The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-17

CHAPTER rt1E FotJRru

1
dumb horror Of his marriage, he was not aware
of any special change in himself Bot, since the
arrival of Captain Morris-for that gentleman,
by one Of the eccentricities Of 6lass men about
town, chose - remsin in Lone house Dale for
9 kind Of respectfully recurring moral douche,
or rather % : daylight farce, Of which he was
pit gallery, and boxes, combined-he was con.
scious Of . tremendous mental tornado, which
Threatened the ebsolute destruction of all exist
ing institutions knd positions. His eyes opened.
and, BY the light Of his newly.roused passions
he read the volume Of his heart, which hitherto
had been . sealed book to him. Poor, beery,
booty, Auffy.voiced squire he would rs soon
have thought of sitting down to master algebra
or Times leader, as of inquiring of himself
whittier he was tending and what he was feel
ing. Bat now, enlightened by Jealousy, he
| spelt out the startling announcement that he
was in love With Rosa Arden that the 'proud
mink and the stuck.up London Miss" of his
earliest Introduction had become the very pole.
star of his life and the undesignated hope of
his future. Poor creature! he wept and sobbed
on the morning of that mental lecture, as if
he had been a child, for he felt both fettered on
the one side, and helpless on the other; and,
between original Indifference, grown now into
aversion, and love that took the dimensions of
alteration, the hapless landed proprietor was in
bad way, uncomfortable exceedingly, and was
not to be consoled. For he had Just a vague
perception that Miss Arden neither loved him,
nor yet was exactly the wife for him and that,
even if she had been, he could not very easily
break with Marian, who gave him not the
shadow of an excuse for doing so-opened not
the very tiniest loophole of escape !; nay, not
even one 80 big as Puck's little finger could slip
through; 80, how could the burly young squire
wOrk ont hsu uvhola uvolI conditioned hody -Tha
thing seemed an impossibiliiy, and the Lone
house Dale lover was in despair.
1t was about a month after the arrival of
Captain Morris that this discovery was made,
on the occasion of q certain walk which that
gentleman had taken with Rosa along the sea-
shore-Rosa, who never went out if she could
help it, even on the sunniest days, now walk
| ing two miles at least, in high wind, arm in
arm with the captain. Whereat the young
squire, trailing behind with Marian, had waxed
wroth to overlooking, almost terrifying his com
panion with his invectives against the "Lon.
don chap and Mics Mink" together, speaking
so loud and fierce that poor Marian was in an
agony lest he should be overheard and get his
precious skull in peril. But Captain Morris
was fortunately deaf that day, and r osa was
blind, 80 that the one did not hear the NUT
tered iEsolence which swept past him like big
|
see the round, imploring eyes, or the clutching
red hand, that glsred and paved like magic
lantern "bogy," whenever she came within
bowshot of Mr.. Rawlinson. The next morning
the young squire thought, and, as we have al.
ready related, discovered; and now he set out
for his daily parsonage pilgrimage, with eyes,
lips, and cheeks, all red as 80 many holly Ter.
ries and with the desperation CT man brought
to bay by fate, and prepared TO fight to the
death for rescue or for gain. AS he clattered
along the dusty road, he made up his mind to
one of two things-either to break with Marian,
whom he was beginning to absolutely loathe,
or, still engaged, to make an offer of himself,
his lands, and his rental, to Miss Arden and
trust to chance for the issue. For the young
squire, like the bovine animal of which he was
the human type, was apt to make rushes at OBJ
stacles-sudden, blind, bull.like rushes, without
reasoning on possibilities, or counting the
chances of success And though he did not
intend to act like villain, be was pretty sure
to do 30 when his passion or his temper was
reused, not from Intentional villsiny, but from
mere bull headedness and want of capacity for
reflection.
When he reached the parsonage, he found
that ell its inmates were out excepting Miss
Arden Marian and her mother had gone to q
poor woman about two miles of, intending to
be home in time for the lovers daily visit. Bat
az his impotence had driven the young squire
a.field earlier than usual, they had not arrived
when he came. And eleven o'clock was fer
too early for Captain Morris to make bis az
pearance. He was just finishing breakfast
j now-such breakfast as the Bag of Nails could
afford him, which was not exactly what his
club Or his mess-table gave him. So that Mr.
Rawlinson found Rosa alone-a circumstance
| - Il IL L - -
ses he had offered to himself in riding through
the dust
Miss" said the young squire, sitting down
on the sofa by her side, that sacred place, which
even Mr.. Devotion dared not assume indeed,
| none but Captain Morris ventured, and he took
that sacred half as his right, CO equal with Rosa
in this meaner sphere as he was. The young
squire came down with a heavy sigh and
manner of half falling, "thud," like sack of
wheat, peculiar to himself, but not inviGing.
"Well2" said Miss Arden, coldly, not raising
her eyes.
Miss Arden" again began the gentleman,
and again he paused. Rosa said nothing, and
there was q dead silence between them-so
dead and 60 long, that quiet graceful, migrate
full Rosa was beginning to forget that he was
there at all. 1t seemed to her as if large
dog had laid his dirty paws on the sofa by her
side; but she had no more distinct impression
than this.
"You will be surprised at what am going
to saw" said Mr.. Rawlinson, after this long and
fidgety pause, during which he had locked and
unlocked his hands, rubbed his mouth and fore.
head, brushed up his hair, and pulled out his
whiskers half dozen times. No, you won't,
you must have seen it-you have seen it."
And then he stopped again.
Seen whst?" asked Rosa, making q knot
in her netting, and STOPPING down to unfasten
it, for Rosa was rather shortsighted. "Any-
thing new in Lone-house Dale to be seen?"
"Oh, Miss Ardent" And down went the
squire with another thud this time on his
knees. oh, Rosa, don't you know-don't
you see--don't you hear that 1 love your Love
You it is worship-fairly worship, that fell"
Rosa seldom lost her calmness-never her
self possession. But this time she did really
fail her customary traditions. The shock and
the disgust excited by these words we're too
mach for her. Her usual lady like indifference
fonndsred, and went to wreck under storm of
anger that surprised even herself, os q new
revelation of life. 1t was not Indignation be-
canss Mr.. Rswlinson, being engaged to Marian,
dared to- address her in such terms, but be-
cause he dared to address her at all. 1t was
not outraged womanly dignity, but insulted
conventional pride, which, when it does exist,
is perhaps the strongest feeling woman has
al least such woman a. Rosa, and with such
an education - hers had been.
MIR. Rawlinson," she began, sweeping up
from her place. her slight frame positively ma
jestic, and her quiet face convulsed with dis
dain, :" bat that / think you as silly ss you are
r'resumptucus, l would have you punished in
the only way left to me, by informing Mr.. and
Mrs. Doveton of your insolent treachery. My
contempt alone saves you from disgrace and
exposure. In treating you as an irresponsible