Litchfield enquirer., 1860-05-24

never gain his purpOee un!eos nyoe gSiisVea nef- eff to he his wife His task was hard one but
 he finally succeeded, by promising that she should stay with her mother just the same, as long as she lived. a,--
 This was not at all that Mfr. Hastings wished, but neither logic nor eloquence could convince or persuade Rose Elmer to desc her aling mother i; ! and upon no other condition than that of being ] the secret marriage.
 | And. finally he obtained a promise from Rose that she would meet him at the cottage that same night where, by a previous arrangement his con- fidential servant, disguised az a clergyman, was to be in attendance to perform the marriage cere- mony. After which. Rose should return to her mother, to remain during the few weeks of his absence in Wales, whith"r, he said, important business forced him. This agreed upon, they took leave of each other for few hours, and returned ! to the village by different routes. MT. Ha'tnes went to his inn, and summoned his connaen'at a1 t servant to his presence And Rose Elmer, full Of hope and ioy, turned to the street leading to nsf
 When Rose entered the house. there was a smoulderipg fire in the grate, and pesne this hfe in an old arm chair. sat femaie. Mnvni ho one would have passed without second look. She was a woman of commanding presence. Her form was fall. and must once have been finely round- ed hut now it was worn thin, almost to skele. ton measreness, Her features were nobly ch;sel- led, and might once have been grandly beautiful but now they were sunkcU dS tlOSc of death. Under her broad and prominent fore. head and heavy black eyebrows, shone pair of large dark gray eyes that burned fcrccly with the fires of fever ot frenzy Her jet black hair. slightly streaked with silver, was half covered with a red handkerchief, tied beneath her chin and partly fallen in elf locks down one side of her f,ce A rusty black gown and shawl completed her dress.
 As the door opened, admitting Rose, she turned quickly in her chair fixing her eyes with look of fierce inquiry upon the intruder. How are you now. mother. dear? hope you feel in better spirts?" said Rose, laying of her bonnet and coming to the woman's side
 '.Bctter. Where have you been? I have wanted you
 II have been-takng 8 walk through the woosls dear mother and see, here are some wild strawberries picked for you on my return. Will you eat them?" said Rose offering her little basket.
 "No; want none of them. You care little for me-
 "Mothcr, don't say that. You don't know how much love you"
 "Hnsl, girl, you have little causc-oh! 7"
 And the woman suddenly struck her hand upon her heart, dropped her head upon her brcaAt and seemed convu!std by some great agony. Her fca tues worked frightfuiiy. her frame shuddered.
 .'Mother mother! what is the mattcrf' ex claimed Rose, throwing her arms around the wo- man in great alarm.
 Ut is-past." gaspcd the woman, breathing with great difficulty.
 What was it, dcar!
 "A spasn,. It is gone"
 "Oh. mother, will it rcturn!' !'
 |" Perhaps"
 "Let me run for neighbor, or tle ducto..''
 Nay, you must run somewhere else To- morrow, Laurl-Lady Etheritle of Swinburne, weds with Albert Hastings of Hastings Hall It is so, is it not v
 "Surcly, dear mother, the village is full of the i wedding, and talks of nothing else The village children have been employed all day in bearing 1 flowers to decorate the castle church. and to strcw in the path of the bride as she comes-they love her so we'll
 "Ycs, She is high and mighty lady; yet. sweet and gracious as becomes one so exalted. 1 Come hithcI, gil kncel down before me, so that may take your face between my handst' said the woman, growing more strange in her talk.
 Rose obeved and her mother, lowing her own stern dark face, shut that of the girl between her hands, and gazcd upon it wistfully, critically, murmuring-
 Fair face, delicate features, coml.lcxion pure as the inside of conch shell. white, and flushed with red hair like fine yellow silk, and eyes blue and clcaras those of infancy; hands. small and elegant have not let povelty spoil your baau- ty, have I, my child p
 Mo- my dear mother, yon have let kindness more likely spoil me- said Rose, in simple won. der, at her words
 II have not let your person grow coarse with hard work have 1, dear r
 No, mother notwithstanding that ought 10 have worked with you and for you"
 q Your hands have never been roughened by helping me in the laundry r'
 "No, mother though they ought to have been.'
 "Nor have your sweet eyes been spoiled by needle. work ?'
 .'No, good mother {; have been as useless as Il fine lady, to my shame'
 "And have worked hard to save you from ! work. and to pay for your schooling have not?" l
 Dear mother, you have! You have been the l best mother in the world, and only too good to me. But will try to repay you.'
 "Think of all that to- morrow, child ; and ,chen l aU e country around shudders at my crime achen aU e people ca dopn imprecaons upon n,y name, do not you curse one who has nourished you at her bo- som, when that bosom is cold in death." said the l woman, solcmnly.
 "Oh she is mad !! mad p exclaimed Rose, in dismay, at hearing these words ; then lowering her voice, she said Mother motLer try to 1 collect yourself! It is I, your poor daughter | Rose, that kneels before you. Do you not know l me?'
 "Ah, I know you well, and know what you say." repeated the woman, soemnly
 Mother oh, why do you talk so wild'ye It is very dreadful But you are not we'll let me l go for some one
 ''Yes you must go for some one. You must go to the castle this afternoon" said the woman in the same tone of deep gravity.
 |" To the castle l, mother!' !'' exclaimed Rose, ! in surprise.
 "Yes, you must go to the castle and. when you get there, ask to see her who calls herself Lady Ethcridge."
 1.-The baroness! Dear mother, why does your thoughts so run upon the Iaroness? What is she to us! Besides, is it likely that she will see me- a poor girl, a perfect stranger, this day of all others, when she sees no one ?"
 Hush Rose and for once obey one uho,n you ! hare 50 long looked upon as your mother It will be the last time will ask you to do so. Demand to l be admitted to the presence of the baroness Say | that you have come upon matter of life or death, that nearly concerns her ladyship; insist and she will not venture to refuse you. When you stand before Lady Etheridge, say that her old nurse, Magdalene Elmer"
 ''Her nurse. mother! You Lady Etheridges nurse! never knew that before v interrupted Rose in surprise.
 "Thers are many things that you never knew, my child. But attend! Say to the baroness that Magdalene Elmer is dyinS!'
 "Dying Oh, mother, do not say so it is very cruel! You are not sick in bed-you are sitting up! You are not old either, but have many years of life before you! !''
 '.Child, hear my words, but do not judge them! Say to Lady Etherdge that Magdalene Elmer, her dying nurse prays-nay, demands to see her this night Teli her that Ihare q con- ession to nuke hat she must hear tonight or nerer Conjure her by all she holds dear on earth by ali her hopes of Heaven by all her fears of hell to come to me tonight! Tell her # she .rould es- cape the heariest curse Mat could darken romans He to come to me to. night to come to me at onces!