The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-07-12
EIearnr Eordaunt, /,

Eleanor MCrazulEs room was in the western wing
Of a1Fdauut EUil and t looked forth toward Beau
tgr PeoJF Che finest state IN all the country round
Eoraalat 1aIl was Itself very handsome place 1t
stood 0l q sunny ,-4i, a1d IN the charming
leae Isrsaeed Haiks ed down to the waters edge
gud tae u53gg3 eFl very green; the parterres very
Eag sail. flowers. &ut there nothing here to COM
pare wsa tie aa5E richness and solemn grandeur Of
Beaufort woods. From Eeanors window you could
Just tau massive s.9ne turTets through the trees
aud catch Ae5e ana there glimpse Of the carriage
road shining white sith gravel. Down this very road
old Hag Beaufort used drive in all the state of her
supsaJa chariot and iour gray horses with her grand
eti 3gantae two and heirs of Beaufort Priory by
her si0C--aaa make h5r periodical call on the Nor
daEHtE.
From the ealiea. eeollection Eleanor had been
taught t9 look upon berself as the future mistress of
Beaufort rs naughty lordhad incurred heavy OBJ
Ea3tior 40 aer 8Fyu her which was thus to be
gellza. As frst ths Bows of whom the youngest was
sz veaza older tbaa himself regarded her pretty
ul5ytaine and made friends with her accordingly
Bat yi4a thsr game ON the university, to find her
fifteen ears gsa vita the dress and manners of a
ya5fF Ia9v a period Of hafboyish shyness succeed
cd and then after che bent of their different natures,
faav both loved her
aud indeed Eleanor Mordaunt was common girl.
She was proud f9r prile had been the very life and
soul 8f her system o eucaton; but if proud, she
pare chazte eaE3 lave seen picture of her which
reminded mc of ny tavorite the Egyptian Cala-tall,
Z
blood Of The tropics making warmth and fire beneath.
AZ fifteen She was woman, with all woman's hopes,
dreams and aspirations. No who looked upon
haF calm beautiful Intellectual face, would have sus-
uectsd aer for m0gtent of msSishness Sentimen-
. tality Iu the words of Lawrence who painted her
nortrait she was sHeh an one knights of old would
10 bagGts f8r until death. And the brothers loved
aar Tha elder Hyde Beaufort loved her, his nature
was next 10 himseIt--with the COOL determined pas
sion If one never tfed, secure OF ultimate posses
sion. Hs calm, blue eyes measured her pertectons
with kind of pr0prietor-ke satisfaction and as II she
were already lis own he was contented to leave his
brother an lhe tte courteses of picking up her glove
OF fastening refractory bracelet
harold Beaufort loved her differently He had in.
Hertga The features nd the nature of his mother who
died fzH 1Guzs after his BIRTH There was passion
EIeG4 III bis dark eyes depth in his voice. turn
10 BIS haughtg head which told of ordinary force
auu eolups4s Vi character. He loved her more than
himself more than life heaven. And Eleanor knew
all this, though neither had given voice to emotion
of passion.
And silently her own heart made its election With
all the strength of affections she loved Harold Beau
fort tut with all the strength of her PRIDE she onged
for Beaufort Priory and determined to possess it.
Her nature strange compound of good and evil.
All the good instincvely sought Harold, and sprung
up and bore fruit in his presence. But there also
much evil, mad ambition sinful pride, and all this
looked upon and coveted the Prory. She loved Har-
old aud yet there something in the cold o'ermas
ering pride of Hyde Beauf0rts nature, quite much
akin to her Leaning one night on Harolds arm,
she said to him. II don't know how it is, but you
make me feel so strangely-much if wanted to go
into wayside chapel, and kneel down to pray-witl
your brother it is different. If he by my side,
should be likely to gird a sword, and strive
to conquer nations"
But time came when the love she strove to crush
sprang up and bloomed openly The heir of Beaufort
lay deadly SICK and said that his sickness mus
be unto DEATH And now, Eleanor permitted herself
to love the younger son. who banshed from the sick
chamber of his brother, continually by her side
In spite of the feyerish anxiety with which his noble
lOnged for his brothers recovery he could
control thrill Of JOY at the feeling that Ecanor
hand lay longer his arm, or halt tlmidy returning
pressure Of his She seventeen now; for tive
| wears he had loved her.
There came at last an hour when he could rOmeir
silent no longer. Walking together in the woods be
tween Beaufort and Mordaunt hall, they had pausec
boHsAtL sFsroad;p5 bvuEs Of lofty oak Tor lev
moments rest For time they sat in silence; she
dimplng the velvet moss with her small feet, and ht
intently watching every expression of her face. A
length she raised her dark gray eyes, and looked full
into his owr
Harold" she said, 'do you know how want tt
live? 1t must be country home, within the shadows
of the ancestral trees and there must be one there
love always, and me only; one whose tone will b
always tender, whose eyes viii be always kind ant
then we will wander forth together much you ant
are doing now Harold; and loving well, the Ions
snail pass over anu never make US BFOM Ulu U
ugly in the tender eyes of tile loved one"
The tears aiIly tremhled her long lashes as she
concluded. In that hour, right wrong his wild love
would have utterance. He sank on his knees besd
her-he raised her hand, liy-white, and almost a
fragile, to his lip, and then he said
Il love you; Eleanor; you have known that yer.
long. You mus have heard it in my tones and reat
it in my eyes; but you proud and cold, fai
lady Eleanor dired not ask you to be mine But, to
day you changed, sweet gentle three year child
and love you letter than VIII you let me
Eleanor? [ can give all that you have wished-th
quiet home, the owing heart-will you take them?"
She had listened to his words in blushing tremulou
delight, which, spite of her strong will would maxi
itself visible, for she loved him wildly; but now sh
drew away with gesture half naughty, the hand b
would have pressed his heart and answered codly-
'This seems no meet time to talk OF love, when you
brother lies in tint gray hall yonder perhaps even no'
dying. When lie gets WELL / will answer you. BE
side" and now her tone half scornful half saI
castc-'if fantied that quiet life now, another tim
Hg Eg3al ng Sd. change ard ] should plae tor courts
and ask sou to such diamonds as every acre oi Gina
country home couldn't bug, to twine II my hair. u
hlnor as chaagel now, and choose 70 walk hon
alone
aFo tafE~d ayard MordauH6 ball and walked resc
igtpt5 aHat 'alaHg bin sitting there silent, sOTcwlu
dgspauHg 1htHs very spot where q few moments %
{ lCre, sa tla G and hopc,he had tod his love Il
raised hlz a1l ind looked after her bnt ne could nc
sec bow e. u@a look sofleued into happiness, whe
once shs 4 1eF face seeHre EEaa 4a5srga-s-.-..
loved hE. 5s spite Of ber pride perhaps be1aas
o lk one "a preaa Of h.a, Of his gifts hs an.
+ nass hs noble me. Hyde Beaufort woaa 1itf 81
sear5e feare ts recovery and she aoUld be nisrres
: Of Besa5 and viie NJ lis lof3-har Tia --aaE b'
loved. loved 10 eall him herr in Eh4 sel
he%s.sa Eaar4 FIkg Harold, sbe also was a0therles
perh5,- ,tl..-,-i-a sine might have beau h5pptaf-
N0tfE - 1 ,,eg Iler-aare might save saftgnel hg
s.su# 1rfis into vsnian geuleness, an4 tasht 'eF
nea ,ss rr,.o bza-fs nv eigber Standard ghaa br3a
4 -ahd# aud ancestral jewels.
! isfysx hoars after sbe sat fl silence ct her VIC
,er siadoV, 81 was night The Stars sa9na .oa-
s9ia au and siIent--hfight as the ever-se-t2 go
ahg The moon walked ID her beauty ana usi Z
.tou-L -aaaa thtaneh the aIus lathg Of abaFenI Y