Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-16

snls "oEiu, else sweet hose Elmer only should
De tne Wiie OF Albert Hastings. Poor girl,
htr, under the name of William Lovel, is real
" AIoert Hastings, the envied bridegroom of
the high-born Lady Etheridge of Swinburne
III cannot be helped. cannot pause for lady's
right, or maiden's honor. Here, then. for a
DIVIDED life; my hand to the lady of Swim
burne-my heart to the lovely cottage girl:
oniy Lady Etheridge must never know of Rose
Elmer and William Lovel, nor must Rose Ell
mer know Lady Etheridge and Albert Hast
lngs And now to persuade Rose to go before
me into wales, where myself and my lady
bridge are to spend our honeymoon. -
And so saying, he took his hat, and strolled
out into the street
Taking course opposite to that which led 10
Swlnburne Castle, Albert Hastings soon came
to cross-country road, which he followed for
some two miles, and then turning into a by
path, he went on until he came to a secluded
and lovely cottage. Opening the door of this
elegant retreat with latch key, he passed in.
1t was lovely abode, fit for the home of a
fairy. And for fairy Albert Hastings had
had 1t furnished. The fairy's name was Rose
Elmer, and she was the daughter of the village
laundress. Albert had accidentally met her on
one Of his visits to the castle, and, as his soli
oquy, given above, shows, had fallen despe-
rately In love with her; and under the assumed
name OF William Lowell, had won the beautiful
and innocent maiden's heart.
lie had had the cottage furnished, and was
that morning to meet Rose there, where they
had so often met, by appointment. Rose came
at iast and as soon as the first joyous greetings
were over, the intriguing lover set at work to
persuade her to consent to a secret marriage;
as he well knew, by a thousand tests of charac.
Ter, tnat ne could never gain his purpose unless
Rose believed herself to be his wife His task
was a 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 at all that Mr. Hastings wished.
but neither logic nor eloquence could convince
or persuade Rose Elmer to desert her aiIing
mother; and upon no other condition than that
OF oelng allowed to remain with her would she
consent to the sIcret marriage
Ana, hnaliy, he obtained u promise from
Rose that she would meet him at the cottage
that same night where by a previous arrange
ment, MS confidential servant, disguised as
clergyman, was to be in attendance to perform
the marriage ceremony. After which, Rose
should return to her mother, TO remain during
the lew weeks of his absence in Wales, whittier,
he said, impartant business forced him. This
agreed upon, they took leave of each other for
few hours, and returned to the village by
different routes Mr. Hastings went TO his inn
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.
When Rose entered the house, there was a
smoldering FIRE in the CRATE, and beside this
hre, In an old arm chair, sat female, whom no
one would have passed without second look.
enc was a woman Of commanding presence.
her form was tall, and must once have been
hnely rounded; but now it was worn thin. al
most TO skeleton meagerness. Her features
were nobly chiselled, and might once have been
grandiy beautiful, but now they were sunken
and emaciated as those of death Under her
broad and prominent forehead, and heavy
oiack eyebrows, shone pair of large, dark
gray eyes that burned iercely with the fires of
fever or 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
face rusty black gown and sham 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 1 hope
you feel In better spirits?" said Rose, laying
off her bonnet, and coming to the womsn's
side.
Better. Where have you been? 1 have
wanted you
II have been-taking a walk through the
woods, dear mother; and see, here are some
Wild strawberries l picked for you on my re-
turn. Will you eat them?" said Rose, Offering
her little basket
"NO; want none of them. You care little
for me-"
"MOther, don't say that. You do not know
how much love you"
Hush, girl, you have little cause-oh,"
And the woman suddenly struck her hand
upon her heart, dropped her head upon her
breast, and seemed convulsed by some great
agony. Her features worked frightfully, her
frame shuddered
Mother, mother, what is the matter" ex-
claimed Rose, throwing her arms around the
woman in great alarm.
1T is-past, gasped the woman, breathing
with great difficulty.
"What was it, dearl'
"a spasm. 1t is gone'
''Oh, mother, will it return?"
Perhaps"
Let me run for a neighbor or the doctor "
Nay, you must run somewhere else To-
morrow, ,Laura-Lady Etheridge of Swinburne
weds with Albert Hastings, Of Hastings Hall
II is 90, is il not?"
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
comes-they love her SO we'll"
"Yes, she is high and mighty lady; yet,
sweet and gracious as becomes one so exalted
OOhO SIl, huctl uOWu DclOre me, so
that may take your face between my hands.r
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, and gazed upon it wistfully,
critically, murmuring-
Fair face, delicate features, COMPLEXION
pure as the inside Of a conch- she'll, white, and
flushed with red; hair like fine yellow silk,
and eyes blue and clear as those of infancy;
hands, small and elegant. have not let pow
erty spoil your beauty, have /, my child %
"No, dear mother, you have let kindness
more likely spoil me-" said Rose, in simple
wonder, at her words
Z" I have not let your person grow coarse
with hard work, have 1, dear ?'
"No, mother; notwithstanding that ought
to have worked with you, and for you"
"Your hands have never been roughened by
helping me in the laundry"
"No, mother; though they ought to have
been"
Nor have your sweet eyes been spoiled by
needle work ?n
g No, good mother; I have been as useless as
hne lady, to my shame"
And l have worked hard TO save you from
work, and to pay for your schooling, have
Dear mother, you have! You have been
the best mother in the world and only too