The home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1857, 1857-05-29
CHAPTER |.
AN INTERRUPTED WEDDING.

1t was the first day of May, the mar.
rage day Of Viscoun, Montressor oil
Montressor Castle, Dorse,shirc, and Es
telle, only daughter and heiress of Sir
Parke Morelle, Hyde Hall, Devonshire.
A glorious morning! the cloudess blue
sky smiled down upon the green hills and
dewy dales and deep woods OF Devon
and 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 fcstis al, and to do honor
10 the marriage Of their landlord $ daugh,
ter.
The elm. shaded, winding avenue tina,
led from the highway to the house was
arched at each terminus with mammoth
wreath of flowers, and many were the car.
riages that passed under them, on their
way 10 assist at the wedding; and these
contained only the bridesmaids, aud the
nearest friends and relatives of the fami.
ly, whose relationship or position gave
them the right to attend the bride TO
church; for a still more numerous party
had been invited to meet her at the altar.
The villagers and tenants, grouped about
under the shade Of the great old trees. or
wandering over the green sward Oh either
side Of the avenue, watched these equip.
ages as they rolled on, commenting as
usual on such occasions.
30, dear me! the weddings won, pass
till nearly twelve! and here we are to
wait two mortal hours!" said young girl
10 the game ,keeper.
Hush, my darling, look, here comes
his Lordship's carriage, itself, just as sure
as you're the pre'ticst lass in the coun
try"
|, was Lord Montressor's carriage.
Early tina. morning a note from his az
famed bride had been put in his hands
summoning him to a private conference
with her at the Hall. before the should
proceed to the chnrch Surprised and
filled with va lie u1easncs his Iorlship
lost no time in obeyin2 the bchest.
Within the most secluded Of her suite
Of richly furnished apartments a. the old
Hall, half.bured in the depths Of cush,
toned chair, reclined the bride expcctant,
in bridal array.
She was alone, her attendants having,
by her own desire, withdrawn.
Estelle MorelIe-or ella belle Estelle."
Beautiful Stella" "the Midnight Star, -
as, for her respl endent dark beauty, she
was POLITICALLY named-was at this time
twenty-five years Of age, and more lovely
than poets or an artists ideal. Her
form was Of medium height, and very
slender, though we'l.rounIed, with a
graceful head, over which fell rich masses
Of Jet black siIken ringlets, sha ling a
face Of pure, pale olive complexion with
large, mournfu! dark eyes, hsbitualIy
yelled by the long, dropping lashes, and
delicate. though full, curved lips, ever pa.
tiently closed as in silent slgnation.-
The prevailing expression Of her dark,
brilliant countenance was profound
melancholy.
The announcement Of Miss Morell's
approaching marriage with the Viscount
Montressor had created profound sen
sa,ion in the fashionable and aristocratic
circles. A peerless beauty, the only child
and heiress Of the Oldest, wralthiest and
haughtiest baronet in the West Of Eng.
land, her heart had been as much the OBJ.
ject Of aspiration to the youthful and ar.
dent, as her hand and fortune had been
the end OF desire to the mercenary and
ambitious.
At tho early age Of seven years, Es.
telle had been placed at one Of the first
class female institutions Of learning at
Paris, then, as now, considered 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
calamitous breaking up Of the institution,
and her own severe illness, had occasion.
ed her removal. That illness had been
attended Nth marked changes in the
contribution and temperament Of the
young girl
Estelle, previously the most careless,
light hearted and capricous of children,
left her chamber OF convalescence sub.
dued, thoughtful, melancholy woman!-
The laughing lips OF girlhood closed in
patient sadness; the sparkling eyes sheath.
ed their beams under long, shadowy lash.
es, now seldom lifted; the silvery, elastic
voice sank into deep and thrilling tones;