Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-21
ICONrINUBD.l ]

face Oh he had waited, patiently, hopefully,
years, for that word, and at last he received it,
Thanks 10 heaven in the first instance. and
then, pushing all the other letters unopened
aside, he sprung up, rang for his valet, and or
dered his yalse packed and horses put TO the
carriage.
In twenty more minutes he had reached the
railway station just tho cars were about to
start, and in three hours he was at Hyde Hall
and standing in the presence Of Estelle she
looking 50 beautiful and happy.
With the old chivalric enthusiasm Of devotion,
he dropped, at once, upon his knee, and raised
her hand to his, saying
For four years have hoped and waited
for one word from You, and at last, beloved,
YOU have written" Come, F" and am ut your
feet as said with an unchanged heart"
g. But L, che said, deeply blushing, while
she held both hands to raise him, % /, nv Lord,
have not an unchanged heart, for longer than
four years have loved you more than woman's
tongue may tell-and never more, than at the
hour in which we bade farewell, as / thought,
forever, W
Il know it, beloved knew it then knew il
air1ys, l never doubted it, Could be de-
eeived in the dear heart of the womanI loved
No, and that was the secret Of my patience"
he replied, taking 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, 1 sent you from my presence.
and why now, without apparent reason, / sum-
mon you back ~ she said, as n shade Of the
old sadness fell upon her beautiful face
Your motives, dearest, were, and are your
own Not until your spirit moves you to do so,
shall you give them to me, L have full conf
dence IN you, beautiful Stella"'
'Cou ufdeRce oh my God ." she exclaimed
in a low, deep, thrilling voice.
Why, what is the matter, dearest?"
She looked up suddenly, smile of worship
ping love, breaking like sunlight over her dark
face, and said
Nothing, nothing my lord but that all
your thoughts and feelings are elevated be-
yOnd your poor Estelle's. And yet che would
almost choose it 50 for could she be an angel,
che would wish you to be something far higher
god"
Sweet enthusiast, moderate your aspira-
tions, or the world and its people will disap-
point you! Be not an idolator: worship only
God, my Stella
Such was their meeting,
Yet, occasionally, throughout tho interview,
a sudden shadow like the recurrence of pain
fal thought, would fall upon her bright face and
then pass as il came.
They were engaged, and within 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 strsngest
dark face illumined with deep, still, almost
religious JOY, she moved about as il were, on
winged feet" or sat brooding in a happy
trance. At other times, she fell into deep
gloom and anxiety, as inexplicable as ii was
alarming TO her friends, who greatly feared her
relapse into the deep melancholy that had so
long Oyershadowed he-, and that they had grown
70 dread as q serious constitutional malady
But they hoped everything from her approach
Ing 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, reirained from inquiring, and awaited her
voluntary revelations.
Atlast the first OF May, the marriage day,
upon which have presented the parties to the
reader, arrived, and all the haNt 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 arrival
OF the bridegroom, whom she had summoned to
private interview before they should proceed
to the church She had not long to wait He
who quickly responded to her slightest inclina-
tiol Immediately o5eyed her call.
Yet when She heard his firm elastic step ap-
preaching,
Now God have mercy on me ," she PRAYED
and covered her face with her hands.
He entered, unannounced, and saying,
. Ny beautiful Stella. l am here, you per-
eeive, by your commands, '"
She dropped her hands, and revealing a face
pale with misery, spoke in thrilling, deep, i'm
passioned tone
. You are here by my application, my lord.
i have no light to command"
We will waive that. What is your will,
my dearest StelIa2''
Ny prayer, my lords first, for for give
ness"
I" ForegirenesJ2-my Stella, ~
y dnar IordT vo,, a.
pcnitent and a supplicant who may soon be
sJmethlng far more wretched,''
Ny Stella what mean you2',
&" Come TO the window, Lord Montressor -
she said, rising and preceding him "Look
out, she continued, putting aside the rose-col-
8rgd hanging, and revealing view Of the park
below, alive with its restless multitude "Nhat
are all these people waiting for, my lord ?'
nat are they waiting for, my Stella for
That for which also wait, with how much more
lnpatence" he answered while a deep flush
oi love and JOY, for an instant, supplanted the
anxiety on his face.
They wait to see a bride pass, where a
bride may never go ~ she said, in a solemn
voice.
Stella great Heaven what say You ?" he
exclaimed, gazing on her with profound aston
That the bride they expect i, unworthy to
stand before Gods holy altar beside Lord Mon
tTessOr,'
- Unworthy, Stella1 You7"
" Most WntrOrthy, my lord ~ she said. drop-
ping her arms, and at the same time droppinr
her head IN an attitude Of the deepest misery
should have made this confession long AGO.
Lord Montressor, but have deceived youoI
have deceived you ~
In what respect, Stclla' My God 1t can
Dot De. No, 1t cannot be, that while betrothcd
10 me, you do not love me ~
NOt tore yoH! Oh, my dear lord ~ she
murmured, in voice Of thrilling tenderness,
mat carried conviction Of the truth to his deep-
est heart
hat mean you, then, dearest one if in
ueed you return my deep love-
Oh do, do, MOntressor; whatever hap
pens Wherever you 90, take that assurance with
!ot love you, my lord shall ever love you,
even though even after what shall have told
you, you repulse and hate me, and 20 TO our
trends and say That woman whom L was
ITout I 70 wed Is but whited sepulchre, whom
Iau,'s proven, anu whom L now reject'-and so
lelVe me TO the scOrn of man s.;If = -