The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-05-27

| had most admired her face In It's shauoWi
were enchanted to see how brilliant was
her beauty in its sunshine Her health
aud spirits daily improved, yet in the
midst of all this flowing tide OF new life,
Estelle astenished her friends by sud-
denly, in the height of the London sea-
SOD, retiring to her fathers country seat,
where she remained in. strict seclusion
from the world for eighteen months.
At the end of this period, Lord Mont
ressor, who had never left England, or
lost trace of his beloved Stella, and who
was now staying at his castle in Dorset
shire, was one day seated at breakfast
when the morning mail was brought him.
Among a score of letters tho first that
attracted his attention was a dainty
white envelope supcrscribed in delicate
handwriting. He took that up first and
opened tit contained but one word
CoME"
The light of an inehablo 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 other letters unor ened
aside he sprung up, rang for his valet,
aud ordered his valise packed and horses
put 10 the carriage.
In twenty more minutes he had reach
ed the railway station just as the ears
were about to start, and in three hours
he was at Hyde Hall and standing in the
presence of Estelle l-she looking SO
beautiful and happy
| With tho old chivalrie enthusiasm of
devotion, he dropped, at once, upon his
knee, and raised her hand to his, say
ing
"For four years I have hoped and
waited for ono word from you, and ut
last, beloved, yeu have wristen-'Come,
unoh anged heart "
while she held both hands to rsiss him,
"I, my Lord, have not an unchanged
heart for longer than four years have
loved you moro than Uoman's tongue
may tell-and never moro, than at the
hour in which VIC bade farewell; as
thought, forever!"
II know it, beloved knew it tket
knew il alaOaysi 1 never doubted it =
Could be deceived in the dear heart of
ths woman loved No and that was
the secret of my patience !'' no replied,
taking his seat on the sofa by her 9ide
"And yet you never inquired and do
not even now inquire, why, without e1-
PLANTATION and without hope, sent you
from ny presenes. and NsJ now, with
out apparent reason, I summon you
back I'' she said, as a shade of the cid
sadness fell upon her beautiful fcoe.
"Your motives, dearest, were, and are
your own. Not until your spirit moves
you to do SO, shall you give them to mel
I have full confidence in you, beautiful
Stellar'
"Confdcncel OH nay Godi" she ex-
claimed 10 low, deep, thrilling Voice.
"Why, what is the metter, desrest?"
She looked up suddenly, a smile oi
wcrshlpping leve, breaking like sunlight
over her dark faoe, and said
''Nothing, nothing, my lord !! but that
all your thoughts and feelings are Sc
elevated beyond your poor Esteile's
And yet she would almost choose it SO
for could she be an angel, she would
wish you to be something far higher-s
god y
"Sweet enthusiast moderate youi
aspirations, or the world and its people
will disappoint you! Be not an idola
tor; worship only God, my Stella"
Such was their meeting
Yet, occasionally, throughout the il.
terview, a sudden shadow like the recur
renee of a painful thought, would fall
upon her bright face and then pass as il
came.
They were engaged, and within few
days the marriage was 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 beer
marked by strangest fuc uations.-
Sometimes with her beautiful dark face
illumined with. deep, still, almost re
ligious joy, she moved about, as it were
on winged feet" or sat brooding in
happy trance At other times, she fell
into deep gloom aud anxiety, as. inex'
plicable as it was alarming to her friends
who greatly feared her relapse into the
deep melancholy that had so long over
shadowed her, and that they had grown
to dread is serious constitutional NAL
ady.- But they hoped everything from
her approaching marriage with the man
she loved. Lord Montressor observed
with the deepest interest the uncertain
moods of his betrothed bat with the
high-toned sentiments that distinguished
him, refrained from inquiring, and await
ed her voluntary eve'ations.
At last the first of May, the marriage
day. upon which have presented the
parties to the reader, arrived, and all
the haut ton, as 1 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 in
clination, Immediately obeysd her call.
Yet when she heard his firm elastic
step approaching.
"Now God have mercy on me -" she
prayed, and covered her face with her
hands.
He entered, unannounced, and saying,
my beautiful Stella am here,
you perceive, by your commands %
She dropped her hands, and revealing
face pale with misery, spoke in thrill,
ling, deep, impassioned tone
You. are here by my supplication,
my lord Ihave no right to ootfiniand' -
owe will waive that What is your
will, my dearest Stellar"
|