Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-05
MltsGellnne0lls.
THE UNEDUCATED BRIDE.

THE UNEDUCATED BRIDE.
The Chambel'ans were an old Yorkshire fam.
lily, which once had held high place amongst
the landed gentry of the country. A knight of
that family had been Crusader in the army of
Richard Ceur de Lion and now he law with
all his insignia about him, in the parish church,
whilst others Of his race reposed in the same
chanceI, under monuments and brasses, which
spoke of their name and fame during their gen.
GRAFTON. In the lapse of time, the family had
become impoverished and gradually merged in.
10 the class of yeomen, retaining only remnant
of the broad lands which had once belonged to
them. In l744 5. the elder branch Of the fami-
ly, consisting of the father, two sons, and
daughter, resided at what had once been called
the mansion house. 1t had been built original.
Iy in the reign of Stephen, and was curious
specimen of different kinds of architecture, bear
ing traces of its gradual transformation from the
stronghold of the days when it was no metaphor
to say that every mans house was his castle
down to the peaceful dwelling of lawful and or
dery times. 1t had now become little more than
better sort Of farm house. What had been
the tt-yard was filled with row Uncomfortable
barns car-shcds and hay stacks n low wall of
rough grey stones enclosed small garden a
narrow gravel walk, edged on each side with
currants trees and gooseberry bushes, led up to
the fine old porch embowered in the ivy and
CREEP pers which covered nearly the whole of the
building with its uxuriant growth. The old
gateway at the entrance of the yard was still
surmounted with the coat armour of the fam
lily, carved in stone ; but the gates themselves
had long ago disappeared and been replaced by
a common wooden farm-yard gate. The " coat
armour itself vas covered with moss, and a
fine crop of grass and house leeks grew among
the stones of the walls, TO which it would have
communicated desolate appearance, If the farm
yard arrangements had been less orderly.
Halsted Hall, as it was called, was six miles
from the city of York, and stood about q mile
from the main road. The only approach 10 it
was by long rough lane, so much cut up by
the carts and cattle that it was almost impassa-
BILE TO foot passengers, except in the height Of
summer or depth Of winter, when the mud had
been dried up by the sun or the frost.
The father and brothers attended the different
fairs and markets in the ordinary course Of busi'
nes their sister, Mary Chambellan, managed
the affairs of the house and dairy. She led {
very secluded life, for they had no neighbors
T and of general society there was none neare
than the city ITSELF Mary however, had plent.
: of occupation, and was quite contented with he
lot. She was nearly seventeen, tall well formed
and with an air of composed dignity which sui
20 ted we'll with her position, which was of grea
= responsibility for SO young person. Her moth
er, had been woman Of superior educatio
and strong character To her Mary owed all til
instruction she had ever received, and the ting
ID of refinement which made her manners superio
ID to that of her father or brothers. She, however
was quite unconscious of this and they all live
y very happily together in the old out Of tho wa
10 place. 1t happened that, in the spring of l74s
lie ,,nolo of hor u,o,ber's wbo resided at Yorl
J. was about to celebrate the marriage of one {
his daughters !; Mary Chambellan, with her fatl
d. er and brothers, were invited to the festivities
er The father would have sent an excuse for hin
D. self and Mary +; he was getting old, and did NJ
like to be put out of his usual ways. TIL
brothers, however, pleaded earnestly that the
sister might have little recreation Final
9 =. consent was obtained, and she went with h,
brothers.
it. 1t was very fine wedding, and ball ar
as supper finished the rejolcings. Some of Il
"a officers, quartered with their regiments in Yor
Il were invited to this ball. Amongst others W
,o certain Captain Henry Pollexfen. He was
cb young man of good family in the south of En-
A. land, heir to a large fortune and extremely han
r. come and attractive on his own account ind
N. pendant of these advantages.
He was, by all accounts, type of the fiji
Oh high spirited young fellows of those days; 60
he tempered, generous, and overhowing with W
m animal lite and spirits, which he threw off in
ire thousand impetuous extravugances. He COT
my dance all night at ball, ride dozen miles
I'm meet the hounds the following morning, and,
se ter hard days sport, sit down to deep
of rouse, and be as fresh and gay after il as if
be- had been following the precepts Of Lewis
ieiy naro The women contended with each ot
ter to attract his attentions but although he '
md devoted to every woman he came near, and
nan sponded to their universal goodwill by Hirt
nee indelatgably, his attentions were so ndlscriu
ent ate, that there was not one belle who could (
les, ter herself that she had secured him for
ery " servant "--as lovers we're then wont to st
her themselves. Mary Chambellan was not, C
ur. tainly, the belle Of the wedding ballroom, 1
90 by no means equal in fortune or social posi-
her to most of the women present but whet
lion from perverseness, or caprice, or love of move
his Henry Pollexfen was attracted by her, and
the voted himself to her exclusively.
au. The next York Assembly was to take place
un- few days; and this young man, who did