The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-05-23
THE ISLAND PRINCESS.
ARoMANcz OF THE OLD q NEW WORLD

A ROMANCE OF THE OLD 4 NEW w0RLn
By EMMA D. E. n. soUrHwoRrH.
Author of 1.-The Lost Heiressn, 'sThe Deserte,
Wife,, The Missing Bride " "Retribution," !"
CHAPTER 1.
AN INTERRUPTED WEDDING.
It was the first of May, the marriag
day Of the Viscount Montressor Of Mon
tressor Castle, Dorsetshire, and Estelle
only daughter and heirless Of Sir Park,
Morelle, Hyde Hall, Devoushire.
A Aglorious morning! the cloudless, blu
sky smiled down upon the green hill
and dewy dales and deep woods OF De
Won; and the park around the Hall wa
all alive and musical, with the joyous
songs Of birds, and the merry laughter 0
celebrate their May.day festival. and t.
do honor to the marriage of their land
lords daughter.
The shaded, window avenue tha
led from the highway to the house. wa.
arched to each terminus by mammoth
wreath of flowers, and many were the
carriages that passed under them, on
.heir way to assist at the wedding; and
these contained only the bridesmaids, and
the nearest friends and relatives Of the
family. whose relationship or position
gave them the right to attend the bride
to church;-for still more numerous
party had been invited to meet her at the
altar. The villagers and tenants. grou.
ped about under the shade OF the great
old trees, or wandering over the green
sward on either side the avenue, watched
these equipages as they rolled on. COM
menting as usual on such occasions.
"O-dear me! the weddingers won't
pass till nearly twelve! and here We are to
wait two mortal hours! said young girl
to the gamekeeper. 1874 -' toii" q
Hush! my darling look, here comes
his Lordship's carriage itself, just as
sure as you're the prettiest lass in the
country .e-rJ r'Hri
1t was Lord Montressor's carriage.
Early that morning nete from his af-
fanced bride had been put in his hands
summoning him to q private conference
with her At the Hall, before they should
proceed to the Church. Surprised and
filled with vague uneasiness, his lordship
lost no time in obcying the behcst.
Within the most secluded Of her suite
Of richly furnished apartments at the old
Hall, half buried in the depths of a cush-
ioned chair, reclined the bride expectant,
in bridal array. urr.r y rarlrE
She was alone, her attendants having,
by her own desire, withdrew. i
EstelIe Morelle-or "la belle Estelle",
Beautiful Stella, the Midnight Star"
-as, for her resplendent dark beauty,
she was poetlcally named--was at this
time twenty-five years Of age. and more
lovely than poets or an artists ideal.
Her form was Of medium height, and very
slender, though well-rounded with a
graceful head, over which fell rich masses
of jet-black s,lken ringlets, shading q
face pure, pale olive complexion with
large mournlul dark eyes, habitually
yelled by the long. dropping lashes, and
delicate, though full, curved lips, ever
patiently closed as in silent resignation
The prevailing expression Of her dark
brilliant countenance was profound mel
ancholy. -,t
The announcement Of Miss Morelle's
approaching marriage with the Viscount
Montressor had created profound sem
sation in the fashionable and aristocratc
circles. A peerless beauty, the only
child and heiress Of the oldest, wealthiest
and haughtiest baronet in the West of
England, her heart had been as much the
object of aspiration to the youthful and
ardent, as her hand and fortune had been
the end of the desire to the mercenary and
ambitious. ' @ ~ ''d
At the early age ofseven years Estelle
had been placed at one Of the first class
female ins itutions Of learning at Paris,
then as now, considered among the very
best Of their kind in the world, and there
had been left to remain until her six
teenth year. when the sudden and Gallant
tous eaking up of the institution, and
her own severe illness, had occasioned her
removal. That illness had been attended
with market changes in the constitution
and temperament of the young girl.
Estelle, previously the most careless,
iighthearted and capriciOus Of children,
left her chamber of convalescence sub
dued, thoughtful, melancholy woman!
The laughing lips Of girlhood closed in
patient sadness; the sparkling eyes shea
thed their beams under long, shad-
owy lashes. now seldom lifted; the silvery
elastic voice. sank into deep and thrilling
tones; the free, glad motions were mea-
sured and controlled. .r~..-sr r,...,..
She never entered another school, but
completed her education under the best
masters, at home. To dissipate what was
considered q transient melancholy, her
parents travelled with her over Europe,
pausing at each capital and chief town, to
show her all that was interesting and in
structive. But though their daughter
repaid their attentions with the sweetest
gratitude, and obeyed them with the
gentlest docility, she showed no interest
in the passing scenes. And though every
where her extreme beauty and sweet
ness Of disposition, not less than her for
tune and position. drew around her
many friends and admirers, Estelle re-
NAMED alone in her isolated thoughts
and feelings. Every most distinguished
physician in Europe bad been consulted