Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-01-15
TIE BRIDE OF AN EvENMa.


cos Of one of the most mysterious domestic
: dramas that ever taxed the ingenuity Of man,
or required the fight of time to develop.
The locality of our story hes amid one of
the widest and most picturesque regions of
the Old Dominion, where the head waters of
the Rappahannock wash the base of the Blue
Ridge.
3 The precise ot--Crossand-is a sublime
and beautiful scene where two forest-crown-
cd ranges Of mountains cross each other at
obliquc angles.
At the ntcrsccting point Of these ridges
nestles a little hamlet, named, from its eleva-
ted position, Altamont
At the period at which our story opens the
four estates in the four angles Of the irregu-
lar mountain cross, were owned as follows;
The eastern farm, called Piedmont, was the
life property of Madame Auderly, a Virgin
ian lady of the old school
The western and most valuable estate was
the inheritance of Honora Paule, an orphan
heiress granddaughter and ward of Madame
Audcry.
The northern and smallest ono, called, from
being the deepest vale of the iour-llawc's
Holo-was the property of old Hugh Have,
a widower of gloomy temper, parsimonious
habits, and almost fabulous wealth.
Tho southern farm-named, from the OK
trayagant cost Of the elegant mansion-houso,
elaborate out-buildings, and highly ornamen-
ted grounds, which had absorbed the means
of the late owner, Farquiers Folly'-was
the heavily mortgagcd patrimony Of Godfrey
Farqnicr Dulanie. the grandson Of Hugh
Have, and now young aspirant for legal
honors at the University of Virginia
But little hope 70 the heir was to be hoped
from the inheritance of his fathers burthen-
ed property. In the first place. old Hugh Have
had bought up in his own name all the claims
against the estate Of Farquior's Folly-doubt-
less to prevent a foreclosure and 60 save the
property for his grandson.
But. unhappily, Godfrey had mortally Of
Tended the dcspotic old man by declining an
agricultural life, and pcrsisting in the study
Of prolcssion-a course that had resulted
in his own disinhertance
To make this punishment moro bittcr to
his grandson, the old man had taken into fla
vor his nephew, DR.. Henry Have, whom he
had established near himself at Farquier $
Folly.
At this time the disinhcritcd heir, having
finished a term at the University, had come
down 10 spend part Of his vacation in his
native place.
1t was upon the Saturday evening Of his
arrival that he found the littlc hotel, and in
deed, the whole village of Alamont in a
great state of excitement from the fact that
the celebrated hcircss, Miss lIouora Paulc,
had just stopped there, and passed through
on 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 eagerness. and looked
forward taindomniiying themselves by seeing
her at church the next morning.
The next day, Godfrey Dulanie attended
church. where he saw and fell in love with
the most beautiful and intellectual looking
girl he had ever beheld. From the chcapness
and simplicity of her attire, he supposed her
to be some poor dependent of Madame Aud
; erlys in whose pew she sat Godfrey was
completely captvated and he resolved at
once to WOO, and, if possible, win this lovely
being for his wife, poor girl though she was.
B He was glad she was poor, because she could
, for that reason be more easily won But on
accompanying Mn Willoughby, the clergy
man, and his brother-n-law, Ernest lIcnc
home after church, what was his establishment
and dismay at being introduced to the sup
r posed poor girl whom he found to be nc
, other than the celebrated Miss lIonora Paue
the greatest hoircss and belle. as well as the
best and noblest girl, in the State Of Virgin
! ia She greeted him cordially, and in few
minutes the company were busily engaged in
conversation. The topic Of capital punish
ment' having been started, Godfrey turned to
llonore, and said:
" take an especial personal interest in
having capital punishment abolishcd-Miss
Paulc, do you believe in ustrology -
Honora started, fixed her eyes intcnNy up
, on the qncstiouo, and then Withdrawing
them answered.
: Sir, why did you ask me if believed in
astrology:
, . Because, Miss Paule, | was about to re
, late for your amusement prediction that was
, made concerning myself by professor of that
black art"
:" a prediction" exclaimed Mrs Wilough-
by, drawing near with eager interest.
"Nes, madam, replied Mr.. Dulanie, smil-
ing, "a prediction which, if 1 believed
would certainly dispose me to favor tho abol-
ishment Of the death penalty Three years
since, while | was soiourning for a short time
' in the city Of Richmond. ON my way to the
University, CHANGED to hear of the Egyptian
Dcrvis, Achbad, who was at that time creating
quite a sensation in the city His wonderful
reputation was the theme Of every tongue
! Idlencss and curiosity combined to lead
: me to his rooms. He required night to cast
2 my horoscope. He demanded and | gave
4 him, the day and hour of my birth and ther
4 took leave, with the promise to return il
s the morning The next day ! went"
Well;' questioned Honora, earnestly
, My horoscope was noRRoR-scope in
deed 1t predicted for mc--a short and stor-
my life, and a sharp and sudden death"
, Good Heaven But--the details 2"
= sit prophosied four remarkable events, the
: first of which has already come to pass"
Aud that was-e"
The loss of my patrimonal estate %
u Singular coincidence e. interrupted Mr.
Willoughby, as he arose aud Joined his wifi,
and brothcr-in-law at the other end Of tn,
% room
B., - thought SO when the prophecy was full
}. filled, replied Godfrey.
5 And the other three events :" softly in,
~ quired llonora
+ The other three events, if they follow a.
$ predicted, must happen within the next tive
Il years, or before reach my next twenty-fftl
anniversary The FIRST of these is to be tn,
unexpected inheritance of vast wealth"
D. Upon hearing this a bright smile played a.