Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-05-14

Elmer, and she was the daughter of the village
laundress. Albert had accidentally met her on
one of his visits to the CASTLE and, as his solil-
oquy, given above, shows, had fallen desper-
aIely in love with her; and, under the assum-
ed name of William Lovel, had won the beau
titul and innocent maiden's heart.
He had had the cottage furnished, and was
that morning to meet Rose there, where they
had SO often met, by appointment. Rose came
at last; and as soon as the first joyous greet
ings were over, the intriguing lover set at work
to persuade her TO consent to secret mar
riage as he well knew, by thousand tests of
character that he could never gain his pur-
pose unless Rose believed herself to be his
wife. His task was a hard one but he finally
succeeded, by promising that she should stay
with her mother, just the same, as long as she
lived.
This was not all that Mr.. Hastings wished,
but neither logic nor eloquence could convince
or persuade Rose Elmer 10 desert her ailing
mother and upon no other condition than that
OF being allowed to remain with her would she
consent to the secret marriage.
And, finally, he obtained a promise from
Rose that she would meet him at the cottage
that same night, where, by previous arrange
ment, his confidential servant, disguised as a
clergyman, was to be in attendance to perform
the marriage ceremony. After which, Rose
should return to her mother, to remain during
the few weeks of his absence in Wales, With
er, he said, important business forced him.
This agreed upon, they took leave of each
other TOR few hours and returned to the vii
lage by different routes. Mr.. Hastings went
to to his inn, and summoned his confidential
servant to his presence. And Rose Elmer,
full of hope and joy, turned down the street
leading to her mothers cottage.
When Rose entered the house, there was a
smoldering fire in the CRATE, and beside this
fire, in an old arm chair, sat female whom
no one would have passed without a second
look. She was woman OF commanding pres
ence. Her form was tall, and must once have
been finely rounded but now it was worn
| thin, almost to skeleton meagerness. Her fea-
lures were nobly chiseled, and might once
have been grandly beautiful, but now they
were sunken and emaciated as those of DEATH
! Under her broad and prominent forehead, and
heavy black eyebrows, shone pair of large,
dark-grey eyes, that burned fercely with the
fire of fever or of frenzy. Her jet black hair,
| slightly Streaked with silver, was half covered
with red handkerchief, tied beneath her chin,
and partly fallen in elf locks down one side of
her face. A rusty black gown and shawl COM
peted her dress.
AS the door opened, admitting Rose, she
turned quickly in her chair, fixing her eyes
with a look of fierce inquiry upon the in
truder.
"How are you now, mother dear? / hope
you feel in better spirits 90 said Rose, laying
| off her bonnet and coming to the woman's
side
Better. Where have you been! 1 have
wanted you"
81 have been-taking a walk through the
woods, dear mother; and see, here are some
wild Strawberries picked for you on my re-
turn. Will you eat them 2" said Rose, offer
ing her little basket.
"No; l want none of them. You care little
for me-"
Mother, don't say that You do not know
how much l love you"
"Hush, girl, you have little cause-oh ~
And the woman suddenly struck her hand
upon her heart, dropped her head upon her
breast, and seemed convulsed by some great
agony. Her features worked trighttully, her
frame shuddered.
"Mother mother! what is the matter 2"
exclaimed Rose, throwing her arms around
the woman in great alarm.
at is-past!' gasped the woman breathing
with great difficulty.
"What was it, dear Z"
ga spasm. 1t is gone"
ooh, mother, will it return 2"
perhaps"
"Let me run for neighbor, or the doctor"
"Nay, you must run somewhere else! To-
morrow. Laura, Lady Etheridge of Swinburne
weds with Albert Hastings OF Hastings Hall.
1t is so, is it not?"
Surely, dear mother, the village is full 81
the wedding, and talks of nothing else. The
village children have been employed all day in
bearing flowers to decorate the castle church,
and to strew i'll the path of the bride as she
comes-they love her so we'll"
Eyes, she is high and mighty ady--yet
sweet and gracious as becomes one so exalted.
Come hither, girl-kneel down before me, so
that may take your face between my hands,"
said the woman, growing more strange i'll her
talk
Rose obeyed, and her mother, bowling her
own stern, dark face, shut that of the girl be-
tween her hands and gazed upon it wistfully,
rtically-murmuring,
"Fair face, delicate features, complexion
pure as the inside of conch she'll, white, and
flushed with red; hair like fine yellow silk,
and eyes blue and clear as those of infancy
hands small and elegant, | have not let pow
erty spoil your beauty-have l, my child 2"
mo, dear mother, you have let kindness
more likely spoil me-" said Rose in simple
wonder at her words.
IL have not let your person grow coarse
with hard work-have l, dear 2"
''No, mother; Notwithstanding l ought to
have worked with you and for you"
Your hands have never been roughened by
helping me in the laundry ?''
"No, mother, though they ought to have
been"
Nor have your sweet eyes been spoiled by
needlework."
mo, good mother have been as useless as
fine lady, to my shame"
"And | have worked hard to save you from
work, and to pay for your schooling, have /
not 2"
Dear mother, you have! You have been
the best mother in the world and only too
good to me. But will try to repay you"
"Think of all that tomorrow, child and
when all the country around shudderS at my crime,
tchen all the people call doUn imprecationS on my
name, do not you curse one who has nourished
you at her bosom, when that bosom is cold in
death" said the woman solemnly.
ooh, she is mad mad p exclaimed Rose in
dismay, at hearing these words then lower
ing her voice she said, "Mother mother try
to collect YOURSELF 1t is 1, your poor daugh-
ter Rose, that kneels before you. Do you not
know me g"
"Ay, know you well, and know what
say" repeated the woman solennly.
Mother oh why do you talk so wildly it
is very dreadful. But you are not wel-let
me 90 for some one"
eyes, you must go for some one. You
must go to the castle this afternoon" said the
woman in the same tone of deep gravity.
"ro the castle! /, motherp exclaimed
Rose, in surprise.
eyes, you must go to the castle and when
you get there, ask to see her who calls herself
Lady Etheridge"
"The baroness Dear mother, Why does
your thoughts SO run upon the baroness
Int ta cl,n to l.. "a I'LL. Al.
she will see me, poor girl, a perfect stranger,
this day of all Others when she sees no one q"