Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-03-31
From Household Words. -.
A Curious Page of 'emiiv Fl story.

that family had been Crusader in the army of
Richard Ceur de Lion and now he lay, with
all his insignia about him, in the parish church,
whilst others of his race reposed in the same
channel, under monuments and barrasses, which
spoke of their name and fame during their gen.
eration. In the lapse Of time the family had be.
come impoverished, and gradually merged irto
the class Of yeoman, retaining only remnant
Of the broad lands which had once helanged to
them. In l744-5, the elder branch of The fami-
ly, consisting of the father, and two sons, and
daughter, resided at what had once been the
mansion house. 1t had been but originally in
the reign of Stephen, and was cnrods specl-
men Of different kinds OF architecture. bearing
different transformation from the stronghold of
the days when it was no metaphor to sav that
every rsn's house was his castle, gA.n TO the
more peaceful dwelling Of lawful ana orderly
tines 1t had now become little more than a
better sort OF farm house, What had heen the
tilth yard was filled with row Of comfortable
barns. cart sheds, and hay-siacks; low wall of
rough grey stones inc'esed a small garden; a
narrow gravel walk, edged on each side with
cnrrant trees and gooseberry bushes, led up to
the good old porch, embowered in the ivy and
creepers which covered nearly the whole of the
building with its luxurant growth The old
gateway at the en'rance of the yas1 was still
surmounted with the " coat armour" of the fam-
", carved in stone but the gates themselves
had long ago disappeared, and been rapIaced by
a common wood farm-yard gate. The coat
armour" itself was covered with moss. aud fine
crop of grass and house leek grew among the
stones of the walls, to which it would have COM
nunlc ted desoate appearance, if the farm
yard arrangement had been less orderly.
Hasted Hall, as it was called, was SIX miles
from the city of York, and stood about mile
from the main road. The only approach to it
was by long rough lane, so much cut up by
the carts and cattle that it was Imost inpasslbe
to foot passengers, except in the height of SUN
mer or depth of winter, when the mud had been
dried up by the sun Or the frost.
The father and brothers attended the d'fferen,
fairs and markets in the ordinary course Of bust
ness their sister, Mary Chamhellan, managed
the affairs of the house and dairy. She led a
very secluded life, for they had no nrghbors,
and of general society there was none nearer
than the city itself. Mary, however, had plenty
Of occupation, and was qnitc contented with her
lot. She was nearly seventeen. tall, welI-torn-
ed, and with an air Of composed dignity which
suited well with her POSITION which was of great
responsibility for so young person. Her moth
er, who had been dead rather more than year,
strong character. TO ner,5 a,a'aees I'd all the
instructions she had ever received am the tinge
Of re6nemcn, which made her father or brothers.
She. however, was quite unconscious of this, and
they all lived very happy together in the old out
of of-the-way place.
1t happened that, in the spring of l745, an
uncle of her mothers who resided at York, was
about to celebrate the marriage of one of his
daughters; Mary Chambellan, with her father
and brothers, were invited to the festivities
The father would have sent an excuse for him.
self and Mary; he was getting old, and did not
like to be out Of his usual ways. The brothers
however, plead earnestly that their sister might
have little recreation The family consent
was obtained, and she went with her brothers.
1t was very fine wedding, and ball and a
supper finished the rejoicings SHne OF the Off
GERS; quartored with their regiments IN York,
were invited to this ball. Amongst others vas
certain Captain Henry Pollexfen. Tie was
young man of good family in The south of
England heir to Il large fortune and extreme y
handsome and attractive OH his own account IN
dependent of these advantages.
He was by all accounts, type of the fine
high spirited young fellow of those days; goot
tempered, generous, and ovelilowlng with wilt
animal life aud spnits, which no threw off IN a
thonsa nd nnpetuous extravagances. lie coul'
dance all night a, bail, ride DOZEN miles Il
meet the hounds the following motnng. and
after hard days sport, sit down TO Il deep ca
rouse and be as fresh and ga, sfer it as If he
ha been following the prospects OF Lewis Cor
naro. the won,em contended. with each othe
to attract his attentions !; but al bough he wa
devoted to ever, woman he came near, and re-
sponded to their universal good viii by flrt'ns
indefatigably, his attentions were so lndiscrlml
nate. that there was not one belle VIM could fat
ter herself that she had secured hun for he
humble servlnt"-as lovers we're then wont Il
STYLE themselves. Mary Chambelan was not
certainly. the belle of tho wedding ball roo"
and by no means equal IN fortune or social posi-
ton 10 most of the woinen present; but whethe
from perverseness, or caprice, or love of novelty
Henry Pallexfen was attracted by her. aud de
voted himse to her exclusively
The next York Assembly was to lake pIac
in few days; and this young man, who did no
know what contradiction meant, made Mar.
promise to be his partner there. Old Mr.. Caam
bellau, however, who thought bis daughter ha
been away from home quite long enough, fe'che
her back himself on the following day and Ma
nv would as soon have dared to ask 10 go to tn,
moon as to remain to go TO the assembly. Henr
Polexfsn was extremely Disappointed when h
found that Miss Chambean had returned home
but he was too much caressed and sought afte
to be able to think long about the matter, an
so his sudden and unfounded iancy soon passe
away.
In the autumn of the same year he met one {
her brothers in the hunting field. Accider
threw them together towards the close OF har
days run when, in clearing stone fence, m
loose stones were dslodged, and struck Captai
: Pollexfen's shore, laming him severely. Niel
was coming OH; it was impossible 10 return