Newbern weekly progress., 1862-04-26

| q. ,tered the room, and q wild, startling
shrek rang through the hall. through
the open door came tho sound OF bur
rying feet, a hasty closing of doors,
and . loud tumult OF eager, excited
voices. 80
Imosene's glance wandered towards
Mrs. Sumner, who, after hearing
Ehloes whispered message, immedi-
ately arose and left the room. Inn
ogene turned toward one OF her.
cousins
$50, Celeste, and inquire the cause
OF this disturbance fear the quarters
have taken fire! +"
In few moments the girl returned,
looking terrified and agitated, and,
covering her face with her hand as it
TO shut out some dreadful sight, sank
shudderingly upon seat.
Oh, Heavens she gasped, at
last. 6 He lies in the hall, wcltering
in blood! there is no hope, the doctor
says he must die! |"
Who-soho are you speaking of?
Tell me quicl--quick I" demanded
Imogene, in q constrained tone.
Colonel Observation-Disclosures
ossasssnatedw
"Saved! saved!" cried Innogene,
tearing off the costly veil from her hair
and trampling it beneath her feet.
SavedLbut at what cost Oh,
God! Thy retribution has been swift
and sure p and, turning from her as
tonished bridesmaids, 1mogene fled
from the apartment.
Imogene Sumner was the only child
of Auguste Sumner, who, dying two
years previous to the opening scenes
of our story, promised the hand of his
daughter to his friend and companion
in arms, Roscoe Marchlnont; failing
in which his entire fortune and estates
should revert to Colonel Marchmont.
OF a fierce, irrascible temper, subject
to stormy fits of passion, so violent at
times as nearly to overcome his reason,
he had ruled his gentle wife and
daughter with an iron will. None
dared oppose him, so furious did he be-
come if any obstacle thwarted his
wishes
The frightened girl, too tiuid to en-
counter his wrath, dared make no re
monstrance when General Sumner,
placing her hand in that Of Roscoe
Marclmont, declared them then and
from that hour betrothed. The next
day he breathed his last, and with all
the pomp and military display befit-
ting his rank was borne to his last rest
ing place; he was buried as he had
lived, amid the booming OF the cannon
and his martial cloak around him."
Imogene, girl of fifteen, grieved
not long over the death of harsh,
tyrannical parent, and even to the
brow of Mrs. Sumner there came re-
turn of serenity long unknown: but she
was not long fated to survive her hus-
band; She contracted a severe cold, a
short hacking cough ensaed-that fatal
harbinger4of death-and bright hec-
tic flush burned on her usually color
less cheek. Great was Imogene's grief
when the family physician announced
to her the fearful nature of her moth
er's malady.
"Let us go to Italy, dear mother !;
there, or among the vines of sunny
France, you will soon recover your
health. DO you not agree with me,
sir 2" she said. turning anxionsly to-
wards Doctor Peters. He smiled du-
biously.
cit will certainly be beneficial and
may, perhaps, prolong her life many
years"
There, mother, you hear!' ex-
claimed 1mogene, clapping her hands
gleefully. :" have faith to believe
even more than he promises"
The invalid shook her head sadly,
but she consented to the change. Imo-
gene was her idol she clung to her
with almost frantic tenderness; could
she but live to see her happy under a
husbands protecting care, she would
Willingly lie down and close her weary
eyes forever, whether in her Georgian
home .r under the blue skies of Italy.
In Province - the home of the
troubadour, the cline of song and story
-thcy fingered long. The fragrant
airs, laden with the perfume of the
orange and myrtle, revived the sinking
frame of Mrs. Sumner, and soon, to
1mogene's delight, she seemed to re-
cover her health and strength.
The chateau in which they resided
was large and rambling but small
portion of it was fitted up with view
to comfort and convenience. The pro-
prietor was young Frenchman, who
was said to. have possessed large es.
tates, which had been confscated un-
der the Bourbons, and the chateau was
the only remnant left OF his once vast
wealth.
Everywhere Imogene heard him
highly spoken of, and she became moi
a little interested to see man whose
praise was upon every ones lips. The