Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-05-19
ROSE ELMER
A Divided Heart and A Divided Life.

ny MRS. soUriiwoRrii.

in June, a. ID. lSOU, tnat rather large group
of oilers gathered in front of the Etheridge
Arms, quaint old tavern, in the ancient little
town of Swinburne, in the west of England.
BY their looks and conversation, it was evil
dent that some event of unusual Importance
was expected TO come of,
They were in fact, awaiting the arrival of the
mail coach, which was to bring down Colonel
Hastings and his son Albert, who was the
bridegroom elect of Lady Etheridge, Baroness
of Swinhurne, the last of her race and sole
heiress of the immense w!alth and vast estates
of her lordly ancestors.
The nuptials were to be celebrated on the fol-
lowing day, and the rctainers and neighbors of
the noble bride, who almost worshpped her for
her goodness of heart, were anxious to see the
n an who was to be their beloved Gladys" hus-
band.
They had not long to wait. The coach soon
came laundering up to the door, and as soon
as the steps were let down by the obsequous
landlord, Colonel Hastings issued forth. He
was an elderly gentleman, tall, spare and stoop-
ing; was clothed in suit of clerical black
and bis pale, thin, long face was surrounded by
hair and whiskers prematurely gray He was
closely attended by his secretary
Cassinove--an Italian, of such graceful mien
and dignifed bearing that he might have been
taken for prince of the blood attended by an
old gentleman in waiting.
handsome nerson and bauyI,S manner y, nnc,.
attracted general attention. His form was tall,
ard finely proportional crowned BY a naughty
head and face, with high aquiline features, fair
and fresh complexion, light blue eyes, and very
light, faxen hair. His expression of counte-
nance, in keeping with his whole manner, was
stern almost to repellant severity. Great beau
~ of nerson. with great dignity of manner
forms n combination worry attractive IN most
younp women. and nerhons il was This that fos.
c;no,sd tho voung be;ress of Swinhurro Cos,lo
for this was AIhert Uastngs rho br;deoroon,
elect He was followed info tho bouso Nv his
valet hearing his Jressine.case y
After sligbt renast. Colonel HASTINGS nj.
tended bv Cassinoye. drove off 70 the castle IN
have a nreliminorv interview with Lab, Ttbcr,
idge. (who was his warl.) and arrange The mar.
rage settlements. On orr;v;no Of tho lordI,.
castle Cassinove was show ;rt6 s;,,;no- ronn;
wh;le tho colone nrocoeJod 20 tho 1;,,ror,.
whittier his ward was requested 70 come 10
meet him.
Az the vopng Italia, rocod ~, o,d dour tbo
room occas;nnollv naus;pg h ,fnre n tnll lanath
Mirror which reesctad tbo sro,ors u, ,n5o
1roocb;ng fron, ce;l;na IN soorr anJ ,ha ,;o
turesoue landscnne beyond suddepiv among The The
roses outside gl;ded n nnrnls, Jro,oJ c,So,aie
foure that ;mme,otelv ,;ve,,od h;s a,,on,;o,
II was woman in rho earliest bloom IF vonth
As yonno Cass;novs ,,azoJ vnon hnr roaoo,aJ
image ne he never ga2ed unnn be, bo foI, 90
thongb Goddess had sppJdomi,' d h .,t a"
among the flowers. Her form was above ,Le
medium h;oht and well ronndod Hor had
was finely formed and covered with n nrof,
sion of let black gl;t,er;ng ba;r ,bat ,,as liz
10 nortcd ovor ber hrood9 oy,,a,,s;ro c,rdLaal
and swent around Tho ,o,,,Ios and ,,a',,,J ;,.1
r;cb AMI massive tnrt a, iho baoL " ,bo h a.p
Uer avos W. rs laroe mr,;n;ors dar rI Ia
that seemed WHENEVER tho lopr ~ol eoS' Iosba,
was liftel. 70 throw n lcbt wbcroyer ,bcv nlnn
ced Her nose was sfra;gbt and vol forsn o
her Inns rounded and I;ka ali The res, G,n "
character In Tho car,iao. of boz bn,d a.. 'd
neck and in her s,o,eiv Soo,s,.ns ,ha ra' , "nu
certain naturol ma;sstv ,b.t oron IN oas
ants dress would have moved bor ono %s
ture,s oueers -
The impression made unon tho enthusiastic
heart of Ferdinand Cass;npvo wos ~ onna ~;
yid. deem and strongwnn;cL as s,, ~ 'ro;n,;rn
nermnncnt as sculntnre He saw ,h;s andiass,
of the intellectual how and stately .,s, onor
tho window and advance into tho roor, al as
she annroached him he felt his whole I from "s
thrill n strange emotion Of blended main and
delight. Hedreaded TO move vet nc The noodle
from the reflected IMAGE IN face The or;a;na3
He stood before that oneerlv form AMI mot
those large luminous. dark ewes fxed unon him
in rovI Srac;ousness az sb. said
"You are Colonel Hastings secre,orv b.-
l;eve sir pray sit down Won will fnd ,ho
Inndon naners on That tablc" And with
graceful how the lady nassod him and seateJ
herself on sofa at the extremity Of the room
took nm a nortfolio. and was soon dennlv on,
gaysd with ;ts contents
a,ter tba nrofnrrd bo,y ,,;,b uh;o, Ia hal