The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-05-27
away forever l---apd SO forget her RI


Stella l have pie dyed my honor new
er to renew this suit, unless you reverse
in my favor the sentence you have pro.
nonuced upon it; but, inspired by the
deep and breathlcss love bear you, and
hoping against hope feel impelled TO
implore before leaving you, that, in the
event of favorable change Of sentiment
or purpose towards me, you will not hes
itate to give me leave to return. Stel-
la, will you promise me 80 much as that p
'Noblest friend that have iu tho
world how gladly would I promise, but
l must not, Montressor. We're l to do
SO, you would feel bound to wait the
changes of my mood, and SO. for most
undeservipg love. might miss in some
noblcr womans affections, the happiness
in store for you =
Stella, will you raise your sweet,
mournful eyes to mine, one moment; that
you may read nv soul while speak p
Estelle lifted her dark orbs to meet
the clear, pure, blue eyss bent with so
much love and candor upon hers, and
read the deep, uuchanging truth Of the
constancy Of bis soul as he said
Stella, in the presence Of the heart
searching God who secs and hears me, I
assure you that shall never love an.
other woman as 1 love you, and, there.
fore, Of course can never wed another;
so that whether you give me this slight
est of hopes or not. am equally aud
forever bound No,o will you promise,
Stella2 Remember, it is only to let me
know in case Of a change in your seusI'
ments.'
For an instant the light of an unit.
terable love and JOY broke on her beat;
tiful. dark face, and her smiling lips
parted to speak-when-as if sudden
memory and warning had gripped her
very heart-she uttered a low, sharp
cry, turned paler than before, and then
said
No! mol my Lord Stella cannot
even give you that She is poorer than
the poorest, in gifts to youl She can
only pray that you may forget her and
be happy
lie looked profoundedly disappointed
and troubled But soon mastering his
desponder cy be said hopefully
Ciij ucdIcot dituougu you TO-
ject me without apparent reason, aud re.
fuse to give me the slightest promise or
the most distant hopo, yet repeat
should you in the long future, change
your purpose, and write TO me one word
-'come,' will hasten to lay at your
feet an unchanged heatt Good bye |
God bc with you 7 and raising her hand,
he bowed over it, pressed it 10 bis lips,
turned and left the room.
Some moments after Lady Morells
who came to seek and congratulate her
daughter upon what she imagined to be
the only possible result of the interview
found Estelle lying in swoon upon
the floor 1t was followed by long
and terrible illness, terminating in .
tediously protracted convalescenco The
town season was at hand before E.tells
was able to re.euter society.
They went up to London, aud once
more tho star of beauty arose upon its
world. And though the cloud upon her
life settled darker and heavier, day by
day, she was more followed, fattered
and conrted than before.
Thus three years had passed away,
when one morning, while the family then
occupying their town house in Berkely
Square, were seated az a late breakfast
aud Sir PaIke was engaged in reading
aloud from the London Times. an ac.
count ofthe saring Of the French Ship
lie Due d Ayou-, ,orecked off tie
coast Of AIgiers-EsteHe uttered a loD
cry and sank fainting from, her seat.
This attack was not, as the other had
been, followed by illness 90 the contra.
ry from that day, the cloud seemed lift.
ed from bcr head, and even those who
had most admired ber face in it's shad.
ow, were enchanted to see how brilliant
was her beauty in its sunshine Her
health and spirits daily improved, yet in
the midst Of all this flowing tide OF new
life, Estelle astonished her friends by
suddenly, in the height of the London
season, retiring to her fathers couptry
seat, where she remained in strict seclu-
sion from the world for eighteen months.
At the end of this period, Lord Mon.
tressor, who bad never left England, or
lost trace of bis beloved Stella. and who
was now staying a, his castle in Dsrset.
shire, was one day seated at Breakfast
when the morning mail was brought
him Among q score of letters the hrst
that attracted his attention was dsin.
ty white envelope superscribed in del.
icate Handwriting He took that up
first and looked at it-.-it soptsipsd buf
one word--'Come.'
The light Of an ineffabls joy broke
over his face Oh be had waited, pa
tiently, hopefully, years, for that word.
and at last he received it Thanks to
heaven in the first instance and then
pushing all the other letters unopened
aside he sprung up rang for his valet
and ordered bis valiss packed and horses
put to the carriage.
In twenty minutes more he had reach I.
cd the railway station just as the cars
were about to start, aud in three hours
BIO was at Hyde Hall and standing in the
presence of Estelle she looking 20
beautiful and happy
With the old chivslric enthusiasm Of
devotion, he dropped, at ones, upon his
knee. and raised her hand to bis, saying: