The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-05-12

elyan to Wildwood to oissr bis brave
pure heart TO its quccnly mistress
i'Siokncss had not impaired Lcunora'.
wondrous beauty aud in the eyes OF
: him who loved her with such pcrfcc,
love, she seemed like au cnshrinct
saint with her golden hair cncirclinl
/ her head like crown Of glory. a:
Trevclyan looked upon her his hear,
seemed to CONCEAL within him. IIt
asked himself, "could any man eve,
dare to call that woman, wife q
Surely not" And yet his great love
for her, like mighty and Irresistible
torrent, impclled him onward. So
when they sat alone in tho coming
twilight, with the full.orbcd winter
| moon looking in at the window, and
, the great cheerful fire glowing in the
CRATES, he knelt beside her and
told her of love so deep and pure
and strong that angels might have lis.
tened and rejoiced. But sho turned
away from him in in her anguish and
cried,
ooh! would to God that t could
love you-would to God that | could
feel your strong, protecting arm
around me--could rest this weary
aching head upon your bosom, but il
can never, never be-"
In vain ho pleaded, with such pas,
sionate, burning words of love as
might have mado tho angels in hea.
ven weep.
Weeks passed on and ripcned into
months and all things at Wildwood
remained unchanged, save the young
mistress herself. She had grown fit.
full her eyes glared sometimes with
strange, lurid light and spot of
crimson burned on each check. The
physicians spoke of consumption and
a malady of the heart, but knew not oi
the volcano that ragged within he.
breast; knew not of the lightning. like
rapidity with which tho bleed, like
burning lava, coursed through hel
I vains. knew not that reason itself, was
about to abdicate its throne. :,
Leonora St. Clair was going mad
but no one thought it; no ono dream.
cd that the white rose Of Wildwood in
all her stainless purity, would &C
down to the grave, \ maniac.
Spring came. Earth put on hul
robes or bcauty-brilliant parterres
of flowers bloomed everywhere
tie zephyrs kissed tho peach bloom on
the cheek of Lillian Lyle, as she rar
hither and thithcr, gathering flowers
and weaving them into lovely gar.
lands to decorate the pictures in the
gallery and the statues in tho yard
and garden. Preparations were goipe
on for magnificent bridal. Percy
and Lillian were to be united. Every
body was mad with excitement. lie.
onora herself. exhibited faint show
of interest, though all unseen, her
eyes would sometimes glare upon
Lillian with such bitter hatred that,
had the fair bridc-clcct seen them
she would have almost been metamor.
phosed into stone. Sometimes too, n
triumphant smilo would play upon
her lips and when no one was near, a
low mocking laugh would escape her
| CHAPTER III.
Nor wonld change my bridal love
| For any one Of living mould
| CAMPBELL
The bridal night had come. The
J bridegroom with his suite had arrived
Wildwood seemed transformed into q
fairy palace. lights cleaned from
every window; flowers bloomcd in
every nook and corner, and light
breezes waited their delicious perfume
from room to room. Soul-thrilling
music pcrvaded the entire house,
while "fair women and brave men''
spoke low words of love beneath the
gorgeous chandeliers. Those who
were romantic, stole out into the rose
bowers or strolled around the yard.
The grounds were magnifcently light
ed and presented scene of the most
exquisite beauty. The pale crescent
moon was slowly disappearing when
the last guests arrived. Groups of
domcstics we're gathered in the door
ways, anxiously looking forward to
the coming Of the bridal party. Gene.
raj St. Clair was passing to and fro
among his guests, ,endear roring to make
the intervening time pass pleasantly.
Percy and the groomsmen were ip the
library impatiently awaiting the ap-
pointed houY.
In an upper chamber, before full.
length mirror, stood Leonora St. Clair
in ber hand she held small crystal
vial containing q dark fluid. She
was evidently contemplating hereelf
in the mirror, and she was indeed
peerlessly beautiful. Stiff folds of
satin fell around her slender flgure--
tiara of diamonds sparkled upon
hore matcilless brow--an uncarthly
light cleaned in her dark blue eyes
and deep scarlet flush suffused her
once pallid checks. She was splendid.
ly attired and she looked upot, her
self, seemingly, with great satisfac-
tion.
eyes," she murmured, "I am attir.
cd like a sultana, not forth bridal,
but for the tomb there will Be s two
i k,. q - IL J