Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-03-08
HaisrfIIanrous.
THE LADY OF LYNDHuRsr HALL
ny MARY KYLE DALLAS.

marble walls Of Lyndhurst Hall, and gliding
the brown roof of the little cottage in the wall
ley beyond.
In the shadow Of this tiny dwellings, vine
wreathed porch sat stately and beautiful
woman The embroidery on which she had
been at work had fallen neglected 20 her feet,
and her eyes were fixed on the smooth lawn
Of Lyndhurst Hall Arm in arm along this
green expanse wandered two children dark
manly-iooking boy and a iair-haired blue-cyed
girl--a very snow-drop some two years
younger They were singing, and as the clear
cadence Of their youthful voices foated on
the lady's ear a smile cured her red lips, and
she whispered TO herself, d" Lily shall be the
lady of Lyndhurst yet.
Margaret Elmore was Wy nature an ambi-
tous woman. Years ago, 10 her earliest
youth, she had given her heart 20 one whose
homage was all her woman's soul could crave,
and whose wealth and station satisfied her
ambitious mind But some fancicd or actual
wrong had wakened- Margaret's pride, and Of
her own free will she had turned aside to
tread alone lie's pathway, hiding her grief
and keeping still the same proud heart and
face her girlhood wore Lily was the lady's
niece. Lovclior or sweeter it would have
been impossible for her to be. That Marga-
ret loved her was no marvel Every living
heart Graves some object round which vine
like 20 twine itself For this child's sake the
smouldering cmbers Of ambitious hopes and
lofty aspirations burst once more into flame.
Margaret Elmore was not one TO be utterly
baiiied in any object her proud heart was fix
ed upon.
Long years before. standing on that very
cottage porch, she had watched horseman
ride down the long green slope beyond, to-
wards the castle and whispered, as he van
ished from her sight, " shall be lady Of
Lyndhurst Hall yet"
That dream was never realised. Those
hopes Of wealth and pride and station which
her proud heart coveted had flown with soft
cr dreams and gentler hopes which Margaret
Elmore scarcely knew herself until they were
gone forever.
And now she sat, Watching these children
with the same proud smile upon her lip it
wore so long ago, as she repeated, Lilly shall
be lady Of Lyndhurst Hail.
The song had ceased, and the children, with
many q silvery laugh, Aoatod to and froin the
great swing pendant from the branches of a
huge elm tree not far distant, together first,
and then Lily alone--a fairy weight for those
great branches, was waftcd through the air,
looking downward, as she few, at the boys
laughing fce-while her hyacnthine curls
were lifted by the zophyr- out into the sun
light, where they CLEANED and glittered like
threads of gold.
e am tired, | want to get down" said
LILY
The boy lifted her lightly to the ground as
she spoke, and they sat upon the ground to-
ge,her
'' You are very strong" said Lily
Yes, replied the boy. Il am ten years
old. / shall bea man soon and then-then,
Lily, | shall 90 to Italy where papa is, and
where poor mamma was worn. And we shall
see pictures and statues, and hear the eau l.
ful music such as we never hear here. Oh.
that will be delightful. And TO be with papa
too '
" But I shall be alone said Lily.
Alone! No, Lily, YOU remember what
you promised me You will be my htae wife
then, and we will go together Leave you a.
lone why. Lily -
The child put mp her red lips TO meet those
Of her iitNe lover; and, hr away on that vine
wroathed porch, Margaret Elmore, as though
her ear had caught their words, repeated soft
ly to herself" Lily shall be lady of Lynd-
hurst yet.
They were together always, those two chill
dren. The stately old lady under whose guar
dianshp the motherless boy was placed tho t
the beautiful. well-attired child a fitting
pla, mate for the young heir Of Lyndhurst,
and Margaret Elmore lost no opportunity Of
throwing the two children into each others
company. And distant as must be the reali-
zation Of her hopes, they were no less strong
or determined.
Through the years Of childhood the intima-
cy still continued, losing nothing ofits warmth
or zest, but growing even closer until the
boys fourteenth birth-day arrived, and then
came a summons from the long-absent father
for his son to Join him in Florence. The
children parted with many tears and promises
to write to each other, and these promises
we're kept most faithfully. Margaret saw that
it was sustained on lily's side, and the boy
was faithful correspondent
Il was curious to watch tine progress Of this
youthful interchange of mind-thosa FIRST chill
dish eHnrts. The slow advancement in each
letter and at last the perfect productions Of
perfect minds, sparkling with gems Of thought
and genius. They wrote to each other only
as brother and sister might. yet Margaret
smiled as she perused the letters, and read,
amidst descriptions of present scenes, allu-
sions to the by-past hours spent upon Lynd-
hurst lawn and merry gambols in the cottage
porch, aud whispered" Lily shall be lady
of Lyndhurst."
He is coming here next year" said Lily,
as she handed Edward last letter to Margar-
ct Elmore. "EIe is coming home next year,
aunt; am very glad
80 am /, Lily answered her aunt; "for
l feel sure that you will love each other"
I'VE do that already, aunt" said Lily
"Wore Edward my brother ! could not love
him more than do now
"Your brother Nonsense, Lily; affecta-
ton is unnecessary with me-, said the lady,
impatiently. "Your brother Do you feel as
a sister should to Edward Lyndhursti'
AUNT, cried the girl as a rosy flush mount
ed to her temples; "aunt, aunt, what can you
mean Edward is as much my brother as
though he were one by blood
"Foohsh girl, cried Margaret Elmore.-
"Listen to me a moment; had you one spark
of womanly feeling you would not need that
l should speak thus plainly; but, as it is,
must put what one else would have under
stood before this into words, that you may
know my meaning An opportunity, such as
is seldom offered to iortuncless girl like as
yourself lays before you. Take advantage ol
| it. You are beautiful; beauty alone can do