The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-06-06

hopefully, years, for that word, ana 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
his yalise packed and horses put to the
carriage.
In twenty more minutes be had reached
the railway station just as the cars were
about to start, and in three hours he was
at HYDE Hall and standing in the pres
ence of Estelle she looking SO beautiful
and happy
With the old chivalric enthusiasm of
devotion, he dropped, at once, upon his
knee. and raised her hand to his, SAYING
" For four years have hoped and wait
ed for one word from you; and at last, be-
loved, you have written Come and
am at Your feet, as l said, with un un-
changed heart ~
But J." she said, deeply blushing,
while she held both hands to raise him,
Il, my Lord, have not an unchanged
heart! for longer than four years | have
loved You more than woman's tongue
may tell-and never more, than at the
hour in which we bade farewell, as l
thought, forever p
q know it, beloved, knew it then,
knew it, always / never doubted it.
Could be deceived in the dear heart of
the woman | loved! No. And that was
the secret of my patience y he replied,
taking his seat on the sofa by her side.
"And yet you never inquired, and do
not even nov inquire, why, without OK
PLANTATION, and without hope, [ sent you
from my presence, and why now, without
apparent reason, | summon you back"
she said, as a shade of the old sadness fell
upon her beautiful face.
"Your motives, dearest, were and are
your own. Not until your spirit moves
you to do so, shall you give them to me!
l have full confidence in you, beautiful
Stella!''
coincidence oh my God" she ex-
claimed in low, deep. thrilling voice.
"Why, what is the matter, dearest?'
She looked up suddenly, smile of
worshipping love breaking like sunlight
over her dark face, and said
Nothing, nothing, my lord but that
all your thoughts and feelings are so ele-
waited beyond your poor Estelle's! And
yet she would almost choose it so! for
could she be an angel, she would wish
you to be something far higher-a god"
aSweet enthusiast moderate your aspi-
rations, or the world and its people will
disappoint you! Be not an idolator; wor-
ship only God, my Stella
! Such was their meeting.
Yet, occasionally, throughout the intar-
view, sudden shadow, like the recur-
renee of painful thought, would fall
upon her bright face and then pass as it
came.
They were engaged, and within few
days the marriage vas announced to take
place on the first of May.
But it was observed by the nearest
friends of the bride, that from the day of
her betrOthal, her spirits had been marked
by the strangest fluctuations Sometimes
with her beautiful dark face illumined
with a deep, still, almost religious joy,
she moved about, as it were, on winged
feet" or sat brooding in happy trance.
At other times, she fell into deep gloom
and anxiety, as inexplicable as it was
alarming to her friends, who greatly fear
ed her relapse into the deep melancholy
that had so long overshadowed her, and
that they had grown to dread as a serious
constitutional malady. But they hoped
everything from her approaching marriage
with the man she loved. Lord MOntressor
observed with the deepest interest the I'M
certain moods of his betrothed but with
the heightened sentiments that distin-
guished him, RETAINED from inquiring,
and awaited her voluntary revelations.
At last the first of May, the marriage
day, upon which I have presented the
parties to the reader, arrived, and all the
haut ton, as l said, were gathered at the
Hall or at the Church to do honor to the
solemnities.
And the expectant bride, in her bridal
robe and veil, waited within her boudOir
the arrival of the bridegroom, whom she
had summoned to private interview be-
fore they should proceed to the church.
She had not long to wait. He who quickly
responded to her slightest inclination, i'm
mediately obeyed her call.
Yet when she heard his firm elastic step
approaching,
Now God have mercy on me!' she
praved. and covered her face with her
hands.
He entered unannounced, and saying,
'sMv beautiful Stella! l am here, you
perceive, by your commands
She dropped her hands, and revealing a
face pale with misery, spoke in thrilling,
deem impassioned tone
"You are here by my supplication, my
lord have no right to command"
1--WE will waive that! What is your
will, my dearest Stella?"
my prayer, my lord, is first, for your
forgiveness!'
"Forgiveness?- Stella!''
"Ay! my dear lord! you see before you
a penitent and suppliant, who may soon
be something far more wretched!'
MY Stella! what mean you?''
''Come to the window, Lord Montres-
sor.' she said, rising and preceding him.
"Look out" she continued, putting aside
the rose-colored hangings, and revealing a
view of the park below, alive with its
restless multitude. 'What are all these
people waiting for, my lord?'
'What are they waiting for, my Stella?
for that for which | also wait, with how
mich more impatience.' he answered,
while deep flush of love and joy, for an
instant, supplanted the anxiety on his
face.
"They wait to see a bride pass, where a
bride may never go" she said, in a solemn
voice.
"StelIa! great heaven! what say you?p
he exclaimed, gazing on her with pro-
found astonishment.
''That the bride they expect is unwor-
thy to stand before Gods holy altar beside
| Lord MontreSsor,''
"Unworthy, Stella! You!''
''1Kost unworthy, my lord!'' she said,
dropping her arms, and dropping her head
in an attitude of the deepest misery. II
should have made this confession long
ago. Lord Montressor; but have deceived
vou-I have deceived youi''
in what respect, Stella? Ny God
It cannot be- No, it cannot be! that,
while betrothed to me, you do not love me!'
Not lore you! Oh! my dear lOrde' she
| murmured, in voice of thrilling tender
ness that carried conviction of her truth to