Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-05-19

| hhu caiieu 10 CaSSln0Ve 10 witness It's execu'
tion in due form The poor secretary could
scarcely hold the pen which the Colonel
banded him, so great was his agitation. His
employer could not help remarking upon the
unusually poor signature which the Italian
affixed, as witness, to the deed /; but lille did
the colonel or The baroness k1ow the terrible
passions that rere seethinq in the secretory's
sonl, or the important results that they uere
destined to bring about.
We will now return TO the bridegroom elect
whom we left at the Swinburne Arms.
Colonel Hastings had scarcely left the
room ere Mr. Albert Hastings arose, stretched
himself with weary yawn, and began to pace
thoughtfully up and down the floor, murmur-
ing
"Men think me q very fortunate and happy
man and. doubtless, an unusual number Of
good gifts have been showereJ upon me by
the favor Of the blind goddess-not the least
among them would be esteemed the hand Of
this wealthy young baroness, my bride expec-
tant. Well, we cannot have everything we
want in this world, else sweet Rose Elmer
only should be the wife Of Albert Hastings.
Poor girl she little dreams Of the man who
has wooed her, under the name OF W lillian
Lovel, is really Albert Hastings, the envied
bridegroom OF the high born Lady Etheridge
of Swnburne. 1t cannot be helped. can.
not pause for lady's right, or maiden's honor.
Here, then. for q divided life my hand to
the lady Of Swnburne-my heart to the love.
ly cottage girl ; only Lady Etheridge must
never know of Rose Elmer and William
Lovel, nor must Rose Elmer know Lady
Etheridge and Albert Hastings. And now
to persuade Rose to 90 before me into Wales,
where myself and my lady. bride are to spend
our honeymoon"
And so saying, he took his hat, and stroled
out into the street.
Taking course opposite to that which
led to Swinburne Castle, Albert Hastings
soon came to cross.country road, which he
followed for some two miles and then turning
into by.patb, he went on until he came to a
secluded and lovely cottage. Opening the
door of this elegant retreat with a latch key
be passed in. 1t was q lovely abode, fit for
for the homo of fairy. And for fairy
Albert Hastings had it furnished. The fairy's
name was Rose Elmer, and she was the
daughter of the village laundress. Albert
bad accidentally met her on one Of his visits
to the castle, and. as his solloquy, given
above, shows, had fallen desperately in love
with her; and, under the assumed name Of
William Lowell, had won the beautiful and
innocent maidens heart.
He had the cottage furnished, and was that
morning to meet Rose there, where they had
so often met, by appointment. Rose came nt
last and as soon as the first joyous greetings
were over, the intriguing lover set to work TO
persuade her to consent to q secret marriage
as he we'll knew, by thousand tests Of char
acter, that he could never gain mis- purpose
unles Rose believe herself to be 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.
This was not oil that Mr.. Hastings wished
but neither logic nor eloquence could convince
or persuade Rose Elmer to desert her ailing
mother and upon no other condition than
that Of being allowed to remain with her would
) she consent to the secret marriage.
; And, finally, he obtained a promise from
Rose that she would meet him at the cottage
that same night, where, by q previous or
rangement, his confidential servant disguised
as clergyman, was to be in attendance te
,, perform the marriage ceremony. After which
Rose should return TO her mother, to remair
, during the few weeks of his absence in Wales
wither he said, important business forced
him. This agreed upon, they took leave
each other for few hours, and returned L
: the village by different routes. Mr.. Hastng
went to bis inn and summoned his confdentia
servant to his presence. And Rose Elmer
C leading to her mothers cottage.
o When Rose entered the house, there was
). smouldering fire 10 the crate, and besides thi
8 fire, 10 an old arm chair, sat female, whom
y no one would have passed without secon,
o look. She was o woman Of commanding pre-
8 seuce. Her form was tall, and must ono
Il have been finely rounded but now it wa
o worn thin, almost to skeleton meagreness.-
!, Her features were nobly chiseled, and nigh
d once have been grandly beautiful, but nov
Q they were sunken and emaciated as those @
!. death Under her broad and prominent fore
Il head, and heavy black eyebrows, shone pal
Of large, dark-gray eyes, that burned hercel
I with the fire of fever or of frenzy. Her je
d black hair, slightly streaked with silver, wa
/. half covered with O red handkerchief. tie
d beneath her chin, and partly fallen in e.
# locks down ore side OF her face.
n rusty black gown and shawl completed he
dress.
d AS the door opened, admitting Rose, sh
o turned quickly in her chair, fixing her eye
!. with look of fierce inquiry upon the intrr
d der.
n "IIow are you now, mother dear2 hop
: you feel in better spirits ?" said Rose laylD
e. off her bonnet, and coming to the woman
: side.
st "Better. Where have you been hav
.e wanted you"
81 have been-taking o walk through tn
is woods, dear mother and see, here are SON
ID wild Strawberries picked for you on my r
SIS turn. Will you eat them ?" said Rose, oife
~ ing her little basket.
r. mo; want none Of them. You cal
little for me-"
ID "Mother don't say that. You do not kno
how much love you"
u. "aush, girl, you have little cause-ohF J.
;" And the woman suddenly struck her han
upon her heart, dropped her head upon b
a. breast, and seemed convulsed by some gre
er agony. Her features worked frightfully, b
IA. frame shuddered.
ali "Mother mother what is the matter
nd exclaimed Rose, throwing her arms arouI
the woman in great alarm.
er at is-past," gssped the woman, breathil
a with great difficulty.
le. "What was it. deari"
iu. "a spasm. 1t is gone"
be "Oh, mother, will il return :"
ih. "Perhsps."
ed "Let me run for a neighbor, or the doctor
mr.. "Nay, you must run somewhere else I! !
NO morrow, Laura-Lady Etheridge OF Swl
mt burne, weds with Albert Hastings, ot la
ings Hall. IL is SO, is it not p
M ESurely, dear mother, the village is full