The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-05-19

changed heart for longer than four years have
loved you more than womans tongue may tell and
never more than at the hoT in which we bade fare
we'll as thought, foreyer!
II know it. beloyed knew t he, knew it al
,eals / never doubted i'll Could be deceived in
the dear heart of the woman ! loyedY No and that
was the secret OF my patience! ne replied, taxing
his seat on the sofa by her side.
"And yet you never inquired, and do not even now
inquire why without explanation and without hope
Fsent you from my presence, and why now, without
apparent reason, summon you backI she said, as
q shade of the old sadness Tell upon hef Deautlfm
face.
''Your motives, dearest, were, and are your own.
Not until your spirit moves You TO do so shall you
give them to me have full confidence in you,
beautiful Stela"
'sCopfdence oh my God@ she exclaimed in low
deep, thrilling voice.
s'Why, what is the matter, dearest"
She looked up suddenly, smile of worshipping
love- breaking like sunlight her dark face, and
said
Nothing nothing, my lord! but that all your
thoughts and feelings are SO elevated beyond your
poor Estelles 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 "
''Sweet enthusiast moderate your aspirations, or
the world and its people will disappoint you! BE
not an idoator; worship only God, my Stella.
Such was their meeting
Yet occasionally throughout the interview, q
sudden shadow, like the recurrence of a painful
thought, would foil upon her bright face and then
pass rs it came.
They were engaged and within few days the
marriage was announced to take place the first of
May. EEe
But it was observed by the nearest friends of the
bride, that from the day of her berothal her spirits
had been marked by the strangest fluctuations. Some
times with her beautiful dark face illunned with
a deep, still, almost religious joy, she moved about
as it were, on winged feet" sat brooding in q
happy trance. At other times she fell into deep
gloom and anxiety as nexpcabe it was alarm
ing her friends who greatly feared her relapse into
the deep melancholy that had 50 long ovcrshadowed
her, and that they had grown to dread as serious
constitutional maady 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; but
with the high-toned sentiments that distinguished
him. refrained from nquiring and awaited her voiun
tary revelations.
At last the first of May, the marriage day, upon
which have presented the parties to the reader ar
rived and all the hdut ton, said, were gathered
at the hall athe church to do honor to the soem
mites. W
And the expectant bride, in her bridal robe and
veil, waited within her boudor the arrival OF the
bridegroom whom she had summoned to a private
interview before they should proceed to the church
She had not long to wait. He, who quickly respond
ed to her slightest inclination, Immediately obeyed
her call.
Yet, when she heard his firm elastic step approach
ing,
7'Now, God have mercy on me Y she prayed and
covered her face with her hands.
He entered unannounced and saying,
''My beautiful Stella am here, you perceive, by
your commandsl' u
She dropped her hands, and revealing face pale
with misery, spoke in thrilling, deep, impassioncd
tone
''You are here by my supplication, my lord Il have
no right to command"
"We will waive that! What is your will my dear
est Stellar aa.
.My prayer, my lord, is first for your forgive
nessn
ca II,
"Ay my dear lord you see before you penitent
and supplicant, who may soon be something lar
more wretched"
My Stella! what mean you?"
&" Come to the window, Lord Montressorg' she SAID,
rising and preceding him. 'Iook out" she con-
tinued, putting aside the rose-coored hangngs and
revealing view Of the park below alive with its
restless multitude. "What are all these people walt
ing for, my lord 7"
"What are they waiting for, my Stella a--for that
for which also wait, with how much more impa-
tience Y he answered, while deep flush OF love
and Joy for instant supplanted the anxiety on
his face.
"They wait to see bride pass, where bride may
never go y she said in solemn voice.
Stella great Heaven! what say you he ex-
claimed, gazing on her with profound astonishment;
THAT the bride they expect is unworthy to stand
before Gods holy altar beside Lord Montressor"
Unworthy, Stella Your
Most tu,rcorthy my lord Y she said, dropping her
arms, and dropping her head in an attitude OF the
sion long ago. Lord Montrcssor; but have deceived
you-I have deceived youm
| In what respect Stella? My God! 1t cannot
be No. it cannot be that while bcrothed to me,
you do not love me9'
q Not lore youy OH my dear LordP she murmur-
ed, in a voice of thrilling tenderness that carried
conviction of her truth to his deepest heart
"What mean you, then, dearest one? If indeed
you return my deep love-"
"Ohl do, do Montressor; whatever happens,
wherever you go take that assurance with you! j
love you my lord shall love you, even though,
even after what / shall have told you, you repulse
and hate me, and go to our friends and say, That
woman whom / was about to wed is but a whlted
sepuchre, whom have proved, and whom now re-
iect, and so leave to the scorn of men, still
say--eyer shall say love you Lord Montressor!
love you and the consciousness OF being unworthy
of your love is the btterest element in my punish
ment" she said, in voice of such profound misery,
that Lord Montressor could scarcely continue to be-
lieve her agitation unfounded or exaggerated.
He dropped upon seat and, sitting still and white
as carved image Of stone, gazed upon her, waiting
her further communications.
1.-THE above is all of this beautiful and highly
esting story that viii be published In our columns.
We give this as o sample. The continuation OF 1T
can be found only in the New York Ledger the great
family weekly paper, for which the most popular
writer's in the country contribute, and which can be
found at all the stores throughout the city and country
where apers are sold Remember to ask for the New
York Ledger Of May 30, and in it you will get tho
continuation of the story from where leaves OIL here
~ any 10 pub