Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-01
The Island Princess.
a ROMANCE OF THE OLD AND NEW WORLD.
BY EMMA D. E. N. sOUTHwoRTH,
Author of 4" The Lost Heiress," "The Deserted
Wife," g The Missing Bride"
Retribution," etc.
CHAPTER I.
Idnudry, 1857.


DOrsetshire, and Estelle, only daughter and
heiress of Sir PaIke Morelle, Hyde Hall, Devon
shire.
A glorious morning! the cloudless, blue sky
| smiled down upon the green hills and dewy
dales and deep woods of Devon aud the park
around the Hall was all alive and musical with
the joyous songs of birds, and the merry
laughter of young men and maidens gathering
to celebrate their May-day festival, and to do
| honor to the marriage of their landlords
daughter
| The elm-shade; winding avenue that led from
| the highway to the house, was arched at each
| terminus by a mammoth wreath OF flowers and
! many were the carriages that passed under
! them, on their way to assist at the wedding;
| and these contained only the bridesmaids and
| the nearest friends and relatives of the family.
! whose relationship or position gave them the
! right to attend the bride to church;-fOr still
more numerous party had been invited to meet
her at the alter. The villagers and tenants,
| grouped about under the shade of the great old
| trees; wandering over the greensward on
| either side the avenue. watched those equipages
as they rolled on, commenting as usual on such
occasions.
"Oh-dear me! the weddingers won't pass till
nearly twclve and here we are to wait two
mortal hours! said young girl to the game
| keeper.
"Hush! my darling look, here comes his Lord
ships carriage, itself, just sure as you're the
prettiest lass in the country.
1t lcas Lord Montressors carriage.
Early that morning note from his afhanced
| bride had been put in his hands summonlng him
! to private conference with her at the Hall. be-
| fore they should proceed to the church, Sur
prised and filled with vague uneasinsss, his
| lordshp lost no time in Obeying the behest
! Within the most secluded of her suit OF richly
| furnished apartments at the old Hail. halt-bured
in the depths of a cushioned chair, reclined the
bride expectaut in bridal array.
She was alone, her attendants having, by her
own desire withdrawn.
EsteIle Morelle-or ia belle Estelle;" Beau
tiful Stella" "the Midnight Star'-as, for her
resplendent dark beauty, she was POLITICALLY
named-was at this time twenty-five years OF
age and more love than a poets or an artist 5
| ideal. Her form was of medium height, and
very slender, though well-rounded, with grace
full head, over which fell rich masses Of Jet-black
| silken ringlets shading a face OF pure, pale
olive complexion with large mOurnful dark eyes,
habitually yelled by the long, dropping laGhes,
| and delicate, though full, curved lips, ever pa
tiently closed as in silent resignation. The pre-
I vailng expression of her dark, brilliant counte-
nance was profound melancholy.
The announcement of Miss Morelles ap-
preaching marriage with the ViscOunt MOntres-
sor had created profound sensation IN the
fashionable and aristOcratic circles. peerless
beauty the only child and heiress of the oldest,
wealthiest and haughtiest baronet in the Vest
/ of England her heart had been as much the
object of aspiration to the youthful and ardent
as her hand and fortune had been the end OF
desire to the mercenary and ambitious.
At the early age of seven years, Estelle had
been placed at one Of the first-class female inst
tutions of learning at Paris, then as now, con
sidered among the very best Of their kind in the
world and there had been left to remain until
her sixteenth year, when the sudden and calami
tous breaking up Of the institution, and her owl
| severe Illness had OccasiOned her removal
That illness had been attended tcith marked
changes IN the constitution and temperament
of the yOung girl.
Estele previously the most careless, light
hearted and capricOus of children, left hel
chamber of cOnvalescence a subdued, thought
full, melancholy woman! the laughing lips o
| girlhoOd closed in patient Sadness the sparkling
eyes sheathed their beams under long, shadowy
lashes, now seldom lifted; the silvery, elastic
voice, sank into deep and thrilling tones; tht
free, glad motions were measured and controlled
| She never entered another school, but com
pleted her education under the best masters, a
home. To dissipate what was considered
transient Melancholy, her parents travelled will
her over Europe, pausing at each capital anC
chief town, to show her all that was interesting
and instructive. But though their daughter
repaid their attentions with the sweetest graft
tude, and Obeyed them with the gentlest dOcil
ity, she showed no interest in the passing scenes
And though everywhere her extreme beaut,
5 and sweetness of disposition, not less than he
fortune and position, drew around her man!
friends and admirers, Estelle remained alone II
her isolated thought and feelings Every mos
distinguished physician in Europe had been con
suited upon her case, and the result of thei
wisdom was decision that this melancholy wa
not the effect of i'll health, still less Of secre
sorrow, but that it was constitutional phas
that would probably pass away with maturing
years.
They returned to England, presented thei
daughter at court, and introduced her into al
the gaieties of fashionable life. But with n,
happy effect upon the spirits Of Estele, who re
manned profoundly unmuved amid the ecidt tina
greeted her debut. Her picturesque beauty wa
the theme of all tongues-her mouTnful glanc
was tascinating-her deep tones thrlling-he
: touch magnetic; all felt her power, yet she wit
could move all others, remained unimpressed
She who sought no conquests, for that ver'
. reason, perhaps, made many. peer and tw'
commoners, in succession, laid their fortunes a
her feet, and were in turn kindly anG firmly re
> jected.
So passed her first season in London, at tn
close of which her parents took her dowG t
their seat in Devonshire Here in thoughtful
quiet, unostentatiOus manner, she engaged il
works OF benevolence among the villagers anC
tenantry, And her father, hoping much from
this employment, gave her full liberty of action
and smiled to see that she seemed less pensv,
than before
At the beginning of the parliamentary term
the family went up TO London.
And il was here in her second season in tow
that Estelle formed the acquaintance OF Lor,
: Montressor, a young nobleman but lately &C
ceded to his titles and estates, but ALREADY
known as a man OF the most heightened mora
and intellectual excellence, as a righteous, a
well as a rising statesman, and as one, who il
the event of a change OF ministry would b.
likely to fill high official position in Hi
majesty's cabinet. Aside from the glare Of ranl
and wealth and power, Charles MOntressor wa
, a glorious specimen of the Creators workman
ship. Above the average standard Of heigh
among his cOuntrymen, broad-shOudered an,
deep-chested, with a noble head and face ful
of wisdom and goodness, his appearance trul,
, indicated the warm benevolence clear intelli
gence, and pure spirit of the man. His presenc
soon inspired Estelle with faith that she hai
not been able TO feel in any other that ap
preached her. He drew nearer TO her than an
other had been permitted to come; he cross e,
the magic circle Of her issolation, and converse,
with her as no other had been allowed to dc
The world looked and said that the beautiful
= Stella had at last met her master and was con
quered.
At this stage Of affairs, the parliamentar-
d term being over Sir Parke MOrelie and his fam
lily left London for Hyde Hall
Lord Montressor asked and received permits
sion TO follow them, and in less than a mont
availed himself OF the privilege 70 do So Thu
il was in the home Of her ancestors, after havin
obtained the cordial sanction Of her parent
and believing himself sure Of the affections I
their daughter. Lord Montressor offered hi
heart and hand to the lovely Estelle, and wa
/. 10 his profound establishment instantly ana firm
! | ~ rejected! In thus rejecting his suit she wer
B long and bitterly, praying his forgiveness tbs
The happiness she had experienced and exhiblte
. IN bis society should have betrayed him int
= making this declaration, and beseeehing bin
!, neVer 20 renew his suit; but TO leave and forge
her There was something in the tone of he
refusal which confirmed and deepeaed his Or,
a vlous conviction that-even in rejecting him