Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-01-23
THE BRIDE OF AN EVENING,
BY EMMA d. E. N. SOUTHWORTI.
m AI)TER T

circumstances OF one OF Cuo HlObt III stcTl
; GUS domestic dramas that ever taxed tn
ingenuity of man, or required the flight Q
time to develop.
The locality Of our story lies amid one 0
$ the widest and most picturesque regions 0
Old Dominion, where the headwaters Of thu
, Rappahannock wash the base Of the Blu,
: Ridge.
The precise spot Grassland is sub
lime and beautiful scene, where two forest
! crowned ranges of mountains cross eacl
other at oblique angles.
!, At the intersecting point Of these ridges
nestles little hamlet, named, from its Gle
waited position, Altamont.
At the period at which our story open.
the four estates, in the four angles of ths
irregul.r mountain cross, were owned a!
follows:
The eastern farm, called Piedmont, wal
the life property of Madame Auderly, &
Virginian lady of the old school
The western and most valuable estate was
the inheritance of Honora Paule, an orphan
heiress, granddaughter and ward of Mad.
anne Auderly.
The northern and smallest one, called
from being the deepest vale of the four
Hawe's Hole-was the property of old Hugh
Have. a widower Of gloomy temper, parsi-
monious habits, and almost fabulous wealth.
The southern farm-named, from the ex-
travagant cost Of the elegant mansion. house,
elaborate out-buildings, and highly orna-
mented groun Is, which had absorbed the
means Of the late owner, "Farquier's Fol
ly,"-was the the heavily mortgaged patri-
mony Of Godfrey Farquier Dulane, the
grand son Of Hugh Have, and now a young
aspirant for legal honors at the University
Of Virginia.
But little benefit to the heir was to be
hoped from the Inheritance Of his father
burdened property. In the first place, old
Hugh Have had brought up in his own
name all the claims against the estate Of
Farquier's Folly-dou!tlcss to prevent a
foreclosure, and to save the property for his
grandson.
But, unhappily, Godfrey had MORALLY Of
Tended the despite old man by declining an
agricultural life, and persisting in the study
in bis own disinhcritance.
70 make this punishment more bitter to
his grandson. the old man had taken into IA.
yor his nephew, DR.. Henry Have, whom he
had established near himself at Farquier s
Folly.
| At this time, the disinheritcd heir, hay-
| ing finished term at the University, had
come down to spend part of his vacation
in his native place.
1t was upon the Saturday evening Of his
arrival that be found the little hotel, and
indeed, the whole village Of Atamont, in a
great state of excitement, from the fact that
tie celebrated heiress. Miss Honora Paule,
had just stopped there, and passed through
on her way home.
Those who had been so happy as to catch
glimpse Of her face, We'd with each other
III praise of her many. charms, while those
who had not listened with eagerness, and
looked forward to indemnifying 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 bchcld. From the chcapness
and simplicity of her attire, he supposed her
to be some poor dependent Of Madame Au-
DERBY s, in whose pew she sat. Godfrey was
completely captivated, and he resolved at
once to WOO, and, if possible, win this love-
ly being for his wife, poor girl though she
was. lie was glad she was poor, because
she could for that reason be more easily won.
But on accompanying Mr.. Willoughby, the
clergyman, and his brother-in-law, Ernest
Heine, home, after church, what was his as
constituent and disnay at being introduced
to the supposed "poor girl" whom he found
to be no other than the celebrated Miss Ho-
nora Paule, the greatest heiress and belle,
as well as the best and noblcst girl, in the
State of Virginia. She greeted him cordi-
ally, and in few minutes the company were
busily engaged in conversation. The topic
Of capital punishment" having been start
ed, Godfrey turned to Honora and said
Il take an especial personal interest in
having capital punishment abolished Miss
Paule, do you believe in astrology p
Honora started, fixed her eyes intently
upon the question, and then Withdrawing
them answered.
"sir, why do you ask me if ! believe in
astrology?"
Because, Miss Paulc, I was about to re-
late for your amusement a prediction that
was made concerning myself, by professor
of that black art"
"a prediction,'' exclaimed Mrs. Will
loughby, drawing near with eager interest.
Eyes, madam replied Mr.. Dulanie,
smiling, "a prediction which, if believed,
would certainly dispose me to favor the a.
bolishment Of the death penalty. Three
years since, while was sojourning for a
short time in the city Of Richmond, on my
way to the University, CHANGED to hear of
the Egyptian Dervis, Achbad, who was at
that time creating quite sensation in the
city. His wonderful reputation was the
theme Of every tongue.
'sldleness and curiosity combined to lead
me to his rooms. He required night to
cast my horoscope. He demanded, and I
gave him, the day and hour Of my birth,
and then | took leave, with the promise to
return in the morning. The next day (
went"
"Well 2" questioned Honora earnestly.
"My horoscope was HoRRoR-scope in
deed J! It predicted for me-a short and
stormy life, and sharp and sudden death.
Good Heaven But-the details p
cit prophcsied four remarkable events,
the first of which has already come to pass. "
/ "And that was -Y'
/ '''The loss Of my patrimonial estate y