Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-11-02
A STRANGE STORY.

The English papers annOuce that the
MarehiOness of Tweeddale has died at
her residence, Edinburg. If the fact Is
mentioned now, it is not to have an eX-
cuse for speaking Of the virtues of the
deceased lady, nor for sketchlng the
principal features of her long career,
but because her name is connected with
a strange event, which is worth being
narrated.
The Duke of Gordon was dissipated
man. In a few years he ran through
the immense fortune he had inherited
from his ancestors. Ashamed of his exc
cesses, or perhaps annoyed that he was
no longer able to occupy in the world
the high position to which his rank en-
titled him, he withdrew to a solitary
mansion, situated close to the sea, in
Lincolnshire. There he shut himself up
like hermit for several years, living
somewhat like q wild man, holding
no communication with men, and pass
ing his time in roaming about, except
in the hunting season, when he would
occasionally ride with the fOxhOunds.
One evening he was startled by pierc-
ing shrieks. He ruhsed to the window
and looked out toward the sea, but all
was dark. A horrible tempest was rag
ing; the waves dashed furiOusly against
the walls ct the mansion. The violence
of the storm terrified the duke. Sudden
ly tremendous flash of lightning rent
the clouds, and by its light he perceived
a dismantled ship, almost wreck, being
driven toward the shore. He could see
persons running about, as if demented,
on the deck; then all was dark again.
Suddenly he heard an awful crash; the
ship had been dashed upon the rocks.
In the midst of the hOwling of the tenn
pest, the duke fancied he heard the
piercing cry of woman. He ran out
upon the beach to listen, while he held
his breath. The same cries continued to
be heard, and he thought that nOtwith-
standing the darkness he could distin-
guish something moving in the water.
The sea appeared to redOuble its fury.
a mOnstrOus wave rose and broke upon
the beach with such rapidity that the
duke had scarcely time to run a few PAGES
back. It enveloped him UP to the waist
and threw him far on to the ground and
retreated. He was stunned for mo.
ment; but recovering himself, he per-
ceived, at little distance from him,
the fragment of boat which the wave
had cast upon the shore, and to which
an almost insensible woman was con-
vulsively clinging. Another wave not
less mOnstrous than the preceding,
thundered on the beach. The duke seiz. |
ed the woman hastily, lifted her upon
his shoulder and bore her to the man
sion. A good fire was blazing on the
hearth, and it was not long before the !
unknown regained her senses.
The duke gazed upon her, dazzled, |
fascinated The lady was marYelOusly
beautiful-sO beautiful, in deed, that the |
Young nobleman held his breath for fear
of causing this exquisite apparition to |
vanish. The unknown opened her eyes
looked around her with astOnishment, !
stared at the duke and uttered some |
words. Her dress, her manners, her !
features, all indicated foreign origin, |
and the words she uttered were in a |
language which he did not understand. !
Who was she Whence came she !
Where was she going.
The unknown remained several |
months in the mansion. The duke had |
resumed his former gallantry and be- |
came her devoted cavalier. He taught |
her in q short time sufficient English to /
enable her to hold conversation with |
him; and partly by words, partly |
by pantOmime, they got along |
exceedingly well. The duke be- /
came desperately enamOred of his COM !
paniOn. He implored her to unite her |
lot with him; but the young lady smiled |
sadly, and replied, No, will never be /
your wife, The duke became more !
and more pressing, but the lady did not /
sease repeating that she wouldnever be-
come his wife.
One day she declared to him in the !
most positive manner that he must re-
nounce all hope, and that it was perfect
Iy useless to try to make her change her
determination; but, seeing his deep des-
pair, she added:
4 am your friend. VIII you follow
my advice?
Say on, madam
well, then marry the daughter of
Lord HOwth, who lives near your estate
she will make you happy
Never replied the duke; 4 will have
no other wife than you
He resisted long; but ut last he yield
ed to the entreaties of the lady and went
to visit Lord HOwth, promising to him.
self that it should be the first and only
time. But he reckOned without his host
for Lord Howth succeeded in gradually i
his repugnance to stay.
His lordship's daughter, moreover, wRs
by no means to be despised, and the
duke began to entertain the idea Of ma
king her his wife. In short, one day he
demanded her marriage, and obtained
her hand. He returned to give an ac-
count Of his visit to the foreign lady. Il
He was sad and cast down.
You will soon love her, said the un-
known, with q strange emile. Here is
my wedding present to you.l
She drew out Of her hair blue ribbon,
which she fastened around the dukes
wrist, and said:
VIII you swear to me that you will =