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

would see or hear OF him no more; and as usual the
absent was judged uHiustly. He Lad left, they aa1
because his brother was recovering and he was dis
appointed in the hope Of being lord Beaufort Even
Hyde, vino, after lis own fashion had always loved
him. joined IN this general and unjust belief and
the adT Eleanor, who might have explained all beard
his name aspersed and said nothing.
CHAPTER III.
Six months had passed since the suuner morning
when Eleanor Mogdaant had waved a farewell To leE
departing lover and it was her wedding day She
at last to be lady Of Beaufort. 1t was morning,
and she was not to be married until evening This
had long been a custom with the house of Beaufort
Every bride that assumed that naughty name, spent
the first night Of her honeymoon in the bridalcham-
Der of the Priory and the evening was honored by
feast which lighted up the old halls from turret to
basement
Eleanor was sitting listessy at her window, scarce
ly needing the French maid who was busily packing
and arranging her mistress things
And this is the wedding dress" said Iisette, at
length, holding up satin robe, embroidered with sill
YER threaded here and there with pearls She laid be-
side it the bridayei 1t such an one as no Nor
daunt had ever before the gift of old lady Beau
fort--Italian lace, which could scarcely have been
more costly, hadit meshes been of gold. The
lady Eleanor raised her head and glanced it. a look
of proud satisfaction curling her full lip Pleased
having at last attracted attention. Lsette laid three or
-four caskets on the table before her.
"My lord Hyde's gifts my lady and you have scarce
ly noticed them"
Eleanor turned toward the table and threw open the
caskets. They were of richly wrought ebony, inlaid
with gold and silver Their contents were ancestral
jewels of the house of Beaufort They had been the
property of Hyde Beaufort's dead mother, and now
they were to be eworn by his wife. The first she opened
contained set pearls pear-shaped large white and
brilliant One held rubes, another emeralds and the
last of all, the family diamonds. Eleanor looked at
them steadily No crown princess ever wore finer ones
aai1 n iOut m
Il have made good bargain" and then turning
away, resumed her old occupation of looking from the
window.
Six hours later she was dressed for her bridal
Lisettes skillful French fingers were arranging the
folds of the costly veil, when a servant entered and
presented her letter. She looked at it calmly and
then said; "leave me, Lisette, will read my letter
alone, and ring for you when want YOU"
1t was from Harold; she had never seen his hand
writing before but her heart had told her this, from
the first glance. 1t was written from the mid ocean,
and dated
Cor BOARD THE GOOD sHIr NELSON.
Ny ELEANOR
For once again l must call you mine and surely it
must be too for any other to have that right
surely you not yet lady of Beaufort. have left
England. Here, on the mid Atlantic, just begin to
realize that have parted with you and home forever
You will never see or hear from me more. had not
thought to write these few lines, but longed to
give utterance to more farewell-dbove ALL to tell
you that bless your name and shall do until the
latest hour of my life. You have said one thing
whose blessed memory death itself could hardly take
from me. gather comfort from it every hour every
moment of my life. You have said that you loved
methat you would never love another. cannot for
get this-I would rather die than forget it, and this is
why will never look upon your face again, lest the
time should be past when you would have right to
say, 1 love you, Harold Now, carry your words
with me- They are my lfe's blessing Now shall
in, of
hall indeed my proud Eleanor, but loving STILL me
only; naming perhaps, your first boy Harold for my
sake, looking into its eyes with tender memory OF the
far past.
Il come to you with no tale of ruined life, of sorrow
or of despair How should that life be ruined, above
which Eleanor has smed--how should that heart
despair, which Eleanor has answered back 4 love
you, even though the proud Eleanor would not be my
wife OF this last will not think. remember pale
face batlrod "a. t~-, itio u
my breast.
Il want to hear from you sometimes, though you
will never hear from me. Should you send anything
to my solicitor Mr. Brown Lincolns Inn Fields, Lon
don, he will know where to forward it to trust
you, Eleanor. know your heart will be mine always
and so will not let my own heart break God bless
you. In life and in death l shall love you only.
HAROLD BEAUFORT"
That it should have come on this day of all Others
my wedding day." she muttured, she folded the
Sheet poor Harold and yet no, he is better off than
j,
slowly upon her fingers but she dashed it away. Then
going the mirror she took off her VEIL and shook
down the folds of her long, black hair Severing sin
gle treSs, she wound it round her fingers put it in
envelope aud directed it to Harold Beaufort of
Mr.. Brown, Lincolns Inn Fields, London. This was
the sole answer she sent forth upon her bridal day.
the king Of her heart and her love Well she knew he
would prize no other half so tenderly.
Then she rang her bell, and Lsette entered. "Dress
me" she said "you see have undone my hair; and
byand-bye post this letter. and see if you can keep
secret"
Never had there been bra7et wedding in the
chapel of the Mordaunts The handsome, naughty
groom, with his clear blue eyes, and the light and
splendid hair curling close to his erect head--the
BRIDE beautiful you almost feared to look upon her
perfectness, but pale and cold and proud she
beautiful. Never had nuptial feast been more bril-
liant in Beaufort Priory The stately halls were al
agow with light and beauty. Rare old wines mantled
antique gobets of gold and slver-jewels flashed on
noble heads-costly exotics gave forth their perfume
tests and repartees sparkled from lips brighter than
the rubies and in the midst receiving the homage OF
the assembled throng cold end proud ard still stood
Eleanor Beaufort in her wondr0gs 6Gaaty, teareeslg
steraly completing the sacrifice by which she offered
up her Wouanh0o& al the shrine OF tie false god
Pride
That very day, asttaneer cane to Niagara, 1t was
thing for guest % distinguished "a appearance
to arrive in mid winter aaj mine host of the hfges
hotel then tenaute5 10 gde village welcomed BIN mOs
respectfully in person. But ms wishes we're moderate
"A fire. room and his meals served with the utmos
simplicity alone Day altee day, he sailed forth il
the early morning, aud returned late at night, Jill
whole soul seemed ipbaoa with shatwondrous imager!
of terrar and of beauty. The eternal anthem Of tht
cataract seemed 30 him ike the voice Of his life. Tx
HAD entered bis name simply as Francis Abbott ans
he avoided Ill conversation which could in anywist
tend 10 disspate the mystery with which he was sur
rounded
A ougi5u5 Yankee folio#ing him at a distance ont
day, to his fav5siEe haunt on Goat island lad seer
him take from his bosom d long, dark tross of l5ra
murmurinr "5h Eleanor, lost Eleanor" but this wa
all The NOS. pryiug curiosity could discover,
There IS a fascination about Niagara in winter, ap
preaching nearly 5han anything else to my idea
o the subtle spells Of the ola magieiaas You cauno
leave it, you do not want to leave " Lfit killed you
yoa could yar stretch yogg out iongugiy 10 it