New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-05-25


gladly would promise, but must not, Montressor.
Were to do so, you would feel bound to wait the
changes of my mood, and So for most undeserving
love, might miss, in some nober womans affections
the happiness in store for you!
Stela will you raise your sweet, mournful eyes to
mine one moment, that you may read my soul while
speak 7"
Estee lifted her dark orbs to meet the clear, pure
blue eyes bent with so mich love and candor upon
hers, and read the deep unchanging truth Of the
stancy of his soul as he said
"Stela, in the presence Of the heart-searching
God who sees and hears me, assure you that shall
never love another woman as love you, and, there
fore, of course wed another that whether
you give me this slightest of hopes or not l am
equally and forever bound! NoD will you promise
Stella? Remember it is only to let me know in case
of change in your sentiments"
For an instant the light Of an unutteraple love and
joy broke her beautiful dark face, and her smiling
lips parted to speak-when--as if a sudden memory
and warning had grpped her very heart-she uttered
low, sharp cry, turned paler than before, and then
said
"No no! my Lord. Stella cannot even give you
that She is poorer than the poorest in gifts to you
She can only pray that you may forget her and be
happy" ,, ,s,una,u s;,,nnon+oa and tronb,ea
But soon mastering his dependency he said hope
fully
"Well, dearest Stella, although you reject me with
out any apparent reason and refuse to give me the
slightest promise or the most distant hope yet re-
peat-should you, in the long future, change your
purpose, and write to me one word Come, l will
hasten to lay at your feet unchanged heart! Good
bye! God be with you p and raising her hand he
bowed it, pressed it to his lips turned and left
the ROOM
Some moments after Lady Morelle, who came to
seek and congratulate her daughter upon what she
imagined to be the only possible result of the inter
view-found Estelle lying in swoon upon the foor!
1t was followed by long and terrible Illness termln-
ating in tedously protracted convalescence. The
town season was at hand before Estelle was able to
re.enter society.
They went to London and once more the 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, hattered and courted than
before
Thus three years passed away, when one morning,
Berkely Square, eseated at late breakfast and
Sir Parke was engaged in reading aloud from the
London Times, an account of the SAVING of the
French SIMPLE Due ID Anjou-,Drecked Oft the
coast of 4igters-EsteNe uttered lou cry and sank
fainting from her seat
This attack was not the other had been followed
by illness the contrary from that day, the cloud
seemed lifted from her head, and those who had
most admired her face in its shadow 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 life, Estele
tonished her friends by suddenly in the height of
the London season, retiring to her fathers country
seat where she remained in strict secluSon from the
world for eighteen months.
At the end of this period, Lord Montressor, who
had never left England, or lost trace of his beloved
Stella, and who was now staying at his castle in Dor
setshire was one day seated at breakfast when the
morning mail was brought him. Among score of
letters the first that attracted his attention was
dainty white envelope supeTscrbed in delicate hand
writing. He took that up first and opened lit
tanned but one word-"CoME.n
The light of an inetfabe joy broke over his face
Oh he had waited, patiently, hopefully, years. for
that word, and at last he received it! Thanks to
heaven in the first instance! and then pushing all
the oheretters unopened aside he sprung up rang for
valet and ordered his vase packed and horses put
to the carriage.
In twenty more minutes he had reached the rail-
way station just the about to start, and
in three hours he was at Hyde Hall and standing in
the presence of Eselle she was looking So beautiful
and happy!
With the old chvalric enthusiasm of devotion, he
dropped at once upon his knee and raised her hand
to his, saying
s'For four years I have hoped and waited for one
word from you and at last, beloved you have written
Come and am at your feet, as said, with an
unchanged heart !"
But ~ she said deeply blushing, while she held
both hands to raise him, |, my Lord, have not al
unchanged heart for longer than four years have
loved you more than woman's tongue can tell--ant
never more, than at the hour in which we babe fare
4 well, as thought, forever!
| " I know it, beloved knew it then! knew i
aEcags never doubted it! Could be deceived il
|
| that was the secret of my patience !" he replied
| taking his seat on the sofa by her side.
"And yet you never inquired, and do not ever
now inquire. why, without explanation and withou
hope sent you from my presence, and now, withou
apparent reason, summon you back y she said
shade of the old sadness fell upon her beautiful face
:" Your motives, dearest, were and your own
Not until your spirit moves you to do so shall you
give them to me! | have full confidence in you
beautiful Stella p
"Confdence, oh, ma Godn she exclaimed in
| low, deep thrilling voice.
"Why, what is the matter, dearest?"
| She looked up suddenly, smile of worshippine
love, breaking like sunlight her dark face, ant
Nothing nothing, my lord but that all you
thoughts and feelings are so elevated beyond you
poor Estelle's! And yet she would almost choose j
so for could she be angel she would wish you t.
be something far higher-a god
{" Sweet enthusiast moderate your aspirations, Of
the world and its people will dsappoint you! b
not an idolator worship only God, my Stella"
| Such was their meeting!
| Yet, occasionally throughout the interview, sud
den shadow, like the of painful thought
would fall upon her bright face, and then pass
came.
They were engaged, and within a few days tn
marriage announced to take place on the first 0
| May.
But it was observed by the nearest friends of tn
BRIDE that from the day of her betrohal her spirit
had been marked by the stangest fluctuations. Some
tiHieS, VIII beautiful ualh idCt Will
deep, STILL almost religious joy, she moved about, a
it were, on winged feet, or sat broodng in happ
trance. AT other times, she fell into deep gloom
| anxiety, ineXplicable it was alarming to he
friends, who greatly feared her relapse into the dee
melancholy that had so long overshadowed her, an
that they had grown to dread as a serious c0nsttu
tonal malady But they hoped everything from he
approaching marriage with the man she loved Lor
Montressor observed with the deepest interest the
certain moods of his betrothed but with the higl
toned sentiments that distinguished him, refraine
from inquiring, and awaited her voluntary revels
tions.
At last the first of May, the marriage day, upo
which have presented the parties to the reader, a
rived, and all the haut tOn said, were gathere
at the Hall at the church to do honor to the sole
mites.
And the expectant bride, in her bridal robe All
veil, waited within her boudoir the arrival of tt
bridegroom, whom she had summoned to a priva
interview before they should proceed to the churc
She had not long to wait. He who quickly respondt
to her slightest inclination, Immediately obeyed h
call.
Yet, when she heard his firm elastic step approac
J ing.
:" Now God have mercy on me !" she prayed, al
covered her face with her hands.
He entered unannOGnced and saying,
My beautiful Stella | am here, you perceive
your commands y
She dropped her hands, and revealing face pa
, with misery, spoke in a thrilling, deep, impnssiOn
tone
E You are here by my supplication, my lord
have no right to command"