St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-01-28
Ronlantit Skettb.
THE BRIDE OF AN EVENING
by EMMA d. Z. y. souTHwoRTH.

hcaulng ic" WeckS since one O1
De Qninccy's papers" Three Memo
rablc Murders recalled to my mind
the strange circumstances of one OF
the most mysterious domestic dramas
that ever taxed the ingenuity of man,
or required the flight Of time to de-
velop.
The locality of our story lies amid
one of thcwildest and most picturesque
regions of the Old Odminion, where
the head waters Of the Rappahannock
wash the base Of the Blue Ridge.
The precise spot-Crossland--is a
sublime and beautiful scene, where
two forcst-crowned ranges of noun
tains cross each other at oblique an
giles.
At the intcrsecting point of these
ridges nestlcs hamlet, named, from
its elevated position, Altamont.
At the period at which our story
opens, the four estates, i'll the four an
giles of the irregular mountain cross
were owned as follows: =:
The eastern farm, called Piedmont
was the life property Of Madame Au-
derby, a Virginia lady of the old
school.
The western and most valuable
estate was the Inheritance of llonora
Paule, an orphan hciress, grandfather
and ward of Madame Audcrly.
The northern and smallest one, call
cd, from being the deepest vale of the
four-Hawe's Holc-was the property
of old Hugh Have, a widowcr of
gloomy temper, parsimonious habits,
and almost fabulous wealth.
The southern farm-namcd, from
the extravagant cost of the elegant
mansion-house, elaborate out-build-
ings, and highly ornam nted grounds,
which had absorbed the means Of the
late owner, Farquicr's Folly"-was
the heavilymortgagcd patrimony of
Godfrey Farquicr Dulanie, the grand
son of Hugh Have, and now a young
aspirant for legal honors at the Uni
versity of Virginia.
Bnt little benefit to the heir was
to hc hoped from the inheritance of his
tarthcr's burtheucd property. In the
first place, old Hugh Have had bought
up in his own name all claims agaips
the estate Of Farquicr's Folly--doubt
less to prevent u foreclosure, and tC
save the property for his grandson.
But, unhappily, Godfrey had mortal
ly offended the dcspotic old man by
declining an agricultural life, and per.
sisting in the study Of pr, 'ssion--a
course that resulted in his own disin.
hcritance.
To make this punishment more bit
ter to his grandson, the old man had
taken into favor his nephew, DR.. Henry
Have, whom he had established neal
himself at Farquier's Folly.
At this time, the disinhcrited heir,
having finished term at the Univer'
sity, had come down to spend part
of his vacation in his native place.
1t was upon the Saturday evening
of his arrival that he found the little
hotel, and, indeed, the whole village
Of AltamOnt, in a great state of excite
mcnt, from the fact that the celebrated
hcircss, Miss Ionora Paulc, had just
stopped there, and passed through Oh
her way home.
Those who had been so happy as to
catch a glimpse of her face, WED with
each other in praise of her many
charms, while those who had not
listened with eagcrness, and looked
forward to indcmnifving themselves
by seeing her at church the ncx'
morning.
The next day, Godfrey Dulanic at
tended church, where he saw and fcl
in love with the most beautiful and in
tellcctual-looking girl he had ever be
held. From the cheapness and sim
plicity of her attire, he supposed hel
to be some poor dependent Of Madam,
Audcrly's, in whose pew she sat
Godfrey was completely captivatcd
and he resolved at once to woo, and
if possible, win this lovely being fol
his wife, poor girl though she was
He was glad she was poor, because
she could for that reason be NOR,
easily won. But on accompanying
Mr.. Willoughby, the clergyman, anc
his brothcr-in-law, Ernest He;nc, hom,
after church, what was his astonish
mcnt and dismay at being introduced
to the supposed "poor girl" whom L.,
found to be no other than the celcbra
ted Miss Honora Paulc, the creates
heiress and belle, as well as the bes
and noblest girl, in the State of Vir
ginia. She greeted him cordially, an,
in few minutes the company wer,
busily engaged in conversation. Th'
topic Of capital punishment having
been started, Godfrey turned to Homo
IA, and said
Il take an especial personal intc.
est in having capital punishment aboI
ished-Miss Paulc, do you believe il
astrology?'
Honora started fixed her eyes in
tently upon the questioner, and thel
Withdrawing them answered:
"Sir, why did you ask me if l be
Ilieve in astrologyy"
because, Miss Paule, | was abou
|
to relate for your amusement pre-
diction that was made concerning my
self, by professor of the black art.
"A prediction exclaimed Mrs
Willoughby, drawing near, with cage
interest.
"Yes, madam" replied Mr. Dulanit
smiling, "a prediction which, if | b'
lieved, would certainly dispose me
favor the adjustment of the deaf
penalty. Three years since, while
was sojourning for short time in tn
city of Richmond, on my way to tn
University, l CHANGED to hear Of th
Egyptian Dervis, Achbad, who was ;
that time creating quite sensatio
in the city. His wonderful reputatic
was the theme of every tongue.
! "Idleness and curiosity combine