Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-05

allow suspicion OF that sort. his ahsMst was |
characteristic. He told young Chambellan thai
he was ready to meet both him and his brother,
but that he was Under previous engagement to |
marry their sister, which he wished 70 perform
first, as otherwise circumstances might occur to
prevent it he should then be quite at their SER
vice, as it was his intention to quit the bride at
the church door, and never see her again
The brothers looked upon this as a preiext 10
evade the marriage altogether, but resolved, af-
ter some deIiberaton TO accept his propoFh They
had great difficulty in prevailing upon Their sister
to agree to their wishes but they mono Of them
seriously believed that he would carry out his
threat, and Mary fancied that all dangerof du-
ell would be evaded. A very liberal settlement
was drawn up by Colonel POllexien's direction,
which he signed and sent to the brida1 family.
On the day appointed Mary and l.as SsssSAsfs re-
paired to the church ; travelling chariot and
four horses stood at the door, On entering, they
found Colonel Pollexfen pointing oul to the fiend
who accompanied him the monuments belonging
to the Chambellan family. AS soon as he perceiv-
ed them he took his place at the altar and the
ceremony commenced without delay. As soon as
it was concluded, he bowed with greet poeness
to all present, and said, You are all here wit
ncsscs that have performed my engagement y
Then, without even looking at the bride, he
quilted the church, and accompanied by bis
friend, entered the carriage, which was waiting,
and drove rapidly away Mary was carried
senseIess from the church, and for several weeks
continued dangerously i'll.
The real strength of her character now showed
itself She made no complaint she did not even
assume her husbands name, but took the appel
ton Of Mrs. Chambellan. The settlement was
returned to Colonel Pollexfen's lawyer, with an
intimaton that it would never be claimed. She
sti'led the anger of her brothers, and would not
endure word to be said against her husband.
She never alluded to him herself A great
change came over ner she did not seem to suf-
fer nearly so much from her cruel position as
might have been expected her melancholy and
depression gave place to a steady determination
of purpose. ln the brief space during which she
and her husband had stood before the altar, she
had realized the distance that existed between
their 'sitons in life. With rare superiority
she understood how natural it was that he should
have felt 10 desire to fulfill his boyish engage
nent she owned in her heart that she was not
fitted TO be the wife and companion of such
man as he had now become. Had she seen all
this sooner, she would have at once released him
now she could no longer do so, and she resolved
to fit herself 10 fill the station to which, as his
wife, she had been raised.
| Tne brief interview NJ tne altar mad Stimulated
to desperation her attachment to him and she
felt that she must win him bHck or die. Mary
had received very little education. In those
days the instruction bestowed on most women
was very limited hut Mary fanced that all
gentlewomen, who moved in society we're well
informed and her first step was to obtain some
elementary books from the master Of the boys
school at York and begin, with undoubting sim
pllciy, to learn history and geography, and all
the things which she supposed every lady of her
husbands acquaintance knew. A thirst for in
formation was soon aroused in her she had few
advantages and very little assistance but heI
, energy aud perseverance surmountcd all obsta-
cles, and she found a present reward for her Ia
o Dor. Her life ceased TO seem lonely or monot
d onous, Still, the spirit that worked within he
i. was far more precious than any actual resul
t she obtained. She had noble object in view
+ and unconscious to herself, it purified her hear
from all bitterness, or wounded vanity, or lmPa
r tlence great sorrow nobly borne, is grea
II dignity. The very insult which had seemed tt
,f condemn her to wasted existence, was trans
:. formed into source OF life and fruittulness, BY
Is the wise humility with which she accepted it
a Ten years passed by, and in the matured wo
!; man of thirty, few could have recognized !h'
lie forsaken girl of nineteen. But the present only
lie fulfilled the promise which was then latent ii
lie her character.
,e All this time, her husband had endeavored t.
Is forget that he was married. Shortly after tn
Id ceremony, he went abroad with his regiment
and after some time spent in active service, h
e. returned to England, and quilted the army wit
er the brevet rank of general. He resided part
p in London, and partly in Bath, leading the life q
e, a man of fashion in those days, and making him
IN self remarkable for his brilliant extrayagances
e. About this time young and beau 5ictres
ne appeared, who speedily became the object of at
ne oration to all the young men of fashion abou
ne town.
er General Pollexfen was one of her lovers, an
IS carried her off one night from the theatre, whc
to she came off the stage between the acts. II
e, allowed her to assume his name, and lavished
'l- fortune upon her caprices although her extra'
lie agance and propensity to gambling involved hi
ct in debt Ten years had thus passed, when Il
ry cousin, whose marriage was mentioned at til
by beginning of this story, was ordered to Bath b
,r- her physician. She entreated Mary to accon
er, puny her, who, after some persuasion, consente
1t was formidable journey in those days, al
ed they were to stay some months. They found
nd pleasant lodging. Mary, with some reluctanc
on was drawn into society, and occasionally accor
he panied her cousin to the assemblies which we
ur- then in high vogue.
}er General PoIlexfen was absent from Bath VIII
He his wife arrived there, lie had been called
IN to London by some lawyers business, and calc
on, lated upon being absent three weeks.
on 1t so chunced however, that the business W
concluded sooner than he expected, and that
fen returned to Bath without announcing his comir
OF He went at once to the assembly, and was wa
to ing through the rooms In chaffed and irritat
I to mood. lhaYing that nirht dacnvered the treaC