Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-07-15

willing sacrifice to the shrine of Lady
Louisa. The latter was accordingly in
vited to Morvington Hall, and was hour
ly expected at the time when Lord Clar-
ence was watching with interest the
boat of his friends upon the lake. The
Lady Julia had told him that Rosalie
May was enchanted by the magical ge
MUS of Earnest Travers, and that there
would in all probability, be a marriage
in consequence.
The young hopes he had formed,
the beautiful castles he had built in his
imagination-the home of love which
he had pictured, and of which Rosalie
May was the presiding spirit--were bro
ken and dispelled by the one word
He had deemed that he alone possessed
the priceless treasure, the heart of Rosa
lie, and that heart he was now assured
was anothcr's.
And ere the ladies had joined their
friends in the boat, for their customary
evening diversion, Lody Julia had taken
an opportunity of intimating to Rosalie
the probability of the marriage with La
dy Vallanville taking place. And what
was this to Rosale? A week had not
elapsed since, moved by the importuni-
ties of Lord Clarence, she had confessed
to him the secret of her heart-and in
the face af Heaven, and in the presence
of its good angels, that wonder ever
among the flowers, their mutual VOWS
were plighted-a little week had not
elapsed since she had raised Lord Clar-
ence from her feet, and bade him live
for her alone-and heard the music of
his gentle voice breathe the sacred prom
ise to be unto her faithful guide and
sacred protector; though all the world
should be inconsistent; and in sunshine
and in storm, in mirth and sadness, in
favor or disgrace, to be the only true
star of her existence. And now she
heard he was on the point of marriage
to another. His sister told her so.
What was left for Rosalie? She
knew how much the birth and fortune
of Lord Clarence Annersley raised him
above her own condition. She had her
self urged the difference when he sought
her love; but he had cast distinction
down, and said he valued title and for
tune only because they enabled him to
reward her virtues.
And you, my dear Rosalie," said
Lady Julia, ''will be gratifcd by this
match as well as ourselves; because
people are actually saying that Clarance
is faeinatcd by you; and it might have
, become necessary to take steps to get
rid of the scandal; but now" she add
ed with smile, "all fear on that point
I is over"
, The words fell like pointed steel upon
; the heart of Rosalie.
r Her woman's pride was assailcd.-
: Her love was pure, entire, and high;
but as she knew what the dignity of her
honor demanded, she resolved to be
true to herself, at any sacrifice, and to
. allow no eye to see the barbcd arrow
t that was fostering in her heart.
b Rosalie accompanied Lady Julia to
n the boat with her wontcd cheerfulncss;
o her eye lost none of its brightness; ii
seemed, indeed, more bright than usual
- that night; and her songs with all her
$ wonted feeling.
f .Ah. little they think, whodclg ght in her strains
That the heart o: the m nstrcl is brea king
The we'll -rcmcm bercd tones as they
q fell, mellowed by distance, upon the eal
, of Lord Clarence, served to feed his
p melancholy, and when the Lady Louisa
>Vallanville arrived, and he was sought
for to receive her, the servants found
n, him at the easement still looking out
upon the moonlit waters, though tho
m1sic was hushed, and the boat now
! rapidly approaching the shore. In tho
drawing room that evening, distant anC
, constrained was the manner of both
" Lord Clarence and Rosalie May; tho
= former believed that she to whom he
\ had given his heart was engaged in
e Irritation with his friend Travers; whilC
4 Rosalie, conscious of the sacrifice tha
appeared to be dema nded of her, eli
p deavored to seem pleased with the at
tention of others, although her soul wa
i occupied with the image of Lord Clar
;. ence alone.
''She fled from that room-but not for eep.
No, it only that the wad mi ght steep
l. Her fcvcrcd lip in his delicious dew;
/: Her brow burning and aside she threw
, Her jcwell'd hlict; from its loOScned fold
Came o 'er her neck and face show err of C)ld-
.d Of love, and at that thought her check gre,
lie fame,
d She deemed herself alone, and in tha
u solitude could ease her wounded hear
err the feelings which she had struggled t
ID suppress now mastered her; and in th
I'd pale white moonlight she lay upon he
n couch prey to grief and tears. Br
b. Rosalie was not alone.
tn There was one gazing on herpityine
ey iIy; she who had detected the artifce b
in which Rosalie had endeavored to cor
ceal her passion in the drawing-room-
to who had caught one look directed I
he Lord Clarence, whose look had told a
lis whose eye had never been off tt
u self devoted girl willie she remained i
g the drawing-room, and who had follow
tn ed her to her own boudoir to behold ht
n tears and despair. Still the silence W;
n broken only by the sobs of Rosalie; br
n as the violence of her grief subside
he the intruder stepped noiselessly fro
of the depth of shadow that afforded s
n curity from observation, and standir
rd by the side of the heart bro en- gil
1,biSporod eoPtIu