Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-06-01

The knight started forward with out.
stretched hands to thank the duke. but
he was waved back with decided move
meut.
Hold, Sir Nandon, said Don Philip.
: ou have no need to thank me, for | do
this out of no great friendship | honor
you for brave MAJ, and | hope [ may
respect You for an honest one but it is
to the king You must turn the most of
your gratitude for it,
Du Chastel sat back somewhat abasheti.
aud though shadow fitted across his
face. yet he was soon calm. and after
drinking full cup of wine. he went on
with his usual tone Of conversation He
intended, he said, to remain at the castle
for week, and the duke Familiarity ex-
tended to him an invitation to do so.
1t was in the afternoon when Don Phil
ip sought his daughter. He found her
IN her own apartment, and he took a seat
by her side
Isabella he said, without bending ut
all from his cold dignity, II have come
to make you acquainted with an impor-
tant transaction which [ have this day
concluded. Some time ago the king spoke
to me about the bestowal of your hand in
marriage, and [ partially acceded to his
proposal He has now selected Sir Nan
don du Chastel for your husband, and.
after mature deliberation, [ have given
my assent Du Chastel is wealthy man.
and Of one Of the nobest families in Nay
ARE. He is also in high favor with our
king, and, as his wife, your position will
al once be pleasant and important"
During this speech, Isabella had re
garded her father with fixed eyes, and
when he concluded, her face had assumed
a mild lock. but yet rigid as ice
"Marry with Nandon du Chastel p she
uttered, in tones that seemed to come
frozen from their source ''Be his wife
| am dreaming all this p
''Then it must be faithful dream, for
it is all true, my child
THE wife of Nandon du Chastel O,
you do not mean it You will not con
Sign me to such fate. What have I ev-
er done that should be thus given over
TO utter misery 2''
"This is folly, Isabella You should
not let your heart run away with your
head | have many reasons why this
marriage should take place. and l have
/ fixed upon it as thing which must be
/ done Estclla must have some heir Ny
house must not be left heirless in the male
/ line. Du Chastel is the best match in
Navarro, and [ doubt not he Will make
! you good husband. [ have now told
you sf it, and you can consider upon it at
your leisure
The maiden spoke not, nor did she
raise her head When her father went out
but when she was alone she wept. Ere
/ long she sought her mother, aud to her
/ she told the thing of her new grief But
I the mother knew it all hofara-har k,,s-
+ b5nti hau Uytu it all to her, 50 she could
j only urge her child to try and bear up
under it. They both knew that tie pur-
poses of the duke were like the laws of
+ the Medes and Persians-that they were
/ fixed and unalterable when once founded
and understood
ALAS my child he is fixed in this, I
know" said the duchess, as she drew her
daughter to her bosom You know you
must marry at some time-your father
has set his heart upon that long ago, and
he has thought Du Cbastel as good as any
of the mobiles who are mafriageable. But
the nuptials may not take place for some
Liitt4SLiS -! O " III ietf Z ttitlE ~ "
of the sharpcst points of the pang. Take
heart, Isabella"
But how could the poor girl take heart
when her heart was gone 2 How could
she take heart when her heart was all
crushed and bleeding The admouition
fell eoldly upon her, for she saw no hope
of comfort.
20, l wish were dead ln she groanod,
as she clung to her mothers neck. If
were in the grave | should be free from
this"
"Hush, my child You speak now from
the promptings of an over-heated brain
Trust to time. Drowning men catch at
|straws, and in the months that are set
apart before your marriage there may be
something upon which your hopes can
grasp. You can at least soften down the
pillow by prayers and meditations."