Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-05-23

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self-possessed. was the general verdict
and all looked eagerly forward to the bri
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1t came ere long. one bright and sunny
1 spring day. The splendid parlors were
1 filed with the fashionable friends OF both
parties, and murmur of congratulation
greeted the lovely bride as she turned
away from the altar, with cheeks and lips
white as the snowy satin robes she wore.
Her husband pressed his lips to her
cheeks. She received that first caress as
calmly as though he were but one of the
throng around her, and when all had
wished her Joy, she retired TO her apart
ments, preserved an unbroken silence
while her dressing maid robed her in her
plain travelling dress. and joined the par
ty once again, attired for her journey
Calmly and coldly were all her fare
spoken; but when she came to her father.
her forced composure gave way. and
throwing her arms round his neck. she
clung to him moment in silent fearless
agony. 1t was her last display Of weak>
ness. She heard his parting blessing,
and sitting by the side of her husband was
whired rapidly away from the home Of
her childhood.
A month elapsed before the pair re-
turned to occupy their elegant mansion,
far up town. But in that month a
strange change had taken place III Gran
olson. He seemed restless, uneasy, agi-
tated he followed the stately movements
of his wife with anxious eyes he was
unhappy in her society, and wretched
r. I, - So ha lit-
tie like the merry, light-hearted bachelor
his dearest friends had known, and one
and all foreswore matrimony on the spot,
since it had altered him so.
1t was not long before Madame Rumor
reported the startling fact that the prince-
ly household was carried on upon the Eu-
ropean plan, that the gentleman aud lady
occupied different apartments. and only
met at stated hours in the great drawing
rooms below. Great was the wonder of
the "upper ten 81 many were The surmi-
ses hazarded upon. but no one dared guess
ton the parties most deeply interested.
and they held their peace. In public and
in private Alice was uniformly kind and
polite to her husband; but this was all.
and she wondering city had an opportu-
nifty of Witnessing that anomaly-a man
violently in love with his own wife, and
seeking in vain to win her.
doubt il Alice saw the struggle in his
mind. Her own feelings were benumbed
her own heart seemed cold and dead
Judging his nature by her own, she deem
ed him satisfied with her rigid observance
OF all wifely propriety and dignity--it was
all be required Of her-she was tue to
the letter OF her vow, and her spirit was
at rest.
Two years had passed away. 1t was
the anniversary Of her wedding night, and
Alice Grandson sat in her 6vatlotr, robed
for party, and only awaiting the arrival
Of her husband, who was to escort her,
The years had changed her little. She
was fair and proud as ever. Her robe of
azure velvet-her coronet Of pearls and
diamonds necklace. with its heavy
diamond cross, her bracelets. and the sins
gle ring she wore, were fl adornments for
an Empress, and right well did she be-
come them. She was alone, and touch
ing secret spring in her private escritoire.
she took from small drawer two minia-
lures cased in gold, and laid them side by
side. One was that Of her dead lover, and
the other. Of her husband. Leaning her
head upon her hand, she gazed long and
earnestly at the two, and as her dark eye
dimmed with tears, she could not but ac-
knowledge the shadowy likeness that ex-
listed between the loved and unlored.
1t was faint and shadowy one, but still
it was no fancy. A something on the lip,
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rangement Of the waving hair-and more
than all, the same earnerL, loving intensi-
ty of look and expression in the deep blue
eyes. This. never seen before. was what
now claimed her attention to both.
The small pendule over the mantel-
piece struck the hour Of nine. and with a
deep sigh she replaced the portraits in the
drawer and left the room. She rang, on
reaching the drawing room, to ask for her
husband. There was hustle. and the
sound of many feet in the hall below, be-
fore her summons were answered. and
and then the servant who answered looked
pale and frightened. A strange, sicken-
ing sensation crept over her as she asked :
"Wbere is your master ?''
The servant stammered. hesitated. and
cast strange looks towards the door
Dreading she knew not what, she stepped
out into the hall, and looked down the
wide stairs. Four men were ascending,
bearing motionless form between them.
The long hair hanging down towards the
floor, and from wound in the forehead,
the dark red blood was flowing freely
They stopped short when they saw her
awaiting them they evidently dreaded
the scene, but she was firm and calm,
though heavy at her heart lay the though,
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