Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-05-14

divided life; my hand 10 the lady Of SWinbuns
my heart to the lovely cottage girl; only
Lady Etheridge must never know Of Rose
Elmer and William LOVel, nor must Resa E.
meF know Lady Etheridge and Albert Hast
inga. And now to persuade Rose to 90 before
me into Wales, where myself and my lady-bride
ara 10 spend our honeymoon"
And 50 saying, he took his hat, and StrOlled
out into the street. Fr1rff $500.
Taking course opposite to that which led
70 sWinbums Castle, Albert Hastings soon
came 10 q eross-oOuntTy road, which be follow
ed for sOms tRo miles, and then tuning into
by-paths be went 90 until be came to secluded
and lovely cottage Opening the door Of this
elegant retreat with a latch kew, he passed in.
II was lovely. abode, fit for the home of q
fairy. And for 6 fairy Albert Hastings had had
it furnished The faiTy's name was Rose E mer,
and she was the daughter cf the villege laun-
dress. Albert had accidentally met her on one
Of his visits to the castle, and, as his soiloqay,
given above, shows, had fallen desperately in
love with her; and, under the assumed name
Of William Lowell, had won the beautiful and
innocent maiden's heart.
BE had had the cottage furnished, and was
that morning TO meet Rose there, where they
bad so often met, by appointment, Rose came
at last; and rs soon as the first joyous greetings
we're over, the intriguing lover set at work to
persuage her to consent TO secret marriage;
as he well knew, by q thousand tests of char
acter, that he could never gain his purpose un-
less Rose believed herself to be his wife. His
task was a hand one; but he finally succeeded.
by promising that she should stay,with b II
mother Just the same, as long as she lived.
This was not aIl that Mr.. Hastings wished,
but neither logic nor el0quence 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 previous arrange
msnt, his confidential servant, disguised as
clergyman, was to be in attendance to perform
the marriage ceremony. After which, Rcse
should return to her mother, TO remain during
the few weeks Of his absence in Wales, Whilher,
he said, important business forced him. This
agreed upon, they took le4ve of each other for
a few hours, and returned to the village by diff
ferent routes. Mr. Hastings went TO his iun,
and summoned his confidential servant to his
presence. And Rose Elmer, full of hope and
joy, turned down the street leading to her
mothers cottage.
"
smoldering Ere III the CRATE, and beside this fire,
IN an old arm chair, sat a female, whom no one
would have passed withouta second look She
was a woman Of Commanding presence. Her
form was tsll, and must once have been finely
rounded; but now it was worn thin, almost to
skeleton meagTeness Her features were nobly
chiseled, and might once have been gfandly
besutilu but now they were sunken and ema-
eiated as those Of death. Under her broad
and prominent forehead, and heavy black eye
brows, shone q pair of large, dark grey eyes,
that burned fercely with the fires Of fever or
Of frenzy. Her jet-black hair, slightly streaked
with silver, was half covered with a red hand
kerchief, tied beneath her chin, and partly
fallen in elf looks down one side Of her face =
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 spirits 7" said Rose, laying
off her bonnet and coming to the woman's side
Better. Where have you been? have
wanted you"
" have been-taking walk through the
woods, dear mother and see, here are some
wild strawberries picked for you on my le-
turn. Will you eat them :" said Rose, offering
her little basket.
e No want none Of them. You care
little for me-"
Mother, don't cay that. You do not know
how much love you.p tf-i. I-
Hush, girl, you have little cause-Ohi"
And the woman suddenly struck her hand
upon her heart, dropped her head upon her
breast, and seemed conVused by some gleat
agony. Her features worked fTightfuIly, her
frame shuddered. ~.
" Mother mother! what is the matter /"
exclaimed Rose, throwing her arms around the
woman in great alarm.
at is-Past, gasped the woman, breathing
with great difficulty.
"WnAt was it, dsar?''
"Aspasm. It Is gone" .iEH
80, mother, viii itrsturn z" asr
"Perhsps." -'i
''Let me run for neigh Dor, or the doctor. D
NAY, you must run somewhere else To-
morrow, Laura-Lady Etheridge of SwiIl>
burne, Weds with Albert Hastings, of Hastings
HALL 1t is so, is it mott"
"Surely, dear mother, the village is full of
the wedding, and talks of nothing else The
village children have been employed all day in
bearing flowers to decorate the castle church,
and to strew in the path OF the bride as she
q
c0Tnes-theY love her so Well"G
''Yes, she is high and mighty lady; yet,
sweet and gracious as becomes one SO exalted.
Come hithef, girl, kneel down before me, SO
that ! may take Your face between nay hands, u
said the woman, growing more strange in her
talk.
Rose obeyed, and her mother, bowing her
own stern, dark face, shut that Of the girl be.
tween her hands, snd gazed upon it Wistfully,
critically, murmuring-
"Fair face, delicate features, complexion
pure as the inside Of eonch>shell, white, and
flushed with red; hait like fine yellow silk, and
1eyes blue and clear as those of infancy; hands,
small and elegant have not let poverty spoil
your beauty, have I, my child %
aNo, dear mother. you have let kindne IS more
likely spoil me, )" said Rose, in simple won ler,
at her words. g., .
81 have not let your person grow coarse with
hard Work, have |, dear = fl aaaa
''No, mother; notwithstanding that / ought
TO have worked with you, and for you"
"Your hands have lever been roughened by
helping me in the laundry"
! "HO, mother; though they ought to have
BEEN
isNOr have your sweet eyes been spoiled by
needls-Work ~ EB
/ ''No, good mother; have been as useless as
hne lady, to my shamen aE
II And have worked hard to save you from
work, and to pay for your schooling, have
not - = 80 -,
Dear mother, you havei You have beer
the best mother IN the world, and only too good
to me. But will try to repay you."
Think OF all that tomorrow, child; AMI
1 WHEN ALL THE COUNTRY AROUND sHuDDERs AZ
ny CRIME, WHEN ALL TIE PEOPLE CALL down
IfMPREoATIoNs UPON KY NANE, do not YOU curs,
one who has noufished you at her bosom, vheT
that bosom is cold ia death, said the woman
solemnlY. r-lls. .Jg
"Oh she is mad mad - exclaimed Rose
IN disnay, ct hearing these words; then lower
ing her voice, she said, "Mother mother try
to collect yourself 1t is l, poor daughter
| Rosa that Ev,saI L. bofora vot, DO Won not knnu