New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-12

barons of Swin6urne, from the time OF tne Sonq"'
down TO the death Of the last LORD ,Iy dsny.er.
had died FIVE years before, leaving his only o'uy,
Laura sole heress of all his vast postessa; a, ia
Cafenoye gazec with deep interest upon tn,s s;s hu
church until Colonel Hastings called n'S '''e'0' "
saying; c...novo we have no time for antiquities.
Our business il not with the past but win the iu'ue
They drove rapidly on for yeu a aUX came mon
s ~ ,es from the midst of which frowned the
's 81 tho ancient keep its solid masonry now COW
erred thickly with ivy. Young Casslnove VINO Iei'
- ;n,erest In all these scenes, would have paused To
sSie,nra,e this venerable ruin; but again the mpa-
,;@nrc Of his employer urged the poshon to greater
speed and they drove hurriedy past. A few yards
further ON they reached the south gate of the park
guarded by the ancient porter's lodge.
They passed under the lofty archway, and entered
upon the beautiful grounds that lay Immediately around
the castle
keer the ruins of which they had just passed. and from
which il took its name. The building was a double
quadrangle in the form of the letter II, and having
towers at the four extremities.
BEHIND the castle arose the thick, impenerable
woods bordering the open chase before it lay smiling
landscape, diversified by parterres of flowers groves
of beautiful trees and small, clear lake, shaded by
overhangng willows, and adorned by flock of grace
full white swans.
An exclamation of delight broke from the lips of
Cassnove as his eyes fell upon this scene of exceeding
beauty, now lighted up as it was by the glorious sun
Of June.
Ihev drew up before tne ctlutu trauetpt tnat coh-
nected the two long wings of the castle.
Two puooms in waiting without Immediately came
forward to attend Colonel Hastings, who alighted,
followed by his secretary. One of the grooms dis
missed the post-chaise while the other Knocked at the
door, which was immediately opened by footman in
the gray and white livery of Lady Etheridge OF
SwinbuTne.
Show me into the library, Williams, and let her
ladvship know that | await her convenience CASH
move my good fellow, you stay here, suppose,
until YOU are wanted said Colonel Hastings, opening
door on his right to admit the young secretary into
sttng-room and then going on, attended by the foot
How often we meet our fate without an instants
forewarning!
The apartment into which young Cassinove had
been shown was pleasant, cheerful morning room,
simply but elegantly furnished. The great front
window reaching from ceiling TO floor and from side
TO side, commanded an extensive view OF the lawn,
with its groves of trees, Its shaded lake and lts
rarterres of flowers. rosery outside the window
adorned the frame without obstructng the view of
this grand picture. At the opposite end Of this room
was spacious mirror that filled mp all that part of the
wall and reflected the whole of the landscape COM
manded by the window.
Csssinove paced thoughtfuly about this apartment,
pausing sometimes at the window TO gaze upon the
beautiful scenery of the lawn and standing sometimes
before the mirror to admire the poetic taste that had
placed this glass just where it duplicated the world OF
| beauty without.
While he stood before the Mirror enjoying the
fected landscapes, suddenly among the roses ghded
bis attention Ii was woman in the earliest bloom
of youth. She wasnot technically pretty. She would
not have been considered so by any superficial OBJ
server; but the faces that inspire deep and lasting pas
sons in great souls are not those of wax dolls As
Young Cassinove gazed upon her reflected image, as
he never gazed upon her, he felt as though goddess
had suddenly descended among the flowers. Her
form was above the medium hight, and well rounded
Her head was finely formed and covered with pro-
fusion of Jet black glittering hair that was plainly
parted her broad expansive forehead, and swept
=. 1.
around the temples, and wound INTO rich and massive
knot AT the back of the head Her eyes were large,
luminous dark gray orbs, that seemed whenever the
long vail of lashes was lifted, TO throw light
wherever they glanced. Her nose was straight and
well formed her lips rounded, and, like all the rest,
full of character In the carriage OF her head and
neck and in her stately footsteps, there was certain
natural majesty, that in PEASANTS dress, would
have proved her one Of Nature queens.
The impression made upon the enthusiastic heart Of
Ferdinand Cassinove was at once vivid, deep, and
strong-quck as sun-painting permanent as sculpture
He this goddess of the intellectual brow and state
ly step open the window and advance into the room,
and as she approached him he felt his whole frame
| thrill with strange emotion Of blended pain and de.
light. He dreaded TO move, yet as the needle turns TO
the magnet he felt himself turning from the reflected
image to face the original. He stood before that
queeny form, and met those large, luminous, dark
eyes fixed upon him in royal gracousness as she SAID
90 You are Colonel Hastingss secretary, believe,
SIR Pray sit down. You will find the London papers
on that table" And, with graceful bow, the lady
passed him. and seated herself a sofa at the extfem
deeply engaged with its contents.
After the profound bow with which he had returned
her courtesy Ferdinand Cassinove renamed notion
lees where she had left him. But ten minutes had
elapsed since she glded in among the flowers, and
parsed him like vision seen III some beautiful dream
But ten minutes, and life, the world himself, were all
changed for Ferdinand Cassinoye lie felt from that
moment that his fate must take its character for good
or evil from the will of that roya-OOking woman.
infatuated youth Could he have foreseen the long
and terrible agony which that goddess-like being had
been ordained to suffer, and which soon 10 burst
upon her imperial head he would, in the ungovernable
passion of his wild Italian nature have struck her dead
at his feet and gladly died for having saved her from
such unspeakabe woe.
Who was she : What was she
He had heard that Lady Etheridge had a young
friend, Miss Donon, staying with her, to act as her
first attendant at the approaching marriage. Thus,
then, was Miss DorntOn. And who was Ferdinand
CassinOve that he dared 10 occupy his thoughts with
Mis- DOrniOn? a Young man Of obscure origin, left
10 the benevolent guardianship of Colonel Hastings,
who had betrayed the expenses of his education AT
school and college, and aterward taken him into his
family as his private secretary. Yet all of ltays
genius passion, and poetry smodered in the heart Of
the young secretary, and these were kindled into sud-
den blaze by the electric spark Of love.
Miss Dornton lady of rank, and, perhaps of for
tune! Oh if she Were not already wooed and won !
Give him time and, under the inspiration of his love
for her, he would win wealth. distinction, glorious
name and lay them all at her feet. If this passion
was sudden II ardent, remember that Ferdinand
Casnove was of the Celtic Yes; he would win
the world, and lay it at her feet
In the midst of the pleasing pain of this love dream
the door opened, and the gray-haired servant whom
Ferdinand had in the hall entered softly and step
ping the to where the lady sat and speak
ing in the low, subdued tone in which royal person
ages addressed said
My lady, Colonel IIastingss respects, and he
awaits your adyship in the library"
Very well, Williams; 90 aud say 10 Colonel Hast
ings that viii attend him immediately, answeredthe
LADY, rising.