Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-05-28
CHAPTER I.


1t was the first of May, the marriage day
of the Viscount Montressor of Montressor
Castle, Dorsetshire, and Estelle, only daugh-
ter and heiress of Sir Parke Morelle, Hyde
Hall, Devonshire.
A glorious morning! the cloudless, blue
sky smiled down upon the green hills and
dewy dales and deep woods of Devon and
the park around the Hall was all alive and
musical, with the joyous songs of birds, and
the merry laughter of young men and mai
dens gathering to celebrate their May-day
festival, and to do honor to the marriage Of
their landlords daughter.
The elm-shaded, winding avenue that led
from the highway to the house, was arcbed
at each terminus by mammoth wreath OF
flowers, and many we're the carriages that
passed under them, on their way to assist at
the wedding; and these contained only the
bridesmaids, and the nearest friends and rel
atives 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, grouped
about under the shade of the great old trees,
or wandering over the greensward on either
side the avenue, watched these equipages as
they rolled on, commenting as usual on such
occasions.
"Oh-dear me! the weddingers won't
pass till nearly twelve and here we are to
wait two mortal hours said a young girl
to the game-keeper.
"Hush my darling look, here comes his
Lordship's carriage, itself, just as sure as
you're the prettiest lass in the country"
1t acas Lord Montressor's carriage.
Early that morning note from his afi-
anced bride had been put in his hands sum-
moning him to private conference with her
at the Hall, before they should proceed to
the church. Surprised and filed with vague
uneasiness, his lordship lost no time in obey
ing the behest.
Within the most secluded of her suite of
richly furnished apartments at the old Hall,
half-buried in the depths of a cushioned
chair, reclined the bride expectant, in bridal
array.
She was alone, her attendants having, by
her own desire, withdrawn.
Estelle Morele-or "la belle Estelle," Z"
"Beautiful Stella" "the Midnight Star
as, for her resplendent dark beauty, she was
POLITICALLY named-was at this time twenty
FIVE years of age, and more lovely than a
poets or an artists ideal. Her form was of
medium height, and very slender, though
well-rounded, with graceful head, over
which fell rich masses of jet-black siken
ringlets, shading a face of pure, pale olive
complexion with large mouruful dark eyes,
habitually yelled by the long, dropping lash
es, and delicate, though full, curved lips,
ever patiently closed as in silent resignation.
The prevailing expression of her dark, bril-
liant countenance was a profound melan-
choly.
The announcement of Miss Morelle's ap-
preaching marriage with the Viscount Mon
tressor had created profound sensation in
the fashionable and aristocratic circles. A
peerless beauty, the only child and heiress
of the oldest, wealthiest and haughtiest bar
onet in the West of England, her heart had
been as much the object of aspiration to the
youthful AMI ardent, as her hand and for
tune had been the end Of desire to the mcr-
cenary and ambitious.
At the early age Of seven years, Estelle
had been placed at one of the frst.class fe-