Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-06-17
CoHrting in the Storm.
[From Lady Blake's Love Letters. !

[From Lady Blake's Love Letters.I
AS night came on a cloud appeared in tht
sky and the cavalcade began to move fast
er, but it was still league to Saint Savior
when the storm burst. The darkness be
came complete, the horses got frightened
and the steed of the Count ran away will
him. The little troupe Of gay ladies and
gentlemen was suddenly disbanded. and i
required all the efforts of the guides on foo
to prevent serious accidents.
Lionel, lost in the darkness and forced t(
lead his horse by the bride along the verge
OF the precipice, was overcome by an un
easiness stronger than any regard for hi
own safety. He had lost Lavinia and ha6
been vainly searching for her for a quarter
OF an hour, when vivid flash of lightning
showed him the form of woman crouch
ing at the foot of a tree just above the road
lie stopped, and bending his ear recognized
the voice of Lavinia, but a man was at hel
side, and this could be no other than the
Count de Morangy. Cursing his rival from
his soul he moved toward the couple, deter
mined to disturb his rivals happiness. But
what was his joy to find Henry instead Of
the Count, and that careless youth will
discreet good nature at once yielded his
place and went to look for the horses.
Nothing is so solemn and beautiful as a
storm in the mountains.
The voice of the thunders rolling through
the abyss echoed in the deep gorges, and
the wind beating the long larches and pines
trailed them against the abrupt cliffs and
howled through their branches like the
wailing of the great elements of nature.
Lavinia, absorbed in contemplating the
scene, awaited the flashes of the lightning
to behold the supernatural and startling
phenomenon. She trembled at suddenly
seeing Lionel in the place of her cousin,
and, thinking her frightened at the storm,
he took her hand, looking with enthusiasm
at the grand scene of the elemental battle.
elbow grand and imposing" she whis-
pered as if in q reverie. "See how the blue
lightning illumines the long broken crags
that rise from the glaciers like ghosts III
their winding sheets. Behold, in the sud-
den change, from darkness to light, every
thing seems staggering as if the mountains
were about to crumble in wild Chaos
81 see only you, Lavinia,' he cried, with
rapture; 81 hear only your voice and have
no thought but that you are near me. Do
you know how desperately l love you
Yes, you do know; for you said it yester-
day, and perhaps you wish it. Then let it
be so; am at your feet, imploring your
pardon for the past by all the hope of the
future. Grant it, Lavinia, for I love and I
have rights over you.'
"Rights ?' asked the lady, withdrawing
her hand.
sis it not right, and fearful one? If
you could endure the wrong, can-you not
give me the chance of repairing it in your
happiness and mine p
We all know what man can say in such
a case. Lionel was eloquent, and, recog-
nizing his rivals advantage in the formal
offer of marriage made the evening before,
he followed the Counts example, and Of
fered his hand, fortune and life.
care you thinking of what you do"
asked Lavinia, ito renounce Miss Ellis
when your marriage has been settled ?''
81 will do it," cried Lionel. 81 will
commit an action that the world will call
insolent and dishonorable. Perhaps it may
be washed out in my blood, but will dare
anything to win you. The greatest crime
Of my life was not to have appreciated you,
and my duty now is to regain you. Speak
to me, and give me again the happiness
which | lost. To-day can know and ap-
preciate you, for too have changed. am
no longer the rash, thriftless man led by
appearances, but one who knows life and
its deceptions. know that not one of my
tridmphs is worth a single look from you,
for the chimera of happiness which l was
pursuing left me miserable until | beheld
you once more. Lavinia, come to me again.
Who can love you as 1 can, who else can
know the grandeur of your soul? ?''
Under this passionate sppeal Lavinia re-
NAMED silent, but her heart beat violently
and her hand trembled in Lionels grasp,
while her hair was blown by the wind across
his face, and he covered the dark tresses
with kisses, They no longer felt the rain
which still fell in heavy drops.
The storm had lulled and the skies were
clearing when the Count de Morangy came
up to them as fast as his lame horse, which
had fallen and nearly killed him, would al
low as he led the animal along. Lavinia
quickly withdrew herself from Lionel's
transports, and the latter, furious at the in
terruption, helped her to the saddle and
accompanied her as far as her house. Then
she said to him, lowering her voice to a
whisper:
'Lionel, you have made me offers of
which l appreciate the value. I cannot an
swer without having seriously reflected. }"
"Heavens, it is the answer you gave the
Count"
"No,'' she said earnestly, 'sit is different.
But your presence might cause ridiculous
stories. If you love me, Lionel swear to
obey me.''
81 swear by Heaven and yourself"
"rhen return to Bagneres at once, and
in my turn l promise in forty hours that
you shall have my answer.
''But what shalf-I do during this age of
doubt?
"Rope," answered Lav1nla, as she sud-
denly closed the door on him, as if afraid of
saying moro.
Lionel did hope, for he had Lavinia's s
word and all his own self-love.