The workingman's advocate., 1871-01-21

with downcast look and a brooding meIan
ehely, sought her home.
Thereafter it was currently reported in
the village that Robert Ashley was abou
to be married to Catherine Hamilton. Fron
that period, the whole character Of Mary
underwent change she was never seen t.
smile, yet she never wept Her eriefs haG
left the heart where they operate to softer
or to break, and seized brain, whore they
generate dreams Of revenge, and frensied
illusions Of the fancy. Her blue eye now
burnt with a sterner fire than even iu her
former fits of anger she had ever exhibited
her demeaDor, showing fits and starts, and
a general disturbanc Of all her feelings
to- to the most careless observer that the
change which had come over her extended
tO the fountain Of her feelings, and the
springs of her hope. Her usual sympathies
seemed to be dried up, and nothing was left
but the SIMEON of stern and deadly hatred
which showed itself 10 sudden exclamations,
elenching Of the hands, and wild looks
The report was soon circulated, that Mary
Lee was mad but those who knew her bet.
ter, saw, ia her strange conduct and de-
neanor, only the workings, on larger
scale, of the same spirit which had been
noticed BY her father at a very early Pc
riod.
The rumOrs as to the intended marriage
OF Ashley were indeed true and they were
soon followed by an announcement of a
more certain nature, that the marriage was
TO take place at The Castle within a
month. The intelligence reached the ears
Of Mary but its effect was only to add to
the gloom which had apparently taken its
eternal seat in her ceuntenancs. She spoke
to no one of the marriage, and gave no
answer when any question regarding it was
proposed by the neighbors. Her father,
who had watched her conduct, and suspect
ed an undue intimacy between her and Ash
ley, conjectured the cause of the change
that had taken place on his child but from
bis knowledge of her peculiar temper, which
bad uniformly resisted every attempt to
draw from her her secrets, or to change the
character and hue Of her feelings, he de-
SPARED Of being able to acquire any proof
of the reality of his conjecture 80 he fol-
lowed the course suggested by his paternal
feelings, and endeavored to soOth his daugh-
ter under her af1iction,~ and soften the OBJ,
duracy of her apparent misanthropy. His
efforts were vain-the change on bis
daughter heart was as complete and last
ing as ifit bad been effected by an organic
al-disposition OF its functions her looks,
and short CALCULATIONS of bitter scoIn of the
higher sanctions of love or marriage, evinc-
ed settled spirit of demoniac frenzy !;
every indication proved the existence of
that extraordinary state of the female mind,
produced by deluded or scorned affection,
when the heart, instnad of giving way to
the revulsiOn Of rejected feeling, ard break
ing, secretes and nourishcs poison-like
the saliva Of the serpent which has bit it.
self-destructive to the destroyer and the
victim
On the day fixed for the marriage Of
Ashley, there were great preparations made
for rejoicings at 1.-The Castle" n dinner
was prepared for the tenants at the lawn,
and all males and females, residing on the
estate, were invited to attend, to partake
Of the iberality of the young laird, and
wish him and his lady joy. An immense
number of people we're collected, and the
dinner was pronounced worthy of The spirit
Of the young bridegroom. The repast be-
ing finished, the party were RECALLED with
drinks of various sorts and Ashley and his
bride came down from 1.-The Castle to
witness the gay scene. Then it was resoly-
ed that the whole guests should rise with
quehs in their hands, and drink to the
health and happiness of the young and hand
some pair. This was accordingly done /;
and the shouts of the boisterous lalIorers of
the land rent the welkin in honor Of the
toast. Ashley rose, as bis guests resumed
| their seats, and returned thanks for the
kindness which had been exhibited to him
He made large promises Of reduction of
rent, when fate should be so unkind as to
remove bis father from this earthly scene
and told them that the man who had never
broken his pledge, had that day a right to
demand their faith and trust in a profession
which filed the hearts of the poor farmers
with Joy. These sentiments were respond
ded to By louder shouts, and a scene of
Joyous uproar was exhibited which had new
er before been witnessed from the windows
Of 1.-The Castle " Ashley sat down, and
nearly opposite to the place he occupied,
there was seen to rise figure wrapped up
in cloak, as if in the attitude Of one in.
tendino to address the assembly. This per
son was no other than Mary Lee. Point
ing her finger over to Ashley, and fixing
her eye with the sternness of one determn-
ed not to be shaken from desperate pur-
pose, she said, in tone of voice which suit
ed itself with wonderful pathos to the style
Of her speech
IL have waited for this day, Robin-a- Rec
as would have waited for my ain wedding
and it has come. Ye are rich 10 believe
this man, whom ye have come to meet, and
whase bread ye have broken, that he viii
reduce your rents for he never broke Iii,
word
: Then there was cry to put her down
accompanied by shouts-"We d believc
] our excellent landlord.
8 80 did believe him." contir ued she
/ ''when put my faith ard troth in his hands
] and Welded 10 bis desires, On condition o
d his promise that | should stand in the plac,
O. this hraw bride. The promise ne falsel,
e broke and will he keep that which be ha
!, this day made to ye?'
f eyes, yesp' they shouted again.
e "Never !" she screamed. believe me
n wha stand here wretched victim o false
hoed, whase heart he tried to break-trie'
-ay, but only tried (; for he has change'
r it to the tongue O. the harry adder tha
}. basks i the moss on the swamps o the Ken
e | have hated the yellow-wamed ask tina
J. sleeps i the mud O the lazy NTH, tn
l. moOnbaying tyke, the charking whutthroat
- ou1 fbo kaad that oorrsoe skc V1oscnu 0u IL