The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-04-02

e middle-aged, respectable-looking woman
: made her appearance. "know you augh
:, of this miniature?'
y The woman cast furtiye glance at St
Clair.
. "Yes. my lord" she replied promptly
u sit was given me by Lady Edith. togeth
J. er with some letters. She desired me te
r place them in the hands of her cousin
d Edward Huntley."
""Then why have you not done so %
: inquired the earl. with assumed sternness
s II mentioned it to Mr.. St. Clair, and
he said that he would take charge O
!. them" said the woman hesitatingly.
'sYou did right" said the earl, in &
D gentler tone; "you may now Withdraw
His stern pride forsook him. as she
obeyed.
"Yeu, too, may leave me, Jasper" be
; added, feebly; "I wish to be alone"
Edith Huntly was the only daughter Of
the worthy and pious rector of Hadley.-
Previous to her birth he had lost several
: lovely children, and she was scarcely five
} when he was called to lay in the grave
his wife; and the affections of the be-
reaved father centered with peculiar in
tensity and tenderness upon his mother
less child.
1 A few months after the death of his
wife, he adopted the orphan son of bis
only brother, upon whom he bestow ed
the care and affection of father. As
sociated together from early childhood,
as they grew up Edward and Edith mani
tested for each other warm affection,
which the good rector encouraged by
every means in his power; yet no thought
OF forming closer connection was ever
entertained by either.
1t was An evil day for poor Edith when
her young and artless beauty met the ad
mlrlng eyes of the naughty Earl of Wood
leigh. Though more than twice her age,
he was still eminently handsome, and
possessed the graceful dignity and polish
ed ease which are usually associated with
high birth and breeding; but his stern,
proud heart. his fiery and jealous spirit,
made him no fitting mate for one SO young
and gentle.
1t was said that he had been dec ceived
and disappointed in early lite; but b ow-
ever that might be, the mum berless ma
neuvers of artful papas and mamas made
no impression on his obdurate heart
He turned away from all the winning
Establishments of the softer sex with a
steadiness not unmixed with scorn. But
there was something in Edith's child
like confidence which appealed warmly
to his heart in the yielding
gentleness of her manner very grateful to
his naughty nature, and he learned to
love her with a deep and intense affec-
ton.
Edward Huntley viewed with evident
uneasiness the daily increasing intimacy
between Lord Woodleigh and his lovely
cousin. Some instances which had fallen
under his notice. of her lovers jealous and
imperative temper, made him fear that
she was placing her heart in unworthy
keeping. With the freedom of brother,
he earnestly expostulated with Edith !;
but alas! loves bewildering dream had
enthralled her young heart, and she would
not believe thathe would ever be otherwise
than kind and gentle to her. Lord Wood
leigh perceived Edwards opposition to
his suit, and attributing it to different mo-
tives, deep and bitter jealousy sprang
up in his heart, which was, in after years,
the source of much misery to both.
cloud rested uP0u Mr.. Huuuiey-s
placid brow, as Lord Woodleigh intreat-
ed his blessing.
"De you love him, my child?" he said
with emotion, gazing earnestly into her
blushing face.
The happy smile around the lips, the
look of perfect love and confidence in her
sunny eyes. as she raised them to her low
er's face, spoke volumes.
The rector's eyes filed with tears, as
he took her small, white hand and laid it
in Lord Woodleigh's. "Take her," he
said, tremulously; 'tshe is my only child
the only tie that binds me to earth!-
She has never received from my lips
harsh or bitter word-be gentle with
her!''
GAS God is my judge exclaimed
Lord Woodleigh, passienately. ''she shall
never know aught of pain from which l
can shield herr
Did Edith think as she laid her bright
head upon her lovers bosom, that the
time would come when the cold grave
would be to her welcome pillow-that
the arms which SO tenderly enfolded her
would, ere long. throw her from him like a
worthless thing?
Their marriage was celebrated by all
pomp and splendor imaginable. and it
! lrua 10 If