Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-01-21
WooDsrpE KNOLL, Jan eth, lS,,S.
Ihe Rriee Of aQ Eb:qipg.
ET EMMA q. t. y. soCTHwCyErH
CHAPTER 7.

Z
! CHAPTER I.
TIE AsTRoLoGER's PREDICTION.
| Reading, few weeks since, one of Dequinccy ;
/ Papcrs-"T Three Memorable Murders, recalled to
! my mind the strange circumstances 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 lies amid one Of the wild
est and most picturcsqe regions of the Old Doniu
ion, where the head waters OF the Rappahannock
wash the base of the Blue Ridge.
| The precise spot-Crossland-is a sublime and
beautiful scene, where two forest-crowned ranges
of mountains cross each other at obliquc angles.
At the intersecting point OF these ridges nestes
! little hamlet, named, from its elevated position,
Altamont.
At the period at which our story orcns the four
estates, IN the four angles of the irregular noun
tain coss, were owned as follows:
/ The eastern farm, called Piedmont, was the life
properly of Madame Auderly, Virginia lady of
the old school.
] The western and most valuable estate was the IN
heritance of IIonora Paule. orphan hercss grand
daughter aud ward of Msdame Auderly.
The northern aud smallest one, called from being
! the deepest vale of the four-Hawc's Holc--was
the property OF old Hugh Have, a widower of gloomy
temper, pars:mouous habits, and almost fabulous
wealth.
| The southern f,rn-name1 from the extrAva-
CANT cost oi the elegant m insioH house, elaborate
ou;-buildngs, and highly ornamented greunos,
which had absorbed the means OF the late owner
| "FarquierS Fo!ly''-was the heavily mor@aged
| pa rimony ofGodrey Farquier Dulane, the grand
son OF Hugh Have, and now Young asp;rant for
| legal honors at the University OF Virginia.
But little benefit to the heir was TO be hoped from
the inheritance of his fathers biy!cncd property
In the first place, old Hugh HIVE had bought up in
| his own name ali the claims against the estate Of
farquer foily-doubtcSSt t prevent foreclosure,
and to save the properly fDr his grandson.
But, unhappl, Godfrey had mortally offended
the despotc old man by declining an agricultural
| life, and persistng in the study Of proesSioi--a
course that had resulted in his own dsinheriiance
To make the punishment more bitter to his
grandson. the old man had taken into favor his
aephcw, DR.. Henry HAVE, whom he had establish
cd near himself at i arquier's Folly.
! At this time, the disinhertod heir, having fin
i5hed term at the University, had come down to
spend part of his vacation in his native pace.
Ii was upon the Saturday evening of his arrival
that he found the little hotel and, indeed the whole
villaGeof Altam9nt, III a great state of excitement,
| from the fact that the celebrated hcircss, Miss
Honora Paule, had just stopped there, and pissed
! through on her way home.
| Those who had been sohapIy as to catch 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 TO indemnify
Il
| morning.
The next day. Godfrey Dulane attended church,
where he ana fell in love with the most beau
tiiul and intellectual-ooking girl he had ever be-
held From the cheapness and simplicity of her
attire, he supposed her to be some poor dependant
of Madame Auderly's, in whose pew she sat God
frey was completely captyated. and he resolved at
once to WOO, and il possible, win this lovely being
for his wife, poor girl though she He
glad Site was poor because she could for that rea
| son be more easily Won. But on accompanying
| Mr.. Wiiloughbv, the clergyman, and his brother
in-law, Ernest Hene, home after church, what was
his astonshment and dsmay at being introduced
to the supposed 'poor girl,'' whom he found be
! no other than the celebrated Miss Honora Paue,
the greatest heress and belle, as well as the best
! and noblest girl, in the State of Virginia. She
greeted them cordially, and i'll few minutes the
company were busily engaged in conyersation-
The topic of"capit punishment having been start
ed Godfrey turned TO Honora. and said:
81 take an especial personal interest in having
capital punishment abolished-Miss, Paule, do YOU
believe in astIocgy?''
Honora started, fixed her ewes intcntly upon the
questioner, and then Withdrawing them answered.
"Sir, why did you ask me if believe in astrolo-
G7"
Because Miss Panle, was abou; relate for
Your amusement a prediction that made con
cerning myself, by professor of that black art"
"A rrediction,' exclaimed Ms Willoushby,
drawing near with eager interest.
"Yes, madam" replied Mr. Dulaine, smiling "a
prediction which, if believed, would certainly dis
pose me to favor the ibolshment ot the death pen
atty. Three wears since, while was sojonrnng in
the city OF Richmond, on nv way to the UnjveIsi-
tv, chanced to hear OF the Egyptian Dervis, Ach-
bad, Who was at that time creating quite d senSa-
tion in the city. His wonderful reputation was the
theme Of every tongue.
"Idcness and curiosity combined to lead me to his
rooms He demanded night to cast my horoscope.
He demanded and gave him, the day and hour
of my BIRTH and then took leave, with the proIalse
to return in the morning. The next day went"
"Wel?'' questioned Honora earnestly.
"My horoscope was HoRRoR-scope indeed. 1t
predicted for me--a short and stormy life, and a
sharp and sudden DEATH
"Good Heaven. But--the Getails?'
alt phrophcsied four remark ible events, the first
ofyhich has already come to pass
''And that was-?''
.The loss of my patlimon.l cstate.''
singular coincidoncen interrupted NJ. vii
loughby, as he arose and Joined his wife and broth
cr-in-law AT the other end of the room.
81 thought so when the prophecy was fulfilled
replied Godfrey.
"And the other three even:s2" softly inquired
Honora.
'The other three events. if they follow as pre-
dicted, must happen within the next two years, or
before reach my twenty-ffth anniversary The
first OF these is to be the unexpected inheritance OF
vast wealth"
Upon hearing this bright smile PLAYED around
the lips of Honora and banshed the clouds from
her brow. She waited few minutes for him 10
proceed but finding that he continued SILENT she
said
"Well, Mr.. Duane, go on. what was the third
predicted cventl'
"Do you command me to inform voul'
mo sir; beg you, of your courtesy, To do so'
Every well' he said, dropping his voice to a low
undertonc, at was to be my marriage with the wo
man should worship"
A deep vivid blush supplanted the bright smile
that quivered over Honoras variable face There
was pause, broken at length by her voice, as she
gently inquired
"And the fourth -