Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-01-21
THE BRIDE OF AN EVENING.
BT EMMA D. z. n. soUTHwoRTH.
CBAPTERI.
TuE AsTaoLo9EA's FREDIcTloS.

Murder, -recalled to my mind the strange
cIrcum,Lanees Of one Of the most nIysteri-
Jus domestic dramas that ever taxed the
ingenuity Of man, or required the Eight Of
time 10 develop.
The locality Of our story lies amid on-
Of the widest and IN st picturesque regions
% tis UII Dominion, where the head va.
tvrs Of the RhappahannJek wash the base
Of tie B'ue Ridge.
The precise spot-Crossland--is a sub
lime and beautiful seen, where two forest
crowned rsugzs Of mountains cross each
o.her at oblIque angles.
AT the inlersec;iug point ofthese ridges
ne'tles little hamlet, naneI, FROM its ele-
waited position, AItanout.
At the period at which our story opens
the four estates, in the four angles Of the
irregular mountain cross, were owned as
follows.
The eastern farm, called Piedmont, was
the life property Of Madame Auderly, a
Virginian lady Of the old school.
The western and most valuable estate
was the inheritance Of Honora Psule, an
orphan heiress, grand daughter and ward
Of Madame Auderlv.
The northern and smallest one, called
from being the deepest vale of the four
Haw's Hole--was the property Of old
Hugh Have, widower Of gloomy temper,
pnsim0niOus habits, and almost fabulous
wealth.
The southern farm--named from the ex.
trayagant cost Of the elegant mans on.house,
elaborate out-buildings, and highly orna-
meuted grounds, which lad absorbed the
means Of the late owner, 'Farquier's Folly
was the heaviy-laortgaged patrimouy
oc Godfrey Farquier DuIanie. tie grand.
son of Hugh Have, aud now a young as
pirant for legal honers at the University Of
Virginia.
But little beneft to the heir was to be
hoped from the inheritance Of his fathers
buIdened property. In the first place, old
Hugh Have had bought up in bis own
name all the claims against the estate Of
Farquier's FoIly--doubtless TO prevent a
foreclosure, and to save tie property for
his grandson.
But, unhapily, Godfrey had mortally Of
Tended tie desT otc of man bv declining an
agricultural life; and pers:sting in the stu
dy Of profession-a course that Ead re-
suited in his own disinheritance.
TO make this punishment more bitter tn
his grand son, the Old man bad taken into
favor his nephew, DR. Henry Have, whom
he had established near himseIfAt Farquiers
Folly.
At this time, the disinherited heir, hav-
ing finished a term ut the University, had
come down TO spend part of bis vacation
in his native place.
1t was upon the Saturday evening Of
bis arrival that he found the little hotel;
and, indeed the whole village Of Aitamon'
in great state Of excitement, from the fact
that the celebrated here,s, Miss Honora
PauIe, had just stopped there, and passed
thrnugh on her way home.
Those who hal been 50 happy as to
catch a elitnse Of her face, WED with each
other in praise OF her many charms, while
those who had not. listened with eageruess
and Looked forward to indemnifying them
selves by seeing her at church the next
The next day, Godfrey Dulanie attend
ej church, where he saw and fell in love
with the most beautiful and intellectual
booking girl he had ever beheld. From
the cbeapness auL simplicity Of her attire.
he supposed her to be some poor depend
eni of Madame Audelly's, in whose pew
she sat. Godfrey was completely captiva-
tel. aud he resolved at once 70 WOO, and,
if possible, win this lovely being for his
wife, poor gil though she was. He was
glad she WIS poor, because she could for
that reason be mere easily wou. But on
accompanying Mr.. Wiloughby, the eler-
gvnlan, aud his brother in law, Earnest
Heinc, home after church, what was his
shd dismay at being introdu-
ced to tue supposed poor girl. whom he
found to be no other than tbe celebrated
Mss Honora Paule, the grestest heiress
and belle, as well as the best and notlest
giII, ia tue State of Virginia. She greet
ed him cordially, and in few minutes the
were busily engaged in conver-
sation. The topic of capital punishment
having been started, Godfrey turned to
Honora, and said: -...
i take an especial personal interest 10
having capital punishment abolished
Miss PauIe, do you believe in astrology?
Honora started, fixed her eyes iutently
upon the questioner, and then withdraw
ing them answered.
Sir, why did you ask me if believein
astroIogy2' H..
Because, Miss Paule, I was about to re.
late for your amusement a prediction that
wac made concerning myself, By professor
Of that black art
"A prediction exclaimed Mrs. Willough
BY, drawing hear, with eager interest.
: 'Yes, madam replied Mr.. Dulanie, smi-
ling. "a prediction which, If l believed,
would certainly dispose mo to fasor the
adjustment of the death penalty. Three
years since, while l was sojouruing for a
sholt time in the city of Richmond. on my
way to the University, ehaDced TO bear
of the Egyptian Dervis. Achbad. who was
at that time creating quite sensation in
the city. His wonderful reputation sas
the theme of every tongue.
aIdleuess and cunositycombined to lead
A.. L.. .oav-.. ua ~sanirol q uiOht m