Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-05-14
Rose Elmer
DIVIDED HEART AND A DIVIDED
LIFE.
BY KRIS soUTHwoRTH.


Arms, a quaint old tavern, in the ancient little
town Of sRinbums, in the West of England.
BY their looks and eoEyersatiOn, it was eyi-
q dent that come event Of unusual IMPOTENCE
was expected 70 come of.
They were, IN fact. awaiting the arrival Of
mail coach, which was 70 bring down Colonel
Hastings, and his son Albert, who was the
bridegroom elect Of Lady Etheridge, Baroness
OF S0inburne, the last Of her race, and cole
heiross Of The immense wealth and vast estates
Of her lOrdly ancestors.
The nuptials were to Be celebrated on the
following day; and the retainers and neighbOrS
of the noble bride. who almost woFshipPed her
for her goodness Of heart, we're anxious to see
the man who was to be their beloved "lsdy's"
husband.
They had not long to wait. The coach
soon came thunderng up TO the door; and as
soon as the steps were let down by the obse-
quious laneloFd, Colonel Hastings issued fOfih.
lie was an elderly gentleman, tall. spare and
stoopinp; was clothed il a suit ofclerical black
and his pale, thin, long face was surrounded
BY hair and whiskers prematurely gray. He
was closely attended By his secret rstary-Fer din :
and Cassinove-an Italian, Of such graceful
mien and dignifed bearing, that he might have
been taken for prince OF the blood attended
byan old gentleman in waiting.
Next came forth young gentleman, whose
handsome person and hanghly manner at once
Pttracted general attention. His form was tall,
and finely proportiOned, crowned BY hanghty
head and face, with high aquiline features fair
and fresh complexion, light blue eyes, and very
light, fsxen hair. His expression of counte
nauce in keeping with his whole manner, was
stern almost to Tepsllant severity. Great
beauty Of person, with great dignity of manner,
forms a combination very attractive 10 most
young women, and P7Thaps It was this that
fascinated the young heiress. Of SwinbuFne Cas-
tie for this was Albert Hastings, the bride
groom elect. He was followed into the house
by his valet, bearing his dressiug-case-
After slight rePast, Colonel Hastings, atten
ded by Cassinove, drove of to the castle TO have
a preliminary interview with Lady Etheridge,
(vho was bis ward,) and arrange the marriage
settlements. On arriving at the lordly castle,
Cassinove was shown into sitting-roOm, while
the colonel proceeded to the library, whittier
bis ward was requested to come to meet him.
As the young Italian paced up and down be
room, occasionally pausing before ful length
mirror, which reflected the spacious window
Preaching from ceiling to fOor) and the pic
furesdue landscape beyond, suddenly, among the
roses outside, glided purple'draped female
figure, that Immediately rivetted his attention.
. Il was q woman in the earliest bloom of youth.
As young Cassinove eazed upon her reflected
image, as be never gazed UPON her, be felt as
among the flowers. Her fern was above the
medium height, and well rounded. Her head
was finely formed, and covered with profns
ion of let black glittering haIT that was plainly
parted over her broad, expansive forehead, and
swept around the temples. and wound into q
massive knot at the back of the head
Her eyes were large, luminous. dark gray Orbs,
that seemed, whenever the long veil of lashes
was lifted, to throw q light wherever they
afr nd ua1l
formed, her lips rounded, and Like all the rest,
full of character In th3 carriage Of her head
and neck, and in her stately footsteps, there
was q certain natural majesty that, even in
q peasants dress, would have proved her one q
Natures queens.
The impression made upon the enthusiastic
heart of Ferdinand Cassinove was at once vivid,
deep, and strong-quicka as sun>painting, prsma-
nsnt as sculpture. BE saw this goddess Of the
intellectual brow and stately step open the
window and advance into the room, and as she
approached him be felt bis whole frame thrill
with a strange emotion of blended pain and de-
light BE dreaded to move, yet the needle
turns to the magnet, he felt himself turning
from the reflected imagine to face the original
He stood befOre that queenly form, and mel
those large, luminous, dark eyes fixed upon hin
in royal graciousness, as she said ."
"You are Colonel Hastingss secretary, ] be
lieve, sir. Pray sit down. You viii find the
London papers on that table" And, with
graceful bow, the lady passed him, and seated
herself on sofa, at the extremity of the room
took up pOitfolio, and was soon deeply en-
gagged with its contents. ~
Alter the profound bow with which he had
returned her courtesy, Ferdinand CassinoYe re-
NAMED motionless where she had left him. But
ten minutes had elapsed since she had glider
in among the flowers, and passed him like 6
vision seen in some beautiful dream. But tel
minutes, and life, the world, himself, were al
changed for Ferdinand CassinOve. He Jelt
from that moment asas his fate must take "a
character for good OF eUH from the lvil Of thG
T0ydt-loOkulg lgo1laR. T-.
aMy lady Colonel HRstiDRs's respects, and
be awaits your ladyship in the library. 49,,
every well, Williams; 90 and say to Colone
Hastings that I Will attend him immediately,
answered the lady, rising.
This queenly woman, then, was Laura
Baroness Etheridge Of SWinburne For eVel
and for ever unatIaipable by him Oh. des-
psirI His castle in the air tumbled all abou
him, and buried all his hopes and aspirations II
its fall 0
After greeting Colonel Hastings, on he
entering the library, Lady Etheridge took
parchment from drawer in the comfortable
and handed it TO her guardian. On examining
the document, the colonel found it to be a deet
OF Qulf dDbUiuAef u ueE GnElro maQuIuceQ
estate, to Albert Hastings, her Intended hus
band. The colonel pretended much surprss
& and refused to accept The deed, alleging tina
such an act might give riae to unpleRaant criii
eiSm. ytH
HOh, Colonel Hastings there can be nj
question of mine and thine between me AM
Albert. The deed Of gift that transfers all m.
Dossessions to nv future husband is made out
let it be executed. He shall then never b
Jealous of his wife's riches, for she will com
70 him as poor as a cottage girl, exclaime
Lady Etheridge, with pure devotion Of loy
flushing her cheek and lighting her eyes.
After protesting somewhat further sgslni
such noble generosity, the colonel allowed him
self to be persuaded to accept the deed, an
called IN Cassinove to witness It's execution !
due fern. The pocr secretary c0uld scaEcel
hold the pen which the colonel handed him, Z
great was his agitation. His emploJe coul
MT help remarking upon the unusually poo
signature which the Italian affixed, as witness
8 to the deed; bnf Htts did The colonel OF ths bay
Oaess knOso he terrible passions that t0srs sssth
2 tir IN The sseretarys soul, or the iHPOrfaH
qE gesus that they l5eTe destined to bring abOsts
We viii now return to the bridegroom elec
whom We left at the Swinburpe Arps
Colonel Hastings had scarcely leg tns 1901 4.
ere Mr.. Alhert Hastings arose, sFelcheu mn nm
self with a weary yawn, and oesah 20 pa
thoughtfuly up and down 1s noOf' nuflnu
ing
'Men think me ye5 fortunate ana nAPP
man; and, doubtless 40 unusual number
good uifts have ts.f showeFed upon me by tb
- ~ A. bIi-l gOddess-not tie least anon
tSsn you'll be esteemed the hand Of Ii
ws,hb-a afo1ng 6aronoset ny bride expsctan