The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-09-11


fence 2"
This aIluson 10 the messenger from Not
rinrham house was well authorized bv III.
appearance of the man. Once or twice, a.
# bcreft of all patience by the boys forplsh
,irs, he advanced pace TO take the letter
rom his hand. half determined to enter the
Queens chamber. and at all peril present it
himself His cheek grew more and more
sale. and his ewes burned with anxiety that
nothing could restrain. as the page turned
his head superciliously over one shoulder to
ook at him after the woman. remark, still
holding the letter carelcsslv between his
thumb and finger. His impatience broke all
hounds He strobe forward. and grasping
the youth bv the arm, gave him slight
shakc-"You trihe with a message from the
diving" he said sicrnly. NO more of this
folly. Begone,"
The boy shook himself free, and with
pc'ulant lift of the shoulder. muttered some
thing about his cloak being forced awry: but
there was something in the deep passion with
which he had been addressed. that complete
; " quelled his frivolous spirit, and without al
/ tempting any further excuse for delay, /"
left the chamber
The Queen had been i'll in health, and fs,-
coming daily more infrm, it was necessary
Ii L IL
in attendance at night, ready at a moments
warning to answer her summons. Thus il
was that the page on entering the small ante
room, or rather boudor, which led to the
roval bed-chamhcr. found a lovely woman in
full dress. hut with a rich brocade dress
ing GOWN thrown over her shoulders. sound
asleep in large casv-char heaped with GRIM
son cushions upon which her fair head had
fallen crushing mass of beautiful hair. that
had cost an artist much labor that morning,
beneath the warm roses of her cheek.
LADY Arabclla," whispered the page steal
ing toward the fair slumberer, and sinking
upon hi> knees while he touched the little
hand that fell over the arm of the char. TIM
illv with his-"Lady ArahclIa"
His voice was very low-tor the boy rould
hardly breathe. his agitation wits so great
With all his audacious VANITY he was timid IS
a child in the presence of purity and high
born loveline>> like that. LADY Arabclla, |
have letter. would speak with YOU
The lady started mp in her chair, nas-''i a
namI U'rr nrr ewes. as II 10 ne qulte >,.re that
they were not decciving her. and then bent
them. full of sleepy wonder. upon the youth.
: WHY, George. how is this? Here, and
after midnight" :" she said gently. but with
evident surprise, and soma di>pleasure.
Lady have brought this for her maies-
ty,'' said the boy, holding up the letter with
its broad black seal "a messenger has Just
: arrived from Nottingham house. He saws the
-, Countess is diving"
: "Dying" exclaimed the Lady Arabella.
Ave, diving: and the messenger saws ,he
lady. in her extremity, riH have speerh with
the Queen-that this letter must be given to
: her majesty even now "
1T cannot be-" said the Lady Arabclla.
, putting back the letter with her hand-"our
roval mistress is i'll at ease, sincc-~nce his
:. death. she gets but little sleep. dare not
disturb her"
"Shall take the letter hack ," said the
page rising. The man is waiting without
Yet if the poor Coun,essis is in surh strait
If she is in truth dving"' said the gentle
LADY, reluctant To refuse that which she, new
:. ertheless had not the courage 10 undertake
WHO speaks of diving what Isl g? Who
speaks of diving" cried sharp voice from
the roval bed-chamher. "Arabella-Arabel-
la "
"Ilush it is the Queen. Give me the let
ter" whispered the lady, and she entered an
adjoining chamber.
Elizabeth had half risen, and leaned upon
. her elbow in the midst of the huge bed--her
face looked haegard in the crimson shadow,
cast downward from the cumbrous hancinrs.
nj and her head shook with an almost impercep-
"' tihle tremor, that partook both of the infirm-
u tirs of are and of the terror that sometimes
= follows unpleasant dreams. Locks of gray
III hair strcamed down from her nightcoif, and
she clutched the damask counterpane with a
ne hand that shook like an aspen as it crushed
nd the glowing folds together
ot Did / dream u did dream Of the dead /"
ld she exclaimed. bending her keen ewes upon
er the lady As she entered. and sinking slowly
ed back to her pillow. "Of the dead-thc dy-
NC ins, The Countess of Nottingham-w told
he me the Countess of Nottingham was dyins:-
nd Your IIighness must have been disturbed
on bv the messenger that Just came up from Not
's- tinrham house with this letter" said the lad,
on Arabclla. kneeling by the roval couch "Th,
no hour was so untimelv that was about to sent
him back again"
no Give me the letter" cried Elizabeth, start
H. ing up, and seizing the folded parchmen
hercev. As a bird of prey clutches its spoil
~ ii tell YOU, ArabeiIa, have dreamed thing
\, tonight that make the sunicring OF this sea
os- terribler and with shaking hands the QuecI
e'!. burst the black seal and tore 1t alart.
d> She cast her keen ewes over It's contents
act and dashing the letter aside, sprang to tn