Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-04-06

/ York, where she would be In safety Henry.
who loved his sister tenderly, and nor if poss:-
bic, more than ever, felt much grieyed at being
obliged to leave -withu1t5 hearing all vthing from
her or his father but, even did he remain, in
has present condition. he could afford her no as
sista1ce, and he would only endanger the safety
of Mary. They were, accordingly, privately
married III the Episcopal Church OF Lewistown
BY the pastor, Rev Mr.. Norris aud Immediate
ly sci off for y ew York
During all these Transactions, Caieb sad
Thornton bad not been idle. After CoIon.l
Sefton's flight they had talked over the state of
affairs, and what might probably take place,
and the result was that, III the lower part OF Mr.
NeredIthS garden, they had dug a hole, or, more
properly, cellar, in which the plate and most
valuable artIc eS of both Seton hill and Area
( dia were deposited, III large boxes packed with
wool, cotton, and tow. to preserye them from
the damp. They then placed LAYER of boIr,i5
over them, some few feet below the surface of
the ground, and then filled up the cavity with
mould, which they covered with sods This had
been done under the direction of Miss a Ayllner
/ before Henry's arrival. Mr.. Meredith had been
suffering much from gout, and, even had lie
wished, could not have visited LewIstown. 1t
was Henrys intention to place his bride under
his protection and that of his wife, and soon
as he regaincd his strength, to return to the
army.
September was drawing to a close, when
/ Howell Meredith and Gotieb reached the fort.
Captain Meredith had much to listen to that
was d distressing but that which wrung his heart
/ was the situation of Florence in the enemy 8
camp, and his proud rivals power. Preparations
were now being made for attack Queens
town, IN which none took a more active part
than Howell. 1t appeared to him as if they
might be made far more expoiitiously, and as
Ii the day on which they were to make the
sault would never arrive.
/ And YEARLY and sadly had the days passed
. to Florence Seton since the surgeon, who had
raised her hopes by thinking 1t poss ble her ia
ther might recover, was compelled in answer TO
her repeated inquiries, to say that, unless ball
which had lodged in his side, could be extract
ed, there no hope of his living much longer,
and that the operation wo I'D be attended with
/ considerable danger. The agony Colonel Sci
ton now endured caused him to decide on hag-
ing 1t performed; and, though he had never
been a selfish man, yet his sutferings were 50
great that he would often forget what his daugh-
ter had endured for his sake, and reproach her
that she had not accepted the proposals of Sir
/ Edgar Lee, which would have prevented all the
mistortunes that had occurred" Though Flor
ence felt this injustice keenly, yet she would
try to soothe him. by kindness and attention
into a better mood, IN which she generally sue
ceeded, when he would regreat his unkindness,
beg her to forgive him. caresS and call her his
dear child, and the preServer of his life
The operation was performed, and, as the sur
geon feared, he sank under it; the great loss OF
blood was too much for him in his weak state.
Taking Flogences hand In his own, he said feeb-
ly-
i Z" Bless YOU, my sweet, my noble chill You
have your fathers consent to wed Howell Mer-
edith / am sorry that | opposed it, Tell Henry
[ bless him and Mary" And, in few moments
he expired
Florences grief was intense; she had loved
her father with an heartfelt, deep, devote ed love
She carried from his chamber insensible
and it was some days before Alice could per-
suade her TO take sufficient nourisEment 10 sup
port nature. Sir Edgar Lee was unremtting in
his inquiries and attentions; every dainty was
procured that could tempt her appetite and he
requested Alice to tell Miss Seton " her father
had been Inferred in the burial ground of the
Episcopal Church at Queenstown, and every re-
sPect paid to his memory, ald that anything
and everything in the fort was at her command
After Florence had recovered from the first
shock occasIoned by her fathers DEATH she be-
gan to think OF her own situation, and of request
ing Sir Edgar to permit her to return TO hel
friends. She had heard nothing from Howell
nor Henry since she had entered the British
fort, and was extremely anxious account o
both. He had several times requested to be adj
mitted, and she told Alice the next time he
came to ask him IN, and to remain herself in the
apartment, which she did. SIR Edgar thought
he had never seen Florence look Incompari-
bly, lovely. Her deep mourning oontrasted fine
ly with the alabaster fairness of her skin. She
had become somewhat paler and timer but, il
her beauty was less dazzling. it was more touch
ing, at least so thought her suitor. He adganc-
ed bowling, and and, with look meant to ex-
press deep sympathy, " hoped he had the plea
sure of seeing Miss Seton recovering from heI
ludIsp pDSItion, and the grief in which he partici-
pated with her" Florence replied that she
felt better; thaa kcd him for all his kindness
and attention TO her father, and requested as she
had nothing now to bctan ber at the fort. that
he would ermit her, with Alice, to return to
her friends " Lees brow grew dark, though he
endeayore to smooth it, and affect look OF sur
prise at what lie heard
Why, surely, Miss Seton" said he, you
cannot mean what you say, when you know il
was your dear fathers wish that | should have
the happiness, the unspeakabIe happiness, OF be-
ing your protector for life. No, no, my deai
girl, that Is hope that l cannot resign. And, >
continued he, seeing that Florence was about 10
interrupt blm, d" 1t upon this very subject that
l wished 10 speak to you. You viii not, hope
my sweet Florence, deem me clpitate IN
decurous, after the death of yoBr dcal
father, to propose that our marriage take place
in Il few DAYS at farthest This gloomy fort i
no place for SO fair being, and II Is my wish
to convey YOU from 1t as possible. Gen
eral Sir Isaac Brock has appointed me mess
euger. with dispatches TO England, and another
officer takes my command here; then, my love
ly"-
Stop, Sir Edgar Lee :" interrupted Florence
who, pale marble statue, had sat listening
to hIn. Stop I cannot harkeu TO lauguag e
of this kind addressed TO me by you / have
already told you that 1 5agver 5cM be your wife
have appealed to your generosity, and told you
also that | was the a!fiancei wife OF another
have begged of you, : d noblemau and a gentle
man, TO desIst from this persecution, Tor 50
consider it; bat all IN Va II. Now hear me, SIr
Edgar, when [ soIeInaly you that ng
power on earth shall ever compel me TO give IN :
hand to a man L consider void of every gentle
manly principle, and that never Viii be your
wife
SIR i5sr Lee had turned red AMI white al
ternately, while Florence spoEe. When she had
finished, he rose, saying, rather sarcastic
tone
You will excuse my differing from yoa, Miss
Seton, when so!en1ety assure yo~ that. ii less
than fortnight, yoa ac;H be my TJs r Then,
bowing, he left the apartment.
When he was gone, Florence burst into tears,
which she INDUCED for some moments then,
reproaching herself for her weakness, she enter