The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-02-29
fer. tie .D1!56 BONE t. .GGIrtlts. G t..
From the London Ladies' Companion.
re- OCH ELENzA:AI
a w IF E's s TORY


bore uioH ELENzA:AI av-
A wIFE's sToRY
E5 8as E8Ga --L.L8 sI6zTGI 71l'a
Let the reader imagine to himself stately,
and picturesque old English country seat with
tnirets, and twisted chimneys, and bay-win.
dows. A large. solid aud beautiful mansion
house, Of dull red brick. whose principal front,
many hundred feet in length, looked on a hand.
ZONE terrace. This Eprincely residence of a
noble family was built some time in the fe-
,eenth century. 1t was set like an ancient
jewel 10 framing mnch larger than itself for
It stood amid acres Of lawn and wiIdernesses
OF shrubbery It's long rows of windows
opened on fair gardens, do,ting whose broad
alleys my childish fancy used to pict ire prounsr
OF gentlemen'i in fuI,-skirted coats, embroider.
ed ,"aistcoats. rufles. and powdered hair
ShadoWy beaHties,in hoops and rich brocades,
walked and talked with these cavaliers or
stood by the fountains flirting their fans. or
watching their own pretty faces in the water
or sat with stiff and shining draperies out
spread upon the garden seats. Olden trees
were near; and entertaiuGd noisy COLONY of
rocks, the only noisy tenants of that almost
deserted place. There was great pair of
iron gates, through which beneath an arch,
one passed to the still quadrangle, with it's iyed
clolsters, and many overlooking windows. In
the center, making silence audible. FLASHED
slow drops from the couch of a moss-grown, \
Triton Most of the rooms we're shut up
lew 10 one wing were appropriated to myself.
in-the other wing were my fathers, who, how.
ever, seldom occupied his; for he was an ac-
tive Statesman. and Deansdale was two hun.
dred miles from London before the railw
Though an only daughter, and an heiress.
was not spoiled child Caress of father or
mother in my childish days never knew. In
the great old family mansion. with prim gov
erness, and few aEcient servants, / grew-un.
stranger to every endearment commonly Law.
'shed on children Ny life had the colduess
and regularity of convent existence. Irose
early, walked, worked, read and prayed, under
strlct surveillance. Al sharp eye was upon nv
studies and upon the books read. / was al
lowed very little poetry, and no romances, for
a fatal sonrething-what did not know-vas
upon me like curse, and abrogated my right
to Pleasure early comprehended that nv.
duty lay in a life of ascetism. Ny dress was
OF the plainests kind, and made without any
particuiar regard to 6t or fashion. The very
housemaids knew looked on-ne with some
thing of scorn, as well as of pity: so did nv
governess. so did my father, whom 1 seldom
saw He had several rcountry-plaves nearer,
london than the mansion L inhabited, and I
knew that these were more coovenientIy visit.
ed-in The intervals of his parlianentary duties.
But felt that, if he loved me. he would come
ofteners What made ii impossible for people
10 love1me, Understood not. I had only a
vague idea that same popularity in my char
ac'er or cifcumssauce made me an outcast. yen
J One evening my father arrived. without anv
previous notice at Deapsdale Mics Mac Nab
(my governess and / had takenstea, and were
sitting in our great, dull, holland-shrouded
drawing-room; she, as usual, busy with her
letter writing, grayely reading some solemn
book We were summoned to attend Lord.
Evesham, and trembliDg-I always trenbled
when was to see my father-I took Miss Mac
Nab's skinny hand. In his best moods, Lord
EVesham treated me with graceful elegance
and studied poiiteness; in his worst, with cool
disdain and hanghty distance. When we en-.
= u I ~ =. - " b
tered ne wss walking hurridly to and fro in
his llbrary--a proceeding which I knew indi-5
Gated some irritation oftemper. Ientered and
curtseyedi Lord Eyesbam bowed coldIy in re.
turn Miss Mac Nab came in with her usual
poor frightened manner. and waited standing
till Lord Evesham, with a decisive gesture
gave her permission, or rather ordered ber,to
SIT: She sank at once into chair. My.iather
looked at me earnestly aud critically from be.
meath his black, bushy eyebrows. Then,,uru.
ing to Miss Mac Nab. he said terseIy, Lady
Susan--psha-Helena grows fthey were both
my names, and Susan came 6rst; but be hated
it, .5e,> -s15laa, 81 :. ''a S
Miss Mac Nab received the remark as q
personal compliment; she was conscientiouslv
anxious about me, and considered herself re-
sponsible even for my stature r.
I hope she is steady and studious, Miss
Mac Nab =
2 'Pretty well, my Lord he 40.
No cursed imagination, hope Is not
too fond Of poetry and music = III
'e She is very fond Of music, my Lord, and
really has voice Of great sweetness and
power. ~ .r-. -sfsa
At this point my father had Just turned in 8
i's "eaty promenade, and was receding from
US; but ne suddenly stood still, looked round
upon u.s. and said, in course. angry tone,s
o''e "hy' gooa Heaven, maam, you don't
teach her 10 sing r. -. N. sss -.