The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-04-17

The professor was 0y ner side before %
bad completed her sentence, when, seein
her agitation
My good lady, he said, in his most pc
suasive tone, sdo allow me to entreat you I
be composed, AID 10 have the honor Of cor
dncllng you up stairs.'
tAnywhere-anyw where, professor el
claimed the countess; but, alas 90 wher
will, | cannot escape the misery OF my ow
thoughts, nor the disgrace which my uH
worthy son has brought upon my head
Without making aay reply to this out
burst of passionate feeling, the professor tool
the countess respectfully by the hand, an
silently conducted her 10 his drawing room
With stately step the countess entered, an'
walked slowly to the further end Of th
apartment; this gained, she turned round
and, when she had done so, sig awaited
her for which she was but little prepared
This was her son aud Jessy Fiowerdew
kneeling side by side, and, by their attitu le
eloquentIy ImploIirg her forgiveness l
was Just one of those sights best calculate
70 work on the nObler nature &C the Counties,
Of Wistonbury, and TO call np the hner feel
ings OF her generols heart For some sec
onds, she looked at the kneeling par IN g.
lent astonishmenl; her eye, however, chiefly
fixed on the beauteous couhtenan ee u Jessy
Fiowerdew, pale with terror and emotion,
and wet with tears. Having gazed for some
time on this extraordinary sight, without
belraying the slightest S. mpto Of the feel
ings beyond that Of surprise, with which il
had inspired ter, the Countess slowly ad-
vanced towards the kneehng coupl.. Sne
sull, however, uttered 40 word, ami discoy-
I a Al h..
come over her proud spirit. That spirit wa
now laid, and It's place rccupird by all the
geuerous impulses Of ber na,ule. Keeping
her eye steadily hxei on the bneellug IA '
one before her, she approached her, paused
a moment, extended her hand, placed Il on
the ivory forehead of JesSy Fiowerdew gent
" laid back her rich auburn hair, and, as
she did ST., said, in q tremulous, bat emph
tic voice
You are, indeed, lovely girl God bless
you Alfred, my son, rise, she ad le1, IN q
low, bur calm and solemn tone 4 iorgivr
YOU Aud she extended her hand towards
him. The earl seized It, kissed At, and bath
ed il with tears.
Rise, nv lady--rse. my fair Countess o.
Wistonbury,' she now said, and b rself aid
ing la the act she commanded, i acknvw-
ledge you as my daughter, and We must nov
see to fitting you to the high station 20
which my sons favour has promoted you,
and Of which, trust, you will prove as wor-
thy in poiat OF conduct as YOU asSuredy al
ready are IN that OF personal beauty. Goa
bless YOU both And may every happiness
that the conjugal state affords, be yours !
Professor she added, aud now turning
- a., ,-sll al
weakness--a mothers weakness-and per
hsps il is so-but ] would myself tain at
tribute it 70 more wcrthy feeling, and, If |
know nv own heart, IL is SO. But, let that
pass. am reconciied TO the step ny son
has taken, ard reverently leave 1t to God,
and fearlessly to man, 10 Judge of the
motives BY which have been influenced. J
trust they are such as TO merit The appruba-
ton of bJth.'
Surprised, and greatly affected BY the IN
expected turn which affairs had taken, 80
contrary to what be had anticipated, the
worthy professor bad listened to these ex
pressions Of the countess with aveTted head.
and making the most ingenious use OF the
handkerchief, which be held to his face. that
he could, to conceal the real puTpJse Tor
wh,eh he had emPlcyed il When she had
done
Madam he said, with great agitation and
cor .usion Of manner, and still busIly plying
The handkerchief in it, pretended vocation
Madam, Ill am sed-much af
fected, assure you--much Affected, my la
dy with this striking instance OF what
noble and generous nature is capable. lwas
by no means prepared for il. 1t does you
infinite honour, my lady-infiuite honour;
and will, trust, in Its result be productive
of all that happiness to you which
your maguanmous conduct SO eminently
deserves
Il trust I have acted rightly, professor,
was the brief reply of the countess, as she
again turned TO the young couple, who were
now standing beside her, 4 hope have; and
If my heart does not deceive NE, | am sure
I have.'
You are warranted, my lady, in the con-
fidence you express in the upr ghtness, the
generosity OF your conduct on tins very re-
markable occasion-perfsctly warrantei,'
replied The professor. IL il an uuexampled
instance Of greatness. of h5erality Of mint,
and as such must always look on IT,
Thus. then terminated this extraortinary
scene. Ii was subsequently, aIrang.d that
the marriage Of the cart should IN the mean
time, be kept As secret as possible, . d that
tue young countess should, 10 the interim.
be sent tor year or two 70 one OF tue most
celebrated seminsries Of female educlfion ~
England, under an assumed name, and thar,
when she SHOULD have acquired the attain
ments and the polish AMI st;ainmrnts nef.-
ing her high station, she should be pro-
duced to the world as the Countess Of Wis
TO bury
Acting upon this plan Of proceedings, the
same carriage mat brought doS1 the earl's
mother, hure away, On the t0llnw'ng day, to-
.eiher with that lady, the yOnng earl an
his bride; the latter. 20 cOmmrnce her edu-
cst'Oual nov iciate Ia + gland; the former
to while away the ;Ime best he could un-
nj that movie ats should expire period
which he proposed to render less rksomr by
tour on the continent.
About two years after the occurrence or
the events Just relaled-ii might be more.
perhaps nearly thrre- 0xion Hail presente
scene Of prodigIous con usiyn ard bustc
Little carts Of provrnder weIc aaiy seen
making frequent visits ts the hsuss. Huge
old grste deserted kitchens, that had 40,
been in for c, injury be ore, ~ere clear
ed Of their rubbish, ami glowing win ola
zmg fires, at which enormous roasts were
solemnly revolving. MeniaIs were running
TO and fro il all d'rec"oas, aud n crowd OF
powdered and richly ,iveried lackeys bust
Led backwards and forwards through the
gorgeous apartments, loaded with silv u
plate. and barring huge baskets Of win.
Everything at Oxton Hall, in short, betokeu-
cd preparations for q splendid ffe-and
sush, In truth, was the case. To bis ffis
al the nobility aud gentry, within a Circuit
vf ten to fifteen N les, were invited; and
such an affair it promised to be, Altogether
as had not been seen at Oxton Hail sine,
! the marriage Of the last earl-a period j
nearly thirty years. None Of those invited
knew, or could goess, what vas the particu
lar reason for 50 extensive a merry sksng
Its scale, they learned, was most magnifi
fh ~