Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-03-27
GNurtester 4allg spp.
THE DWARF OF THE OLD OAK CHEST
Complete In Three Chapters.
fCputiuuad
CContinued.1
CHAPTER II

BCNeohAOh Vi dilllS lIODl ler lover. who had
promised to write to her before he left Eng
land, and tell her to what part of GermanTy
he was going, for he did not himself know
where the baron's domain was situated.
The days went by, still no letter came. and
when three weeks had passed away without
bringing any tidings, her uueasnes grew
beyond all power of concealment
GU distress yourselfneedlessly my child"
said her mother "the letter has. no doubt
been lost; he will write again as soon as he
reaches his destination"
But If any accident has happened to him.
dear mother, in this long journey and across
the sea, too, IN such stormy weather dread
to think OF it."
1hese are imaginary troubles, Mary. He
Is, as we all are, under the protection of Proyi
dence, and on that Providence YOU must RELY.
BE patient, my child, and all will be WE'LL"
\ Mary tried to be patient; but as time wore
~Sn and no news came of the absentee. her
heart grew very sad, the bright bloom faded
from her cheeks, and the tears would often
rush unbldden to her eyes, as her thoughts
wandered back to the happy days that were
gone.
And so the spring-tme arrived, and with it
came another sore trouble, for Mrs. Archer
began to exhibit symptoms of a rapid decline,
and then Mary thought less of her other sor.
dear and cherished parent
1t was in the midst of this affection that
Mr.. Lonsdale renewed his visit at the cottage,
ana expressed his sorrow on observing the
lady increasing debility, at the same time re-
guessing permission to send his own physician
to see her, proposal she most gracefully ac-
cepted.
The doctor came. He said she required
good wine and strengthing diet; but, alas the
remldieS he prescribed were beyond her means
to obtain; and then the rich man saw his adj
vantage, for he knew that Mary never once
heard from her absent lover since his depar-
ture, and he thought he now saw his way to
WIN the treasure he mad SO long coveted.
lie sent the rlcheSt wines from his own Gel
lar, the choicest game from his preserves, and
many costly dellcacies to tempt the appetite
that turned fr0m ordinary food and the bene'
nclal enects OF such nutrlment were soon vlsl-
bic IN the improved looks and returning
strength OF the invalid.
Mary guessed but two well the motive for
those attentions, and the reward that would be
asked; yet she could not but feel grateful for
kindness that had, in all probability, saved her
beloved parent from the grave.
AT length the dreaded offer was made Mr..
Lonsdale pleaded that Everard's silence was a
proof of his Inconsistency; that he had most
likely formed some other engagement; and
that, at all events, his neglect was sufficient to
absOve Mary from her plighted VOWS These
arguments, howevsr had no effect upon the
madens heart
She did not believe he was faithless 1t was
easier to imagine his death than his falsehood
and if he were dead, what could she do but
mourn his loss forevermore
Again, therefore, she rejected the profered
hand of her aged suitor, who did not, as be-
fore, withdraw his pretensions, but continued
to urge them with a perseverance that was
truly distressing to the heart-broken girl, as
pecially as her MOTHER who regarded the
wealthy old man as her benefactor, and even
as the saviour of her life, was won over to es.
pouse his cause.
"My dear Mary" she said, at would be a
great happiness to me if YOU could but make
up your mind to marry Mr.. Lonsdae. NV
life hangs upon thread and what would
become of you, my child, if should die %
"Thiuk not of that, dearest mother. have
no fears for myself; and, OH do not ask me
to marry while am uncertain as to Everards
fate. Ii | were sure that he was dead or false
to me, should not then perhaps. care what
my future lot might be-"
Thus passed the summer and the autumn;
the trees were beginning to shed their leaves,
the wintry winds to blow, and Mary would
often sit and listen to their melancholy wailing
till she fancied they were singing the dirge of
her departed lover.
One day, when alone and absorbed in such
meditatons, she was aroused by the entrance
of Mr.. Lonsdale, whose countenance was gray
er than usual as he took her hand. and said in
a low, hesitating voice.
"Miss Archer, | can scarcely hone TO be a
welcome visitor this morning. for I am the
bearer of bad ncws."
ooh sir what is the mattera What have
YOU heard z"
oNotbiny mare Than 7 anticina+od bovo
hoard tidings of Mr. Newton ),
sTS he dad q, sbriolrod tho offrirbtod ,r;,l
olosn;no her hands win intense aatat;o si'i'
"So no tar better Than that IS conco,ns
himself He is married ?;
~ do not believe itl' she exclaimed wildly
orWho told Won this Mr.. LnnsdaIeI Yon can.
not think if is true, !"
az can have no doubt of if. NV dear vounr
lady. Here is NV authority"
And he drew a newspaper from his pocket.
and pointed ont the following paragraph =
"6n the 18Th of Sentembrr was married at
AK Ia Champelle. the Reverend Eyerard New
ton, late of Oxford, to Maria Greslar, the rich
widow of Cologne. The BRIDEGROOM is six
and.twenty the bride verginU on seventy. but
as charity coyeretb multitude of sins SO we
presume gold coyereth a multitude of wrin
kles Tie bappy nair are making n tour of
the chief continental cities. but it is under
stood that their permanent residence will be
at Cologne"
This was a stunning blow for poor Mary.
The paper dropped from her trembling hands,
the blood forsook her cheeks and ouivering
in lin tbo Iight faded from her ewes a taintness
nps' te llsllV i"ued lloi me- sai1o,, %
81 l..,,,,,1 ~. NJ. + onsdnIo oorubt har in