Butte record., 1855-12-08


on shat occasion, and the electrical eff
feet which her first notes seemed to
take upon the entire audience. Her
success was undoubted and complete.
1t may be imagined with what feel
mgs the worthy old couple at home
spelled over, in the newspapers, the
accounts of their child's first appear
ance; and when the letter arrived CON
tanning her own history of her triumph,
their joy was fairly too much for them,
and they Gifted up their voices and
wept."
In the meantime temptations of
which they never dreamed, assailed
this strangely gifted being. Adula-
ton and fattery from the highest in
the land We're offered in nightly in
cense at her shrine-the young, and
noble and fascinating were at her feet.
But her fancy was yet free and all
the ricees and briliancy in the world
could not tempt that faithful young
heart into sin. She even received one
or two honorable offers of marriage,
which She respectfully declined and
continued devoted to her profession,
and the engagements she had formed
with Mr.. n.
Efie Leigh had appeared about
three months before the public when a
young baronet, whom | Will call Sir
Joht Hamilton, returned to London,
after a heightened tour on the Cont
nent. He belonged to an ancient fam
lily, and was man Of large property !;
but, like all his race, had singularly
naughty and forbidding character :;
and was never known to possess an in
innate friend. A night or two after
his return he went to the Opera, and
listened in silent rapture to the young
prima donna. The fate of both was
sealed.
Very soon the untutored heart of
Eflie Leigh throbbed with real emo
ton, as night after night that dark
handsome face was turned upon her in
spcechleSs admiration and the bril-
liant Opera house seemed blank and
lonely until she felt-rather than saw
that Sir John Hamilton had entered
his accustomed place, close to the
stage. Nor was he less moved. The
gifted singer, and humble farmers
daughter had inspired him with a gen
uine passion, before whose honest in
fluence the pride of wealth and race
melted ike hoar frost in the sun. He
knew there was but one way in which
Effie was to be wooed and won and.
in an evil hour, Sir John made her the
offer of his hand in marriage.
Scarcely believing in the reality of
her happiness, the poor girl accepted
him, And thus in a few brief months
terminated her brilliant theatrical ca
reer.
An enormous snm was demanded by
the disappointed manager to compensate
him for Effie's broken engagement,
and paid by the enraptured bride
groom. The marriage took place i'm
mediately; and Sir John Hamilton
proceeded with his bride to Italy, and
remained some years.
Little is known of their life during
this period. Several children were
born to them and they went seldom
into society. But those who happen
ed to meet them casually, remarked a
great change in Lady Hamilton. The
bloom, young though she was, had left
her cheek, and there was a look of
care, and almost fear upon her face,
contrasting painfully with the radiant
happy expression it had worn before
her marriage. The brow of her hus-
band was more gloomy-his demeanor
more cold and naughty than ever.
1t is not difficult to guess that their
marriage was most ill-assorted and
unhappy one ; and that after the first
passionate dream of his love was over,
Sir John Hamilton bitterly lamented
his alliance with a girl of neither birth
nor fortune.
Besides, poor Efie, though sweet
and gentle, and gifted, had little
strength of mind and unfortunately,
stood too much in awe of her stately
husband to feel herself his companion
She never shone so little as in his pres
ence, and he became irritated, and his
pride wounded, at seeing how different
She could be in the society of others.
He cursed, again and again, his folly
in mrrrying her, and ended, as l have
remarked, by going into no society,
and booming his young wife to like
seclusion.
At the end of FIVE years they re-
turned to England. Efie had found
a new sweet solace in the companion
ship of her little children; and in that
fond tie, and the love she still felt for
her husband, forgot the world and all
she might have been in it.
Shortly after their return she gave
birth to another child. On each occa-
sion before she had been extremely i'll,