The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-12

in song. There rested the remains, and there lay
the time Of the Conquest down to the death Of the
last Lord Etheridge who had died i've years before,
leaving bis only daughter, Laura, sole heiress of all
his vast possessions. Young Cassaoove gszed With
lionel Hastings recalled his attention, BY SAYING.
Come, Cassnove, wa have time for snuqu-
tea Our business IL not with the past but VITA
They drove rapidly on for yet another mile along
tie boundary Of the chase, and suddenly came up
on thicket OF trees. from the midst Of wn'ca
irowned the ruins Of the ancient keep, its soud
masonry now covered thickly with ivy. Young
Csss'nove, who felt deep interest IN all these
scenes, would have paused to contemplate TINS
venerable ruin. but again the impatlence OF his
employer urgedthe pcstillion 10 greater speed and
! they drove hurredly past. few yards further on
| they reached the south gate of the park, guarded
| by the ancient porter lodge
| They passed under the lofty archway and entered
| upon The beautiful grounds that lay more immed
| ately around the castle.
Swipburpe Castle was Of later date than. the an
clint keep the ruins of which they had just
| passed, and from which il took its name. Tue
| building double quadrangle, In the form
Of the letter II, and having towers ut the four ex-
| tIemtes
Behind the castle arose the thick. impenetrable
| woods bordering the open chase; before 1t lay .
smiling landscape, diversified by parterres OF flow
! ers groves Of beautiful trees, and small, clear
| lake shaded by overhanging willows, aud adorned
| by q flock of graceful w1ite swans
Ap exclamation of delight broke from the lips of
Cassinove rs his eyes fell upon this scene Of ex-
ceeo'Dg beauty, now lighted up as 1T was by the
glorious sun Of June.
They drew up before the central transept ID at
connected the two long wings Of the castle.
Two groomS IN . WAITING Without Hasainss
algh,ed, followed by his secretary. One of the
grooms dismissed the postchaise. while the other
Knocked at the door, which was Immediately
opened by footnan In the gray and white livery
Of Lady Etheridge Of Swinburne.
"Show me into the library, Williams. and let her
| ladyship know that await her convenience. Cas-
sinove my good fellow, you can stay here, sup
pose, until you wanted said Colonel Hastings,
| opening door on his right TO admit the
young secretary into a sitting ROOM and then going
| on. attended by the footman, TO tue library.
Bow often We meet our fate without an instaut's
| forewarniDg!
The apartment into which young Cassinove had
been shown WAS pleasant, enc erful morning room,
| simply but elegantly furnished. The great front
window. reaching from ceiling to floor, and from
| side To s,de commanded an extensive view Of the
lawn with its groves Of trees, its shaded lake and
! its parieres OF flowers. rosery outside the win
| dow adorned the frame, without obstrucNng the
view Of this grand picture AT the opposite end of
| this room was spacious mirror, that filed up all
that part Of the WALL aud reflected the whole Of the
| landscape commanded by the window.
| Cassbove passed thonghtfully about this apart
! mept pausipg sometimes at the window to gaze
upon the beautiful scenery Of the lawn, and stand
ing sometimes before the mirror to admire the
poetic taste that had placed this glass just where 1t
| duplicated the world of beauty without
While he stood before the mirror, enjoying the
| reflected landscape, suddenly among the roses
ghded q purple -draped female figure, that imnedt
ately rvet,ed his attention. IL was womaa ia
| the earliest bloom Of youth. She was not tschni-
| caly pretty. She would not bsve been considered
so by any Superficial observer; but the faces that
inspire deep and lasting passions 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 ~ though goddess had suddenly
| descended among the flowers. Her form was
| above the NE dunn height, and well rounded her
head was finely formed, and covered with profa-
sion Of jet black, gtitteripg hair, that WAS plainly
| parted over her broad, expansive forehead, and
swept around the temples. aud wound iuto rich
and massive knot at the back Of the head. Her
eyes were large. luminous, dark gray orbs, that
seemed, whenever the lopg veil Of lashes Was
| lifted 70 throw q light Wherever they glanced.
| Her nose vas straight and well formed her lips
rounded, aid, like the rest, full Of character. In
the carriage Of her head aud neck, aud Ia her
Stately footsteps, there was certain natural ma
| jesty that even in a peasapts dress would have
| prsvsd her one Of natures queens
| The impression made upon the enthusiastic heart
| Of Ferdinand CasriDove was at vivid. deep
and strong-quick as sun painting. permanent as
sculpture. He saw this goddess OF the intellectual
brow and stately step open the window and ad
vance into the room, aud Is she approached hin
be felt his whole frame tbr with strange emo
ton Of blended psin and delight He dreaded to
move. yet as the needle turns TO the msyoet, ne
iet himself timing fIom the reflected image TO the
face Of the original. He stood before that queeny
form, and met those large, luminous, DARK eyes
fixed upon him In royal grAciousness as she said -
"Yon are Colonel Hastings secretary, believe,
sir. Pray sit down. You will lind the London
papers on that table, Aud. With graceful bow,
The lady passed him, aud seated herself sofa at
the extremity OF the room. took up portfolio, and
was soon deeply engaged with its contents
After the profound bow with which he had re-
turned her courtesy, Ferdinand Cassinove remained
motionless where she had left hun. But ten min.
utes had elapsed since she had glided In noDg the
howers, and passed him like vision seen 10 some
ha.t mi irea I'M ~ n
world himself. were all changed for Ferdinand Cas-
sinove. He fel,, from that moment, that his tate
must take its character for good OF evil from the
| Infatuated youthi Could he have foreseen the
long and terrible agony which that goddesslike
\ being had been ordained 10 suffer, aud which vas
soon 70 burst upon her imperial head. he would in
the uneovernnble passion OF bis Wild. Italian IA
ture, have struck her dead at his feet. aud gladly
died for having saved her from such unspextaolc
| voc.
Who was shel What was she?
He had heard that Lady Etheridge had young
friend. Miss Dornton, staying with her, to act as
This. then. vas Miss Dornton. Aud VINO was Fer
| dinabd Cassinove, that he dared 10 occupy his
thoughts with Miss Dorntoni A young man Of
obseure origin, left to the benevolent guardia ushp
| Of Colonel Hastings, who had betrayed the ex-
penses OF his education at school and college, and
Afterwards taken him into his family as his private
secretary. Yet all Of lialys genius, passion aud
poetry smcudered In the heart Of the young secre-
iary and these were kindled into sudden blaze by
the electric spark of love.
Miss Dorbtos. q lady OF rank. and, perhaps, Of
| fortune. Oh. II che we're not already vooed aud
woni Give him time. aud. under the inspiration of
| bis love for her, he wond win wealth, distinction.
\ a glorious name asd lay them ell st her feet. In
\ this passion was sudden a. IL was ardent, remem-
| Der that Ferdinand Cassinove was Of the Celtic
race. Yes; he would win the world, and lay IL ut
| her feet,
In the midst Of the pleasing pain Of this love
dream the door opened, and the gray haired SER
/ l~i In hall rai
lady set an speaking IN the 10 y, suodued tone In
| which royal persons are addressed, sad
IVY lsdy, Colonel Hastings respects, and he
| awaits your ladyrhip In the library"
VERY well, Williams; 60 aud Say 70 Colonel
| Hastings that I will attend him Immediately
answered the lady. rising.
This .queesly ~omsn, then, was Laura, ia.