Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-20


Stella had at last met her master and was con-
quered.
At this stage of affairs, the parliamentary
term being over. Sir Parke MOrelle and his
family left London for Hyde Hall
Lord MOntressOr asked and received permis-
SION to follow them, and in less than a month
availed himself of the privilege to do so. Thus
1t was in the home of her ancestors, after hav-
ing obtained the cordial sanction of her parents
and believing himself sure of the affections of
their daughter, Lord MOntressor offered his
heart and hand to the lovely Estelle, and was
to his profound astonishment instantly and firm
ly rejected. In thus rejecting his suit she wept
long and bitterly, praying his forgiveness that
the happiness she had experienced and exhibit
ed in his society should have betrayed him into
making this declaration, and beseeching him
never to renew his suit; but to leave and forget
her. There was something in the tone of her
refusal which confirmed and deepened his pre-
viOus conviction that-even in rejecting him
she loved him But with his big gh-toned senti-
ments he would not in the least degree presume
upon that knowledge. Taking her hand with
deferential tenderness, he said
. Stella! man never but once, in his whole
existence, loves woman as / love you will
not inquire the cause of the rejection, which
you have certainly right to make without as
signing any reason for the act. And after hav-
ing received this repulse, may not in honor
W IL.
this, In parting, must say to yOu-that though
L go hence, shall not 90 out of the reach of
your friends: L shall never address another
woman; so if ever, in the course of future
weeks, or months or years, however long YOU
may think proper to review the decision of this
evening, Stella, L implore you to let me know .
Write but one word Come, and will return
to lay an unchanged heart at your feet. ~.
Estelle was weeping too bitterly to reply.
''Stella will you promise to do this?"
"LOrd MOntreSSOr, best and dearest friend
do not seek to bind yourself to one who can give
you nothing in return, Try to think of the
melancholy girl that you have pitied and loved
only as shadow that fell for moment across
the sunshine of your path, and then passed
away forever and 50 forget her ~ 0~'
Stella! have pledged my honor never to
renew this suit, unless you reverse in my favor
the sentence you have pronounced upon it !;
but, inspired by the deep and deathIess love /
bear you, and hoping against hope, feel i'm
pelled to implOre leaving you, that in the event
OF favorable change of sentiment or purpose
towards me, you will not hesitate to give me
leave to return. Stella, will you promise me so
much as that!''
. ''NOblest friend that have in the world !
how gladly would 1 promise, but must not,
MOntressor. Were l to do so, you would feel
bound TO wait the changes of my mood, and so,
for most undeserving love, might miss, in
nobler woman's affections, the happiness in
store for You
Stella, will you raise your sweet, mOurnful
eyes to mine, one moment, that you may read
my soul while I speak?''
EStelle lifted her dark orbs to meet the clear,
pure, blue eyes bent with so much love and
candor upon hers, and read the deep, unchang-
ing truth OF the constancy of soul as he said
Stella, in the presence Of the heart-sea rch-
ing God who sees and hears me, assure YOU
hOt sha oil fl,a~, II
you, and, therefore, of course, can never wed
another; so that whether you give me this
slightest Of hopes or net, 1 am equally and for
ever bound! NOtc will you promise Stella
Remember, it is only to let me know in case of
a change in your sentiments
For an instant the light of an unutterable
love and Joy broke on her beautiful dark !a.e,
and her smiling lips parted to speak-when-
as If a sudden memory and warning had
gripped her very heart-she uttered low,
sharp cry, turned paler than before, and then
said
mo! no, my Lord, Stella cannot even
give you that, She is poorer than the poorest,
in gifts to you! She can only pray that you
may forget her and be happy
He looked profoundly disappointed and trou-
bled. But soon mastering his dependency he
said hopefully
We'll, dearest Stella, although you reject
me without apparent reason, and refuse to give
me the slightest promise or the most distant
hope, yet 1 repeat-shOuld you in the long fu-
ture, change your purpose, and write to me one
word Come, l will hasten to lay at YOUR feet
an unchanged heart! Good bye God be with
you" and raising her hand, he bowed over it,
pressed it TO his lips, turned and left the room
Some moments after Lady Morelle, who came
to seek and congratulate her daughter upon
what she imagined to be the only possible re-
suit of the interview-fOund Estelle lying in a
Al
long and terrible illness, terminating in a te-
diously protracted convalescence. The town
season was at hand before Estelle was able to
re-enter society.
They went up to London, and once more the
8 star of beauty" arose upon its world. And
though the cloud upon her life settled darker
and heavier, day by day, she was more followed,
fattered and courted than before
Thus three years had passed away, when one
morning. when the family, then occupying their
town house in Berkely Square, were seated at a
late breakfast, and Sir Parke was engaged in
TeGdtRg aloud, from tie London Times, an
account of tie saring Of tie French ship-Le
Due D'AnjOu-IOrecked off the coast of A.
gIers-EStekie uttered Lotc cry, and sank
faiRtiHg frOlc her seat
This attack was not, as the other had been,
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 aston
ished her friends by suddenly, in the height of
the London season, retiring to her fathers
country seat, where she remained in strict Sc
cluslon from the world for eighteen months
At the end of this period, Lord Montressor,
who had never left England, or 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 a score Of letters the first that
attracted his attention was dainty white en-
yelOpe, superseded in delicate handwriting
He took that up first, and opened tit con-
tanned but one word COME"
lTO BE CONTINUED IN OUR NExrl