Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-05-21

glare OF rank and wealth and power, Charles
Montressor was a glorious specimen of the
Creators workmanship. Above the average
standard of height among his countrymen,
broad shouldered and deep chested, with a
noble head, and full of wisdom and good
ness, his appearance truly indicated the warm
benevolence, clear intelligence, and pure
spirit OF the man. His presence soon inspired
Estelle with faith that she had not been able
to feel in any other that approached her. He
drew nearer to her than any other had been
permitted to come; he crossed the magic cir
Gle Of her isolation, and conversed with her as
no other had been allowed to do. The world
looked and said that the beautiful Stella had
at last met her master and was conquered.
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 permits
sion to follow them, and in less than a month
availed himself of the privilege to do so.
Thus it was IN the home of her ancestors,
after having 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 Es-
telle, and was to his profound astonishment
instantly and firmly rejected. In thus reject
ing hts suit she wept long and bitterly pray
had experienced and exhibited in his society
should have betrayed him into making this
declaration. and beseeching him never to re-
new his suit; but to leave and forget her.
There was something in the tone of her re-
fusal which confirmed and deepened his pre-
Ylous conviction that even IN rejecting him,
she loved him. But with his high toned SEN
timents he would not in the least degree pre-
sumo upon that knowledge. Taking her
hand with deferential tenderness, he said:
'Stella, a man never but once, in his
whole existence, loves a woman as love you.
will not inquire the cause of the rejection,
which you have certainly right to make
without assigning any reason for the act.
And after having received this repulse, may
not in honor distress you by renewal of my
suit Rut thus, IN parting, l must say to
you that, though go hence, L shall not go
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
toreview the decision of the evening, Stella,
implore you, to let me know. Write but
one word, Come and l will return to lay an
unchanged heart at your feet"
Estelle was weeping too bitterly to reply.
"Stella, will you promise to do this p
"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
piled and loyed-only as a shadow that tell
for moment across the sunshine of your
path, and then passed away forever land so
forget her."
"Stela, I have pledged my honor never to
renew this suit, unless you reverse in my
favor the sentence you have pronounced upon
So IL, ! IL.
| love bear you, and 'hoping against hope,
feel impelled 10 implore before leaving you,
| that, in the event of a favorable change of
sentiment or purpose towards me, you will
nothesttate to give me leave to return. Stella,
| will you promise me so much as shat p
"Nobest friend that have in the world,
how gladly would promise, but must not,
MontTessor. Were l to do SO, you would feel
bound to wait the changes of my mood, and
so, for most undeservng love, might miss,
in some no5ler womau's affections, the hap
piness in store for you y
"Stella, Will you raise your sweet, mourn
tul eyes to mine, one moment, thatsyou may
read my soul while ! 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, UNI
changing truth of the constaney Of his soul
~.
"Stella, in the presence of the heart
searching God who sees and hears me, as
sure you that [ shall never love another wom-
an as love you, and, therefore, can never
wed another; and SO that whether you give
me this slightest of hopes or not, L am equully
and forever bound. NoU will you promise
me, Stella? Remember, it is only to let me
know in case of a change in your senG-
ments.'
For an instant the light of an unutterable
love and Joy broke or her beautiful, dark
face, 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 then before, and
then said;
ono! no my Lord Stella cannot even
give you that. She is poorer than the poor
est in gifts TO you. She can only pray that
you may forget her and be happy
He looked profoundly disappointed and
troubled. But soon mastering his despon-
dency he said hopefully
"Well, dearest Stella, although you reject
me without apparent reason, and refuse to
give me the slightest promise or the most dis
tant hope, yet l repeat, should you in the long
future, change youLpurpose, and write to me
one word-'Come, will hasten to lay at
your feet an unchanged heart. Good bye
God be with your and raising her hand, he
bowed over it, pressed it to her lips, turned
and left the room.
Some moments after Lady Morelle, who
came to send and congratulate her daughter
upon what she imagined the only possible re-
suit Of the interyiew--iound her lying in a
swoon upon the floor. 1t was followed by
long and terrible illness, terminating in
tediously protractsd conyalescence. The
town season was at hand before Estelle was
able to re enter society.
They went up to London, and once more
the "star of beauty" arose upon the world.
And though the cloud upon her life settled
darker and heavier, day by day, she was
more followed, hsttered and courted than
before.
Thus three years had passed away, when
one morning, while the family then occupy
ing their town house in Berkely Square, were
seated at a late breakfast, and Sir Parke was
engaged in reading aloud from the London
Tunes, an account Of the saving of the French
Ship-Le Due ID Aajou--sorecked off the coast
of AlgierS- EStelie uttered a IosD cry aud sank
faiattAg from her seat.
The attack, YVES not what 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 not 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,
EstOle astonishel her friends by suddenly, in
the height Of the London season. retiring to
her fathers country seat, where she remained
Ia ate ~. - \ 4