The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-07-05

home during their stay An early day
was therefore fixed for their return to
the farm, where she resided with an
only brother, looking after his house,
and supplying the place of a mother to
the beautiful Lydia Dalton, his only
child.
The change from their present mode
of living to the hustle of home would
doubtless be felt by both mother and
daughter; but it was not that which
Helen dreaded, it was the separation
from her lover. With her mothers per-
mission, she promised to correspond
with him, and it was agreed that the
following summerhe should come and
claim his betrothed bride. Sir Henry
accompanied them to the end of the
first stage, and then Quilted them with
regret and set off for the dwelling of
his father, Lord Rivers.
Mr.. Dalton received his sister and
niece with his usual kindness, and con-
graduated the latter on her conquest.
Not so Lydia, she appeared sullen and
reserved; visions of splendor had been
sown in her young mind, and their in
fuence speedily became visible to her
lover, Frank Egerton, who marked the
alteration with anger and regret. From
the moment of Helen's return, a reserve
and coolness took the place of the warm
sisterly affection with which the cousins
had hitherto regarded each other; and
when two months had elapsed without
bringing any tidings of Sir Henry,
Lydia was never tired of taunting her
cousin with the desertion of her noble
lover. until Helen might have said
in the words of an old Scotch ballad
"That am forsaken some spare not to tell,
I'm flashed WI their seorning,
Bath evening and morning,
Their jeering goes to my heart wi a knell.'
But she was too happy and too trusting
not TO bear all this with indifference,
and her meek and gentle replies often
went to the heart of her thoughtless
cousin, who but for bitter spirit OF
envy, would have fallen on her neck
and prayed TO be forgiven.
The long and anxiously looked for
epistle at length arrived to gladden. the
heart of her to whom it was addressed.
Its contents would be as uninteresting
to the general reader as all love letters
usually are, save to the parties on
cerned. But it is sufficient to know
that it contained thoughts that breathe
and words that burn,n-but it was soon
followed by another from the father of
the lover, which consisted only of a few
brief and chilling sentenced.
He had heard of the engagement, he
should rather say entGnglement of his
son. Miss Stanhope must be aware
that the alliance would be most un-
enualled one; and he relied on her
honor and good feeling to break it off,
and TO return any letters which Sir
Henry might send her in future, un-
answered and unopened. He finished
by assuring her that their union could
only be consummated at the risk of his
eternal malediction.
Long did the desolate girl sit with
this letter in her hand, which had so
rudeIy crushed every bright and fondly
cherished hope. Mrs. Stanhope offered
no consolation; she well knew that in
the first burst of human misery it was
mockery. But she bent over silently
and kissed the pale brow of the youth
full sufferer, until reused by her caresses,
poor Helen remembered that she had
vet mother, a fond anxious mother ;
and for the sake of that beloved parent,
she strove to shake off the oppression
which seemed weighing her spirit to
the earth, and to reflect on what was
proper to be done in this hour of pain
full trial.
She could not bear TO part with Sir
Henry without one single word of ex-
planation or adieu, and therefore few
lines to him in a letter addressed to
Lord Rivers, in which she begged 10
assure his lordship that his confidence
had not been misplaced, and that with
out his consent, Harry Lawton would
never be more to her than a very dear
friend. Her farewell was affectionate
and womanly; a wish to spare his feel
ings caused the suppression of much OF
that tenderness which her breaking
heart longed to pour out before him ;
and, passing over what sne Ieit In
silence, she entreated him to forget her,
and called on Heaven to shower down
its choicest blessings on her who might
be his future love. Pure minded as
Helen was, and unhackneyed in the
worlds ways, it never occurred to her
to suspect that Lord Rivers would sup
press the notes entrusted to his care
This was actually the case. His lord
ship was too much moved by the touch
ing appeal of the devoted girl to suffer
it to pass into the hands of his son, and
Sir Harry remained in total ignorance
of any correspondence having taken
place between his father and betrothed.
Her long silence, however, surprised
him; and when he found every letter
returned unopened, he soon ceased to
humble his proud spirit before one who
thus scorned and trifled with him.
There was no mediating voice to say
how often those precious epistles had
been pressed to the lips and heart OF
her to whom they were addressed, and
what bitter tears had been she'd over
them before she consigned them to her
- tf