The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-12-30

y
around her, and pressing her fondly to
his side. III -
CT will mott ought not, she stam-
mercd, "but when the truth is disclosed
you will not"
What-my dearest, prettiest wife. ,"
"Bless you for that word. But when
my lord comes, and you know all will
you not hate me and leave me :"
"Hate you-leave you :" calculated
Reginald, amazed by her troubled man
ner; but before he could ask for an ex-
planation, the door opened, and my lady
Castlearden was observed to stagge:
back, to the immense discontinue of my
lord, and the utter prostration ofa young
lady in pink. #,.
What-what's the matter! ~ cx-
claimed his lordship, rubbing his nose.
" Matter-why, look there y. screamed
her ladyship.
His lordship looked at the direction
indicated, and certainly did recoil pace
or two at what he saw. His sons stood at
his elbow, and his daughters with burn
ing cheeks and flashing eyes, clustered
around their mother. There, right be-
fore them, with a face very pale but
very calm and decided, stood Lord
Percy, proudly supporting the sinking
form of the half insensible Kate.
Percy! Percy! why what the
dickens does all this mean" said his
lordship angrily this pantomi.e in my
house is singular-extraordinary very."I
My lord," said Percy, owe you
many apologies, but love must be my
excuse.
Love !" cried her ladyship, looking
alphabetically indignant, as she made a
fruitless attempt to thrust her daughters
out of the room.
"Love, Lady Castleardcn-love as
pure as that of the angels" said Lord
Percy, eagerly. Apause ensued, which
he broke by faint attempt to smile,
saying, 6" this position may appear equiv
ocal, but it is sanctioned by marriage"
Married !" gasped her ladyship con-
vulsively. Married !" screamed the
daughters, huddled together. The
dev-il' exclaimed, the son Russell, with
marked emphasis.
" Yes, married, my lord, repeated
Percy, in a higher and sterner key i
" your daughter and myself were mar
ried at - church threc weeks ago."
The shout that was raised was heard
in the square outside, and brought up
the alarmed servants pell nell into the
room.
"Married-daughter," calculated the
old peer, as he took a deliberate survey
of the flock of feminines to see if any OF
them was missing. The huzzy the
impostor !! the shameless creature ~
chorussed the ladies.
Married, | again repeat" uttered
Percy, with much energy, "and to the
scion Of house that cannot bring a
blush to the cheek of Castlearden.
"You are joking, surely, you must
be-" replied the old man.
Rcginald's only reply was to bestow
a warm caress upon the most convulsed
Kate, and to attempt TO lead her as a
suppliant, to the feet of her supposed
mother.
"Take her away :" shouted her lady
snip, as she recoilod with an expression
of loathing.
"This is your own child !" said Reg
inald, Indignantly.
"Child I" how dare you address such
language to me- She is no child of
mine"
Reginald turned ashy white and hold
ing Kate little way from him, bestow-
cd an imploring glance on the agitated
peer.
"This young person is not my daugh-
ter, my lord" said the latter, " nor any
relative of.mine." f....r
/" Then who-who-i" gasped Per-
cy.
"Wbo is she ? why, my daughters
govcrness," was the prompt reply.
Reginald let Kate slip from his arm
to the floor, while he stood gazing at her
PROSTATE form transfgured with horror.
"Come, come, Percy, it is time to
end this farce" said Lord Castlearden
g it is unseemly; and before my daugh-
ters, too" i
"But am married !" vocifcratcd
Percy.
"Kate's husband 20 exclaimed her
|ladyship, who fancied the objects in the
room had multiplied dd iwfamitnm. |
The domestics caught the expression,
aud Kate's husband passed the round