, 1864-04-09
A Story Of chilhaih Gastle.

~ Woo an ShAg NoyD Vi OOAAu AA4SnA8AA1
with whom the tough barons Of England
had q bold word to say at Runnymede,
that ROhesia de Dover found herself an
orphan, by the death Of her father, and
one Of the richest maids Of Kent. We
have said she was beautiful, and not long
was it before she had many suitors for her
hand. Among them all there was not one
she could love. Most were her equals in
birth, many were her equals in wealth; but
to none Of the gay mobiles who knelt at her
feet could she surrender her heart Some
called her over naughty, some cold-hearted /;
and damsels Of lesser beauty, who beheld
the strength Of her charms, made their re-
marks respecting her Of q character by no
means hattering.
The Lady ROhesia, though beautiful and
cultivated for the age in which she lived,
was not the most discreet or best-tempered
creature in the world, She was pretty,
and knew it; was rich, and knew that also.
She had her whims, was somewhat exact
ing, and even tyrannical. Henry de Ash.
ford loved her with all the ardor Of first
love, and pressed his suit with becoming
modesty and earuestness, She appeared
at first to encourage him, and employed him
in such small Offices as q mistress knows
so we'll to set forth, and lover to fulfill.
II was Henry who broke het palfrey,
trained her hounds and hawks. 1t was
Henry who feathered the arrow for the
crossbOw, and touched the lutte at her bid
ding. Henry soon discovered that he was
regarded as the mere varlet Of q spoiled
beauty. He did not break his heart; but
turned his back on Chilham Castle and its
heartless mistress, and left England, never
expecting to return to it.
1t was only when Henry de Ashford had
taken his final leave Of Rohesia de Dover
that she discovered she could love. Repen-
tance came too late, and in her bosom there
was void which she believed no time
could gil. And with that waywardness and
recklessness which woman often mistakes
for vengeance, although the blow was di-
rected against her own peace and happi-
ness, Rohesia de Dover listened to the
wooing Of Saxon churl, and became his
wife. Il was Elfric Of HOrnidean, whose
ancestors had been left in peaceable pos
session Of their lands at the time Of the
Conquest. He was Of noble descent, and
so far was equal mate to the Lady Of Chill
ham. But he was gross in his manners,
rude in speech, Of coarse and sturdy per-
son, aud seen by the side Of his wife, re-
sembled . rugged Druidical block by the
sideof 6graceinlly slender column. Much,
too, he loved mead and potent Ale, and was
brave man at the treneher. When not
drinking he was eating, and, when neither
eating or drinking, sleeping except when,
between eating and drinking, he was quar-
relIing with his lady. The lady was as
apt with her tongue Is her lord, and hence
il may be imagined that they led no plea
SAINT life together. They were BY no means
q romantic couple, in spite Of the romantic
castle in which they lived; by no means .
pleasant pair, notwithstanding the pleasant
rural scenes with which they were sur
rounded. II was plain contradiction Of
nature, and Rohesia bitterly ried the day
when she rejected the suit Of the gentle
Henry de Ashford.
Some people called ii fortunate piece
Of business for the Lady Rohesia. Whether
i was or was not, the reader shall judge
tor himself We are Obliged here to stand
BY the narrative
1t happened one DAY that Aiiric the
saxon returned from BOAR hunt, tired and
hungry, and sat down 70 an ample rePass;t'
doing full justice TO an OK OF ms own XIII
ing. HIS libatlonS were IN proportion %
the solids ne put beneath his lerkln' and
ne ended ms meal by falling asleep
This day, for wonder, ne nac not gwen
cross WORD to the Lady nonesla, and ~ did
not kick his dog more than once. Inc
sieeP, Of 1Elfric was sound--s0 very souno,
that ne never woke IRON It: Inc cnerlT was
carried on BY an aPoPIectlc ~, leaving Pc
hind noWIse dlscoGsoiate WIDOW
put the neart OF hohesla was cnasteneo
aud sOftsned IN tune. She was more
wealthy tnsn ever, put ner nea5t was less
proud ana aitnougn sne could now nave
united nersen 70 some o. tne greatest mo-
bles In the land, her thoughts would ever
more revert % neI nrst ana trHSst lOveI,
Henry De Ashford ana mucn sue Dlame9
her past caprice ana wIywarunesS! ano
owned 70 hefSeii tnat :ne mao Deen Justly
punished. she was sun young ana Deautl-
t9l' and had nor many admirers put among
them all not one VINO S9ulo mA.cn' In her
estimation, tnc geG.le nsnLy' c.n