Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-05-19


mer and William Lovel, nor must Rose Elmer
know Lady Etheridge and Albert Hastings.
And now to persuade Rose to go before me into
Wales, where myself and my lady bride arc to
spend our honeymoon"
And so saying, he took his hat, aud stroled
out into the street.
Taking a course opposite to that which led to
Swinburne Castle, Albert Hastings soon came
to a cross-coun,ry road, which he followed for
some two miles, and then turning into by
path he went on until he came to a secluded
and lovely cottage. Opening the door Of this
elegant retreat with latch-key, he passed in.
1t was lovely abode, fit for the home OF fairy.
And for fairy Albert Hastings had had it fur
nishcd. The fairys name was Rose Elmer, and
she was the daughter of the village laundress
Albert had accidentally met her on one Of his
visits to the castle, and, his soliloquy, given
above, shows, had fallen desperately in love with
her and, under the assumed name of William
Lovel had won the beautiful and innocent
maiden's heart.
lie 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 pursuade her to consent to secret marriage
as he well knew, by thousand tests of charac-
Rose believed herself to be his wife. His task
was 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 to desert her ailing
mother and upon no other condition than that
of being allowed to remain with her would she
consent 10 the secret marriage.
And, finally, he obtained promise from
Rose that she would meet him at the cottage
that same night, where, by previous arrange
ment, his confidential servant, disguised as
clergyman, was 10 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 whittier,
he said, important business forced him. This
agreed upon, they took leave of each other for
few hours, and returned to the village by DIFF
ferent routes. Mr.. Hastings went 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
smolderng fire in the CRATE, and beside this
fire i'll an old arm chair, set female whom no
one would have passed without second look
She was n woman of commanding presence
Her form was tall, and must once have been
finely rounded but now it was worn thin al
most to skeleton meugreness Her features
were nobly chiselled, and might once have been
grandly beautiful, but now they were sunken
and emaciated those of death. Under her
broad and prominent forehead, and heavy black
eyebrows, shone pair of large, dark. graz
eyes, that burned fiercey with the fires of fever
or of frenzy. Her jet black hair, slightly
streaked with silver was half covered with a
red handkerchief, tied beneath her chin and
partly fallen in elf locks down one side Of her
face rusty black gown and shawl completed
her dress.
As the door opened admitting Rose, she
turned quickly in her chair, fixing her eyes with
o look Of fierce inquiry upon the intruder.
"flow are you now, mother dear? | hope
you feel in better spirits ?" said Rose having off
her bonnet, and coming to the woman's side
Better. Where have you been? | have
wanted YOU
81 have been-taking walk through the
woods, dear mother; and see, here are some
wild Strawberries | picked for you on my re-
turn. Will you eat them ?" said Rose, Offering
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 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 frghtfully, her
frame shuddered.
"Mother. mother, what is the matter ?" ex-
claimed Rose, throwing her arms around the
woman in great alarm
at is-past," gasped the woman, breathing
with great difficulty.
"What was it, dear? ?"
"a spasm. 1t is gone"
"Oh, mother viii it return?'
"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 of
the wedding, and talks of nothing else. The
village children have been employed all dav in
bearing flowers to decorate the castle church,
and TO strew in the path of the bride as she
comes-they love her so WE'LL"
''les. she is high and mighty lady; 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 in 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,
critically, murmurng-
"Fair face, delicate features, complexion pure
as the inside of conch-she, 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 poverty spoil your
beauty. have l. my child?"
"No, 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 course with
hard work, have l dear?'
mo, mother; notwithstanding that l ought
to have worked with you, and for YOU"
"lour hands have never been roughened by
helpr me in the laundry?"
mo, mother; though they ought to have
been"
"Nor have your sweet eyes been spoiled by
needle-work p'
"No good mother; have been as useless a.
fine lady, to my shame"
"And | have worked hard to save YOU from
work, and to pay for your schooling, have
not ?"