, 1865-02-24


decide whether you can wedsher, when YOU are
acquainted with her character and disposition.
lfyou can; it will add to my happiness; if you
cannot, shall regret it, but it will cause me no
unkindness between US
NAY, sir, but let me tell You the entire truth
at once, which should have told you Before
am married. el rilrag
Married, sirl T9'whOm2' f5ni o
Married, ArthurP -rt Is, r-
married, my cbildP
The young man looked from one speaker to
| the other and replied firmly, though respect
fully $3.50 gao
Yes, sir; yes, mother, | am married.
'Andpray, sir, asked the father IN contempt
GUS Indignation, and pray, sir, whom did you
find in India to make a fitting wife fora young
man frank and fortune2 What needy adven-
turess, in search Of withered yellow nabob,
6etteTed i 9y her hopes by entrapping an English
None sir. Iacknowledge your surprise and
Indignation are just, but have not done as lily
as you assume. Twas married beforeI went to
India,
An, my son, into what folly has your frantic
rage led you?
Not SO mother; the act was incousiderate, it
was wrong, itwas hasty, but it was not the con
sequence ofrage When my farther urged me
to marry Lady Agatha Parham, was already
married.
Already married, to whom, and when, and
where were you marriedP
you will lrecollect, sir that last year, few
days after the holidays you spoke to me of mar
rying Lady Agatha-spoke of it as a matter that
must be performed. | set out in anger for the
North. Not wishing to be traced, I foolishly
dropped my surname, sent my servant to T,ond0n
and, calling myself Mr. Williams, travelled un-
noticed until reached the vicinity of Durham
where halted for a few days, and made the ac-
quaintance of young lady named Berkley who
was living in the Rector's family. She was
beautiful and accomplished, and frequent com
panionship ripened admiration into love
learned with surprise that she was fugitive
from her family, to escape marriage with
worthless profligate, upon whom her parents
were determined to bestOw her hand. They had
discovered her retreat and were about to compel
her return home. One means of escape offered
and one only-a husbands protection would Sc
cure her from the power of her family | urged
she resisted, but the certainty of being else driv-
en- to a second fruitless fight, or immediate sub
mission to her fathers severe commands deci-
ded her to yield to my entreaties We fed to
Scotland, and were married. / returned home
to explain and prepare you to receive her.
Your commands to repair to Parham and prepare
for marriage met me at my entrance Foolishly
angry, paused not to state my position, bnt an
swered rudely, h2rshly, undutifully. The con-
sciousness of the secret the conviction that
had acted wroDgfully in marrying without your
advice and approval, aggravated my anger, and
left, at war with myself, with you, and the whole
world
And what became your wife, while you
were IN India q
The difference between my commission in the
Guards and that in the 20th, furnished her with
means of support
"But you have not yet told US who She is. This
marriage, too, being under feigned name is
void .f
Not so, sir. Twas married in my own name.
Her family is respectable, am assured by Dr.
Walters in whose family met her Her name
was Berkeley, Amelia Berkeley
amelia Berkleyl The name sounds well. but
is shea match for the heir Of MOntacute, one Of
the Oldest Earldoms of England2
'She is a lady, sir, in manners and habits, fit
to grace any station
Does she know your name, surname, and
rankp
She knows my name, bet not my rank She
learned my name when we were married, and
has since bomeit'
Have you seen her family or any of its mems
bers? Where did she reside while you were in
India, and where is she now?
DR.. Walters procured her lodgings with GU
rate in the vicinity of Hampstead. She is now
awaiting my return at the Montacute Arms in
the village.
WELL sir, we will not disturb this night with
further discussion We have forgiven your err
rors, which, in part, flowed from my own, and
we viii, for the season, at least, receive the
daughter you have given us,witha warm well
come. Say not well, my ladyY
Very well. Let Arthur bring her here at
once
Nay, will be his messenger. 1t WILDE more
generous more fatherly. She will feel more
heartily welcomed, i'll bring her, instead Of
sending for her. Let him stay here and relate
his Eastern adventures, while hasten to the
village to bring home our daughter We will
have merry Christmas yet.
The old Lord spoke gaily, and theladies smiled
back his looks ofpeasure.
But, as a stranger, sir, she may not be willing
to come with you alone, said Arthur
Mark, he is both jealousand tmid. So much
for runaway match. But the girl that conf
ded in young man-wiIl not be likely to befright-
ened by an old one and that old one her hus-
bands father So ring the BELL and viii order
the carriage and be back before yon growimpa-
tient at my delay
In the best parlor of the little inn sat a young
lady, whose airs and manners exhibited her rank
and education She was resting her head
upon her hand, and herpale cheeks
and profound abstraction, proved how painful
was the anxiety She felt. A servant opened the
door.
"a gentleman wishes to see you, madam.
ga gentleman Request him to send up his
name" s0
"He declined giving his name, madam. he
said you would see him. He is an elderly gem
tleman, madamg you had better see him
Very we'll, if respectable man ...f. !
Oh, yes, ma am, very respectable, indeed He
came in his own carriage" and the fellow per-
haps, would have explained who it was, hadnot
an advancing step recalled his discretion, and
adding, The gentleman, ma ann, he admitted
Lord Montacute and retired
Lord Montacute, advancing gaily and kindly, 1
holding out both hands, exclaimed io ao
so you are or were Miss Amelia Berkley my
dear girl?'
The lady, who had looked fearfully towards
the door if she feared an unwelcome visitor
in the gentleman, sprang at once to meet him.
"Oh, my Lord, am happy tosee you n
"Thank you, my child, and | have come to 4
carry you to to the Manor House, to spend !
Christmas Eve and Christmas week" And be
kissed her with fatherly tenderness,
II thank you, my Lord, but must wait for
the return of my husband.p
"lt is unnecessary. Moredaunt is awaiting
you there. See, here is his card, IIleft him
there in pawn, and came TO carry you to him.
I could not trust him to come, lest he should
run away with you.H di 1uujuq