks
and hollow eyes--eyes grown twice their natural
size through dilstion of their pupils-and the
emacation of the face-upon that collapsed and
quiyering frame, and turned abruptly awayto hide
the tears that suffused her eyes. Not for the
world, by any betrayal of her own sympathy,
would she have violated the sanctuary of her
friends sacred delicacy. Recovering her own
composure she returned to Susan, and, by way
of arousing her, took her hand, and said cheer
fully
81 thank you, dear Susan and | accept your
kind invitation very gladly
at is a dreary waste, a bleak desolate scene,
Brightly, but it has the advantage of healthful
ness" observed Susan, in some degree recovering
herself
The dinner bell rang, and the young ladies
separated to arrange their dresses.
had occasion TO tell you once before, that wed.
ding festivities in the country parts Of Maryland
and Virginia are conducted on quite different
plan to that adopted in fashionable city circles
The honeymoon, usually passed in solitude by
fashionable city bride and groom is here spent in
a round of dinner parties, balls, &C. 1t is an oc
casion of merry making that quiet country people
seize with great avidity and improve to its ut.
most extent.
Thus our bride and bridegroom were kept in q
continual whirl Of dissipation for five weeks
which brought April before they were finally set.
tied in their beautiful home of The Isle of Rays.
END OF ROCK FIRST