Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-05-27

l uPoiA what SuS ~ DS the OHIN pOSSl-
| bic result Of the interview-found Estelle ly-
| ing in swoon upon the floor 1t was follow
| ed by long aud terrible illness, terminating
in a tedionsly protracted conyalescence. The
town season was at hand before Etelle was able
| to re-enter society.
! They went up to London, and once more the
''Star OF beauty" arose upon its world. And
! though the cloud upon herlife settled darke
and heavier, day by day, she was more follow
| ed, battered and courted than before.
| Thus three years had passed away, when one
morning, while the family, then occupying
their town house in Berkely Square, were seat
| ed at late breakfast, and Sir Parke was en-
gagged in reading aloud from The London Times,
an account Of the saring of the French Ship-Le
Due d. .4njOu-wrecked off The coast Of .4lgiers
-Esfelie altered iOio cry and sank .tainting
! from her seal.
| This attack was not, as the other had beer,
! followed by Illness on the contrary. from
/ that day, the cloud seemed lifted from her
/ head, and even those who had most admired
| her face in its shadow, were enchanted to see
/ how brilliant was her beauty in its Sunshine !
! Her health and spirits daily improved, yet in
| the midst of all this flowing tide of new life,
| Estelle astonished her friends by suddenly, in
the height of the London season, retiring to
/ her fathers country seat, where she remained
| in strict secusion from the world for eighteen
| months.
At the end of this period, Lord Montressor.
| who had never left England, lost trace of
/ his beloved Stella and who was now STAYING
| at his castle in Dorsetshire, was one day seated
at breakfast when the morning mail was
/ brought him. Among 4 score of letters the
| first that attracted his attention was dainty
! white envelope Superscribed in delicate hand
writing. He took that up first and opened it
| it contained but one word-sSCoNE.'
| The light of an ineffable joy broke over his
! face Oh he had waited, patiently, hopeful
| y, years, for that word, and at last he receiv-
| ed it Thanks to heaven in the first instance !
and then pushing all the other letters unopen-
! ed aside he sprung up, rang for his valet. and
ordered his valise packed and horses put to
the carriage.
| In twenty more minutes he 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 presence of Estelle she
looking so beautiful and happy!
With the old chivalrc enthusiasm of devo-
| tion, he dropped, at once, upon his knee, and
raised her hand to his, saying
ssFor four years i have hoped and waited
| for one word from you, and at last, beloved,
| you have written-ssCome,' and am at your
feet, as said, with an unchanged heart! !"
''But IL she said, deeply blushng, while
she held both hands to raise him, 81, my Lord
| have not an unchanged heHrt for longer than
| four years have loved you more than woman's S
tongue may tell-and never more, than at the
| hour in which we bade farewell, as thought,
| foreveri''
81 know it, beloved knew it then knew it
| altcaysi | never doubted it Gould be de-
| ceived in the dear heart of the woman l low
ed No and that was the secret of my pa
- he replied, taking his seat on the So
ia by her side.
| SsAnd yet you never inquired and do not
ven now inquire, why, without explanation and
without hope, l sent you from my presence,
and why now, without apparent reason, / sum-
7 lN.,t s,l,,, cha ia nf t1,n
| old sadness fell upon her beautiful face.
ssYour motives, dearest, were, and are your
! own. Not until your spirit moves you to do
| so. shall you give them to Iie / have full
confidence in you beautiful Stellan'
| 'sConfdence oh my God 20 she exclaimed in
low, deep, thrilling voice.
eWhv, what is the matter dearest 20
| She looked up suddenly, a smile of wor-
| shipping love, breaking like sunlight over her
| dark face, and said
ssNothing, nothing, my lord but that all
| your thoughts and feelings elevated be-
| yond your poor Estelle's And yet she would
| almost choose it so for could she be an an
| gel, she would wish you to be something far
! higher-a god -
s.Sweet enthusiast moderate your aspira-
tions, or the world and its people will disap-
| point you Be not an idolator; worship only
! God, my Stela.''
! Such was their meeting
a eudden shadow like the recurrence of pain
| full thought, would fall upon her bright face
/ and then pass as it came.
They were engaged, ard within a 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 been marked by the strangest
! fluctuations. Sometimes with her beautiful
dark face illuminated with deep, still, almost
religious joy, she moved about, as it were, On
! sswinged feet,'' or sat brooding in a happy
| trance At other times, she fell into deep
gloom and anxiety, as inexplicable as it was
alarming to her friends, who greatly feared re-
lapse into the deep melancholy that had sc
long overshadowed her, and that they had
grown to dread serious constitutional mai
adv. But they hoped everything from her APP
| preaching marriage with the man she loved
| Lord Montressor observed with the deepest in
! terest the uncertain moods of his betrothed
! but with the high toned sentiments that dis
tinguished him, refrained from inqulring, and
awaited her voluntary revelations.
| 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 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 arri
val of the bridegroom, whom she had sum
| moned to a private interview before they
should proceed to the church. She had not
long to wait He who quickly responded to
her slightest inclinations, Immediately opeyeu
her call.
Yet when she heard his firm elastic step ap-
preaching. -,
ssNow God have mercy on me J, sne pray
ed, and covered her face with her hands.
He entered, unannounced, and saying,
s.Nv beautiful Stella / am here, you per.
ceiye by your commands u
4 She dropped her hands, and revealing face