The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-11-23

routb, and an expression of thought
fful and subdued tenderness in th,
deep blue eyes and on the smooth upon
brew. An elderly woman who had
entered some minutes before, but had
hesitsted to disturb her, now ap
proa,hod.
II is nearly ten, Lsiy Blanche"
she said, addressing her young mis-
trcss "Iu b,lf an hour tho guests
will be here
Can it b, possible that il is so late
as that 2 shi replied, star ting from
her scat. "Ah, Nina, Mica. | am so
very h,p2y!'
"lIcav,n grant that your happiness
may last, my niy !" said Nina. sol.
emuly.
a shadow fell across the young girl
sunny face.
81 am nirsi am too happy for it
to last" sho said rh ~ !hl fully "B 1t
come, Nina she ldcd, gaily. your
s'Sillful linsers must be mJre than
usually nimbl9. or | shall bc late, aud
at my bridal. too
1t did not taki Nina long to loop
back ,hbso clustering curls, and to ar
range the shining folds that fell so
gracefully around that exqli.i,ely
moilis Il torn, yet she bad hardly
fini'h'd when there came an impa-
tI,nt K IDck ~ the dor au ] man rn
te"cd who'c bowed form Gud white
hir bore the impress Of extreme old
sgc. 1t was LoiI Vernon lie ga
z;i upon tho diu 5ht-r TOR ,m,nt
with an expression 0, mingled pride
aud pleasure.
Heaven bless you, my beloved
child y he mnrmured fo,dly. But
come" he aldod, "tho cirrias 20 i,
waitIn. my love. aal our iriouJs ar,
growing impatient "
Has not Walter COM yet, flthcr p
"No. 1t is rather strange. but
suppose somothin. has detained him
lie will probably meet US at the
church
AS Lady Blanche passed down thro
tho group Of menials that hncd the
hall, all anxious to catch a glimpse
the bride. many heart bossed
hsr sweet face, and prayed that all
the bright auiicipatiIns it snilcs and
bIi.hcs shadowod forth IN ,ht be re :
aIIzei.
To Lord Vcrnon's surprise the Earl
of EIrlngton was not ~ tho church
dor whom they arrived Iii, brow
grow dark with .anlicty, though h,
endeavorcd to allay the apprehension
o his diughtcr, whlSo ch'akS alter
u tely au'hrd aud palcd at her en-
embarrassing position.
just Us they were uGlut to return
Lord Vernon noticed u horsem,n ,p,
proachins at furious pace, whom
lie recognized as Jason st. CrOix, the
young earl's cousin HIS clothes
were torn aud dusty, an | his face pale
aud nagsard, as ho hurridly alighted
from his hIrs'. which wa, llteralIl
covered with foam.
As his eyes fell upon Lady Blanche
be he'itatei, and, casuus a sis nifcau
glance upon L'ri Vernon, beckoue.
him aside. Bat this m ,vem'nt did
L 1t escape the observation of Laiy
Blanche, whose check gr,w pale with
fear.
1T is from Walter !" she exclaimr,
breaking from her attcn lautS, aud
following her father. Tell me- sh
added, wildly. al iro sing jason 81
Cr,ix, SIS he ili-ieii ?"
"l1o calm. my dear child, said Lor'
NernJn, soothin Sly, whose eounte
nance betrayed great agitation 18th
young carl is not dead, only missing
1t ia to he b pol he will yet he found.
Lady Blanche male n, reply, bu
fell pale AMI gaspins IA her ia thcr
arms, who qulckly conveyed her to III.
carriage.
Many Of the bysrandcrs clustered
around Jasnn ST Cro,x, anxions Il
know the cause Of this strange scsne
From tho narration he gave they
gathered that the earl b,i liSippe ~
ed. M ono knew whittier. That there
was NJ clno to his fate, excepting hi
horse, whlah came homo few mlh-
utes afier midnight, with dark stain
upon his ,rsast and sid -"
Tho srist anl horror with which
Jason 81. CrIix narrated these circum
stances prIiuaei very favorable i'm
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