The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-08-30
CHAPTER L

The sun was setting over Superior
Grange, and REDEEMED the window Of
The lcncly chamber in the western
tower supposed to be haunted by Sir
Edward Sedilia, the founder of the
Grange. In the dreamy distance arose
the gilded mausoleum of Lady Felicia
Sedilia, who haunted that portion OF
Sedilia Manor known as "Stif-uns
Acre A little 10 the left of the
Grange might have been seen n moul-
dering ruin, known ms Guys Keep,
haunted by the spirit of Sir Guy Sc
diiia, who wa1 found, one morning,
crushed by one Of the fallen battle
ments. Yet, as the setting sun gilded
these objects, beautiful and almost
holy-calm seemed dltiused about the
Grange
The Lady Selma sat by an oriel
window, overlooking the park. The
sun sank eently in the bosom Of the
German Ocean, and yet the lady did
not lift her beautiful head from the
finely curved arm and diminutiye hand
which supported it. When darkness
finally shrouded the landscape, she
started, for the sound Of households
clattered over the stones Of the avenue.
She had scarcely risen before an mls-
tocratic young man fell on his knees
before her
"My Selma y
"Edgardo You here?"
eyes, dearest"
"An1-you you have seen moth.
ing ?? said the lady, in an agitated
voice and nervous manner. turning
her face aside to conceal her emotion
Nothing that is, nothing Of any
account said EdgaIdo. 81 passed
the ghost of your aunt in the park
noticed the spectre Of your uncle in
the ruined keep, and observed the
familiar features Of the spirit Of your
great-graudfather at his post But
nothing beyond these trifles, my Sell
ma Nothing more, love, absolutely
nothing"
The young man turned his dark
liquid orbs fondly upon the ingenious
face of bis betrothed.
My own Edgardo and you still
love me You still would marry me
in spite Of this dark mystery which
surrounds me In spite of the fatal
history of my race? In spite of the
ominous predictions Of my aged
nurse 2
Il would, Selma" and the young
man passed his arm around her yield
ing waist The two lovers gazed at
each others faces in unspeakablo bliss.
Suddenly Sc ina started.
leave me, Edgardol leave me A
mysterious something fatal misgiv-
ing-a dark ambiguity equivocal
mistrust Expresses me. | would be
alone -
The young man rose, and cast low
ing glance on the lady. "Then we
will be married on the seventeenth
"The seventeenth, " repeated Selma,
with a mysterious shudder.
They embraced and parted. As the
clatter of hoofs in the courtyard died
away the Lady Selma sank into the
chair she had just quilted
The seventeenth, she repeated
slowly, with the same fatal shudder
''Ah what if he should know that
have another husband living? Dare
reveal to him that have two legiti-
. mate and three natural children Dare
| repeat to him the history Of my
youth? Dare | confess that at the
age eff seven poisoned my sister, by
putting verdigris in her cream -tarts-
that | threw my cousin from Il swing
, at the age of twelve? That the iady's
. maid who incurred the displeasure Of
nv girlhood now lies at the bottom OF
+ the horse-pond MOI no he is too
pure-too good-too innocent, to heal
: such improper conversation and hel
whole body writhed rs she rocked tc
/, and fro in a paroxysm of gnet.
Bnt she was soon calm. Rising tC
her feet, she opened Il secret panel II
the wall, and revealed a slow-matcf
ready for lighting.
"This match, said the Lady Selma
"is connected with mine beneath th'
western tower, where my three chi
dren are confined; another branch o
It lies under the parish church, where
the record of my first marriage IS Kept
| have only to light this match an'
the whole of my past life is swep
awaylp She approached the mattel
with lighted candle
B But a hand was laid upon her arm
n and with a shrek the Lady Selma iel
on her knees before the spectre OF 81
: Guy.
CHAPTER III.