The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-03-29


change IN Sir Arthur except that te became
deadly, almost liyidly pale. lie seemed lost
10 dark thought for minute, and than, with
a slight effort, said, "Y0u have answered me
honestly and directly aHd yeu cay your res
oluton - Interchangeable; well, would IL had
been otherwiae-wouldi Il had been otherwise
but bf ~ II III ] am satisfied"
lie gave me his hsnd-it was cold and
damp az dcaihi under aii assumed oamness,
u was eydoht that he was fearfully agiiated,
lie continued Ia hold my hand with an al
most painful pressure, while, ~ II uncon-
soiously, seeming 10 forget my presence, he
mutiered, "slruHge, strange, strange, indeedl
faulty helpless iatuily" there was here
long pause "Madness INDEED 20 strain a ca
I bic that 10 rotten TO the Very hrnrt II must
\ tse1,---sii = IlAEs- was. ~
gain pause of some minutes, nfler which
suddenly changing his yoiee aud manner Ia
one Of wakeiul. alacrity, be exclaimed
"Margaret my son b44Harl shall plague
YOU no more lie leaves this country to,mor-
row for France; be shall speak no more up
on this sghject-neyer, never more; what
ever events depended upon your answer
tt-s.lilElaA lake Lheil nRn cQnrsei but ~ Tor
this fruidoss proposal, IL has been tried e
nough Il can bo repeated no more"
At these words he codly suffered my hand
10 dron, a. ii 10 express his total abandonment
Of all his projected schemes Of alliance and
certainly the actoD, with the accompanying
words, produced upon my mind more sol
cmn aud depressing effect than | believed
possible "a have been caused by tho course
which had determined 10 pursue; IL struck
upon my heart with an awe and hcavincss
which will accompany the accomplishment Of
an important and irreyocable act t,oyon though
no doubt or scruple remains 10 make il posi-.
bic thHt the agent would wish IL undouc.
"Woll," said my uncle, ancr a little time,
1--WE now cease 10 speak upon this subject,
mover 20 resume IL again. Remember, you
shall have no farther uncasiness from Ed
ward he leaves Ireland for France to-mor-
row this will be a relief 10 YOU; may de-
pend upon your honor that no word touching
J the subject Of this interview shall ever escape
You 2" gave him the desired assurance
hg psi,L pits Web. Ian, slj,Sieh we haSe
nothing more, believe, 20 say upon either
srle, aud my presence must be a restraint
upon YOU, shall therefore bid YOU farewell '
then left the apartment, scarcely knowing
what TO think Of the strange interview which
had just taken place.
On the next day my uncle took occasion Ia
tell me that Edward had sailed, IL his inten-
ton had not been prevented by adverse winds
or weather. and in two days he actually pre-
scnted letter from his son, written. rs hc
said, on board, and dispatched while the shin
was getting under weigh. This was a great
satisfaction TO me and as being likely 10 prove
so, IL was no doubt communicated 10 mo by
Sir Arthur.
During all this trying period found inf.
mite consolation in the soeicty aud sympathy
ofmY dear cousin Emily | never, ia after
life, formed friendship so close, so fcrvcut
and upon which, in all It's progress could
look h,WkJwith feelings Of such unalloycd
pleasure,hpon whose termination must ever
dwell with so deep, yet so uncmbittered sor-
row. In cheerful conyersc with her | soon
recovered my spirits considerably, and pass
ed my time agrecably enough, although still
in the utmost seclusion. Matters went on
smoothly rnbdgh, although fJJutyi TJ1t tuir
sometimes feeling a momentary, but horrible
uncertainty respecting my uuclcs character;
which was not altogether uuwarrantcd by the
two trying interviews, the particulars OF
which have Just detailed. The unpleasant
Impression which these conferences were cal.
cutated te leave upon my mind was fast wear
ing away, when there occurred circumstance
slight Indeed in itself butcalculated rrcpres.
sibly 20 awaken all my worst suspicious and
TO oycrwhelm me again with anxiety aud ter
ror
had ono day left the house with my cous-
IN Emily, in order TO take n ramblc Of con.
siderable length, for thu purpose OF sKotchinq
some lhvorite views, and we had walked a.
bout holfa milo WHEN | perceived that we
had forgotten our drawing materials, the alb
sonce of which would have defeated the OBJ
iect Of our walk. Laughing at onr own for
gettulness, we returned 10 the house, aud
leaving Emily outside, / ran up stairs to pro-
cure the drawinP-books and pencils which
lay IN my bedroom. As ] ran up stairs
was met by the tall, ill-looking Fronchwom,
Il r.
Madame 2" said she, with a more decided ef.
ort TO be polite, than had ever known her
make beiord. mo, no--no matter !" said /,
hastily running by her in the direction of my
room. Madame" cried she, in n high key,
"restez ici 81 vous plait, votre chambrc nest
: pas faite l continued to move ON without
} needing her. She was some way behind me,
and feeling that she could not otherwise pre-
vent my entrance, for was now upon the
very lobby, she made desperate attempt TO
} seize hold OF my person; she succeeded in
=, rraspnp tho end of my shawl. which she
drew from my shoulders hut slipping at the
same time upon the polished oak floor, she
fell at full length upon the boards. A little
frightened as well as angry at the rudeness
OF this strange woman, / hastily pushed open
tho door of my room, at which | now stood in
order to escape from her; but great was my
amazement on entering 20 find The apartment
pre-occupied. Tho window was open, and
it stood two male figures they APP
] pearad TO be examining the fAstenings of the
casehent, and their backs were turned to-
wards the door One of them was my uncle;
they both turned on my entrance, as if star
tied; the stranger was booted and cloaked,
and wore n heavy, broad-leAfed hat over his
brows; he turned but for n moment, and A.
verted his face but had seen enough 10
convince mo that he was no other than NV
cousin Edward.
My uncle had some iron instrument in his
hand, which he hastily concealed behind his
back and coming towards me- said some.
thing as II in an explanatory tone but was
too much shocked and confounded 10 under.
stand what il might be, He said something
about "repairs--wipdow frames-cold and
safety" did not wait, however, 70 ask or
TO receive explanations, but hastily left the
room. As j went down stairs thought 1
heard the voice Of the Frenchwoman In ali
! the Rhrill voluhilitv nf axcuaa and -. -.