Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-11-24

country, but in reality, to accompany Reginald to
Brighton, where they spent the honey moon, which
was somewhat abridged by an announcement in the
morning papers that the Castlearden family would
be in town at the end of three days.
81 had better seeyour father first, said he sooth-
ingly. @
"Oh, no, no. uttered Kate, turning deadly pale
"let me return at once"
"What have you to fear, love?" said he, "my
house is one of the best in the land-I am heir
presumptous to peerage Good heavens! what
is the matter, my darling love!"
| Kate had tainted. A glimpse she had taken OF
the future showed her hideous scene. When
she recovered, she passionately entreated to be
allowed to return Her object was to postpone
the dreadful expose as long as possible. Regin-
aid reluctantly gave his consent and the same
evening found Kate in her neat little chamber in
town, with her face buried in the folds of shawl
and herself sobbing as if her heart would break.
'He will despise me, he will hate me!' she
groaned; and to lose him when have discovered
that love him to distraction, is horrible. Regi-
nald will you, can you forgive metz
Kate was so overwhelmed that she had hyster-
ical attack. Her cries alarmed the house, and
presently she was subject to the the torture of a
shower bath, varied by the infcton of burnt
feathers and brown paper with copious supplies of
vinegar.
The old house keeper shook her head; the cook
covertly shed tear, and even the butler, who
had seen several generations of lovely women,
Jao e l>o
men, and so long as the young women gallivanted,
they must take the consequences"
"What will my lady say!" inquired the house
keeper, after she had adjourned to her room, eav-
ing Kate in refreshing sleep.
"Don't tell her anything-mum's the word
Besides, think we ought to have dropped her a
line when that sprig of fellow first came"
This advice was too sensible to be resisted, and
it was resolved that Kate should be 'cut,' and left
entirely to herself and her wrongs, if she had any.
In the morning she rose, considerably better but
pale and stern looking. She had evidently pre-
pared herself for Drawing the worst Reginald
came early to see her, and was inexpressibly
shocked to find her so altered. He exerted him
selfto re-assure her, and succeeded so far as to
coax few truant smiles into her countenance.
But resolute as her character was she experienced
a heavy depression of spirits. Her absorbing
idea was the dread of losing her husband. Death,
disgrace, anything but that alternative. x ate
had immense courage, but 1t required opposition
to bring it into play, and this she was soon to have;
for the day after her return while she was sitting
In the drawing room, listening to his hopeful plans
for the future, couple..of carriages drove up to
the door, followed by a pattering in the hall,
which drove all the blood from her face.
"Fear nothing, love, while am near you,"
said Reginald, throwing his arm around her and
pressing her fondly to his side.
~ will mott ought not" she stammered, "but
when the truth is disclosed, you will not -"
"What my dearest, prettest wife 7"
"Bless you for that word But when my lord
comes, and you know ALL will you not hate me
and leave me % 80
"Hate you-leave you :" CALCULATED Reginald,
amazed at her troubled manner; but before he
could ask for an explanation, the door opened,
and nv lady Castlearden was observed to stagger
back, to the immense discontinue of my lord, and
the utter prostration of the young lady in pink.
What-what's the matter % exclaimed his
lordship, rubbing his nose.
't Matter-why, look there !" screamed her lady
ship.
His lordship looked at the direction indicated,
and certainly did recoil pace or two at what he
saw. His sons stood agape at his elbow, and his
daughters, with burning cheeks and flashing eyes,
clustered around their mother. There, right be-
fore them, with face very pale, but very calm
and decided, stood Lord Percy, proudly support
ing the sinking form of the half insensible Kate.
"Percy Percy why, what the dickens does
all this mean :" said his lordship angrily; 'tthis
panto1nine in my house is singular-extraordna-
ry-very.'' 80
"My lord," said Percy, 81 owe you many apol-
oges, but love must be my excuse.'
Glove '' cried her ladyship, looking apoplect-
cally indignant, she made a fruitless attempt
to thrust her daughters from the room.
eyes, Lady Castlearden-love, and love as
pure as that of the angels" said Percy, eagerly.
A pause ensued, which he broke by faint at
tempt at smile, saying: ssthis position may ap-
pear very equivocal, but is sanctioned by mar
riage."
married! !" gasped her ladyship convulsively.
'.Married % screamed the daughters, huddled to-
gether. ''The devil,' exclaimed the son, Russell,
with marked emphasis
eyes, married, my lord, replied Percy, in a
higher and sterner key; ssyour daughter and
myself were married at -- church three
weeks ago."
The shout that was raised was heard in the
square outside, and brought up the alarmed serv-
ants pell nell into the room
"Married-daughter !' CALCULATED the old peer.
as he took deliberate survey of the flock of fem.
mines, to see if any one of them was missing
ssrNho h,,zz the the sham nnlaSs