Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-06-09

nIGn mdhes Gne mighty magnet, set
f In Woman's form, more mighty vet
7. MOORE.
SIX months had passed since the sum-
mer morning when Eleanor Mordaunt had
waved farewell to her departing lover.
and now it was her wedding day. She
was at last to be Lady of Beaufort It was
morning, and she was not to be married
until evening" This had long been Gus
tom with the House of Beaufort. Every
bride that assumed that naughty name,
spent the first night of her honeymoon in
the brldal-chamber of the Priory, and the
evening was. honored by feast which
lighted up the old halls from turret to base
ment
Eleanor was sitting listlessly at her win
dow, scarcely needing the French maid
who was busily packing and arranging her
mistress things
"And this is the wedding-dress," said
Llsette, at length, holding up satin robe.
embroidered with silver, threaded here and
there with pearls. She laid beside it the
Drldal-vell. 1t was such an one as no Nor
daunt had ever worn before, the Gift of old
Lady Beaufort-Italian lace, which could
scarcely have been more costly, had its
meshes been woven of gold. The Lady
Eleanor raised her head, and glanced at It
look OF proud satisfaction curling her full
up. Pleased at having at last attracted
attention, Lisette laid three or four caskets
on the table before her.
my Lord Hyde's gifts, my lady, and
you have scarcely y noticed them"
Eleanor turned toward the table and
threw open the caskets. They were Of
richly ought ebony, inlaid with gold and
silver. Their contents were ancestral lew
els Of the House of Reas.ffe.4- 2'beI had
mothet, and NOW they Were go -. S an
his wife. The first she opened yntsa.sN1 =.
a set of pearls, pear-shaped, large, white
and brilliant. Que held rubies; another,
emeralds; and the last Of all, the family
diamonds. Eleanor looked at them stea-
Oily. No crowned princess ever wore finer
ones. . She said in a low tone to herself
'I have made good bargain" and then
turning away, resumed her old occupation
of looking from the window.
Six hours later she was dressed for her
bridal. Lisette's skillful French fingers
were arranging the folds of the costly veil,
when a servant entered and presented her
letter. She looked at it calmly, and then
said, "Leave me, Lisette, I will read my
letter alone, and ring for you when l want
you"
1t was from Harold she had never seen
his handwriting before. but herheart had
told her this, from the first glance. 1t was
written from the mid ocean, and dated
On board the good ship Nelson.
Ny ELEANOR:
"For once again l must
call you mine, and surely it must be too
soon for any other to have that right
surely you are not yet lady of Beaufort
I have left England. Here, on the mid
Atlantic, just begin to realize that have
parted with you and home forever. You
will never see or hear from me more.
had not thought even to write these few
lines, but longed to give utterance to one
more farewell-above all, to tell you that
bless your name, and shall do so until
the latest hour of my life. You have said
one thing whose blessed memory death it.
self could hardly take from me. gather
comfort from it every hour, every moment
of my ife You have said that you loved
me-that you would never love another.
| would rather die than forget it, and this
is why I will never look upon E2qr face
again, lest the time should Be pa tpahen
you would have right to say, 4 love you,
Harold Now, I carry your words with
me. They are my life's blessing. Now, I
shall picture you in the coming years, mis-
tress of Beaufort Hall indeed, my proud
Eleanor, but loving ne still, me most, me
only; naming, perhaps, your first boy Har-
old for my sake, looking into its eyes with
a tender memory of the far past
I come to you with no tale of ruined
life, of sorrow or Of despair. How should
that life be ruined, above which Eleanor
has smiled-how should that heart despair,
to which Eleanor has answered back, 4
love ycu,' even though the proud Eleanor
would not be my wife. Of this last will
not think. remember pale face bathed
in tears, a loving woman who leaned upon
my breast.
l want to hear from you sometimes,
> though you will never hear from me-
. Should you send anything to my solicitor,
= Mr.. Brown, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London,
: he will know where to forward it to me.
1 trust YOU, Eleanor. | know your heart
will be mine always, and 50 | will not let
my own heart break. God bless you. In
life and ia death I shall love you only.
HAROLD BEAUFORT"
e "That it should have come on this day
Of all others, my wedding day." she nut
e tered, as she folded the sheet; "poor Har
: old, and yet no, he is better off than ], fol
n he at least can respect himself.h A tea
V fell slowly upon her fingers, 1T she dashe,
it away. Then going to Ae mirror sh