Year: 1879

great acquisitions to the circle. In the course of the evening Mrs. Mortimer grat1fied them by relating the simple story which led to their acquaintance. --. .F..s #-. ''To plead my excuse, she began, ''for such ] marriage as ours, I must try to explain the misery of my position in my fathers house be- fore consented to it. was the only daugh- ter of Mir. Wyndham, of Rosemere, in Shrop- shire, fact which in itself prejudiced my father against nle. The estate had for so ma ny generations though not entailed. descend ed in direct line from father to son that he could not endure the idea of not having male heir; and as time rolled on without the full fllment Of his wishes, his temper became al- i most unbearable to my dear mother and my self. Still we were happy in each others so- ciety till, to my inexpressible grief, her death separated us forever in this worldl For long after my bereavement was perfectly inconso- | lable; and it was some relief to my sorrow when my father announced hls intention of sending me to school at Cheltenham. The new 1 life, occupation, and the society ofyoung con- panions helped to restore my spirits; but when at the approach of the Summer vacation others were rejoicing, I alone dreaded my return to my desolate home. Still looked forward hopefully to the time when 1 should take my 1 place as mistress of my fathers house, and supply as far as possible my dear mothers place to him. Judge then of my bitter disap

 pointment when received letter from him to inform me of his approaching marriage, and giving me leave to be present at the ceremony or not as l might feel disposed

 ''ln passion of grief declined the cold in- vitation, and gladly accepted one from my most l intimate friend at school, Miss Mortimer, to pass few weeks with her in London. In this friends brother 1 saw my future husband At this time was not quite seventeen, George nearly seven years older, but still too young te haV@ had much experience Of the world. had none whatever; and had no doubt that his income, derived from a Government office, was l quite sufficient to warrant an engagement. But love and prudence seldom go hand in hand

 in our ease the former triumphed, and we part 1 ed with mutual VOWS of eternal fidelity.

 "On my return to Rosemere found my po- l sftion in my fathers house almost intolerable

 Mrs. Wyndham's temper was not only vio- lent but jealous one The most ordinary demonstrations of affection between my father 1 and myself were sure to incur her dspleasure

 and II ventured to give the slightest order to the servants who were wont to fly at my bid | dlng, she would remind me that she, not l.

 was their mistress. At last SO miserable was my existence that I believe I should have ac- cepted an offer received from rich old friend ot my fathers had my affections been disen- gagged. As it was when Mrs. Wyndham dis covered that had actually declined this ad- vantageous offer, her anger knew no bounds, and she worried my poor father into the ex- l treme measure of insisting upon its acceptance

 In terror wrote to George, under cover of his sister, to acquaint him with my position, and at the same time cont1ded my trouble to one l whose ndellty to me was greater than her pru- dence. This person had been my nurse, and then lived in a cottage on the estate From mistaken affection for her young mistress, she proposed that George and should meet there and discuss our future plans. He was over- l joyed to accept old Martha Blakes offer and soon arrived from London in high spirits His presence revived mine; and the meeting end ed with my consent, given in fear and trem- bling, to an elopement all necessary arrange | nlents being made with Martha's helpthen and there. Pray remember" said Mrs. Mortimer to her newly found friends ''that was but a schoolgirl, and in mortal fear of being forced into detested marriage. Never was poor girl more sorely tempted to escape from a cruel sentence, though I confess the mode of doing so was rash Martha's first step in the plan was to give out to her neighbors that she was going to visit some friends in the North. This excited no suspicion, as she was known to have 1 relatives in Scotland so she made her own 1 preparations openly, taking by degrees all that was necessary of my wardrobe to pack with her own clothes; and the same day on which my nurse left her cottage, with the good wish es of all her humble friends and neighbors, I l fled from my fathers house alone, half repent l ing of the step was about to take, but never to return. Once l nearly turned back; but, as if divining my thoughts, George at that mo- | ment emerged from the plantation which bounds 1 the park, and hurried me into conveyance which was waiting beyond it. In few min utes was seated by his side, and rapidly driv- en toward the first stage on the road to Gretna. Here, as previously arranged, we were joined by old Martha, who was delighted with the success of her plans, and honestly thought she was doing me great service by accompanying us to the abode of the far-famed priest of Gretna Green, where she witnessed our mar riage. Had either of these persons been now living, the loss of the certificate would not have been important"

 'Was the person who married you really blacksmith, Mrs. Mortimer ?" asked Dora

 Mo-" she replied. ''The person who offici- ated In our case was an inn-keeper; and, strange to say, no one belonging to that calling had ever been known to act as priest It is merely popular error, probably originating. or rather derived, from the classical story of Vulcan being employed to forge hymeneal chains. But assure you that the ceremony as performed at Gretna was calculated to dis pei all classical or even romantic ideas need scarcely say that the religious element was al- together ignored"

 w cIt there no OInor witnesses to the mar riage?" inquired Mrs. Forester.

 "There were two," replied Mrs. Mortimer, smiling. ''The post-boys were called in for that purpose; but one could not write, and the other was so tipsy that it was necessary to turn him out of the room. Thus it happened that my faithful Martha was the only person capable of signing, except the so-called priest, who gave me the paper with strict injunctions to keep it myself but handed It to George directly, and have never seen it since that hour till you, dear Lady Davenant, put it into my hands yesterday.

 After the ceremony, Martha proceeded alone to kelso, where her friends resided, and there took charming cottage for us, which we made our ad-qnarters for month out of Georges six weeks leave from his office. Thence we made excursions to every place of note within reasonable distance, or spent the day on the banks of the lovely Tweed, some times fishing for trout, sometimes wandering amid the surrounding pastoral scenery. We finished our little tour at the beautiful city which so well deserves the name of Modern Athens All this was very delightful, but ve- " expensive; and there was one serious draw back to my happiness, which did not much affect George. My father refused to hold any communication with us, and all my letters were returned unopened. Time softened this distress; but with all my dear husbands affec-

 

 ''The last fortnight of Georges vacation was devoted to taking and furnishing our home. It was pretty villa at PutneY, with large garden, all being laid out in lawn, shrubbery, and tiower-beds, which especially pleased us; but far too expensive for our income, which was not more than two hundred and fifty pounds a year. He had about one thousand l pounds from his father, out of which small l capital he had spent quite one hundred pounds | upon our marriage and considerable sum upon furniture, to which was added 8 splendid ] grand piano-forte by Broadwood, as surprise 1 for me. I was so delighted with this present, that George was tempted to repeat the pleas l ure by the purchase of an Erard harp Then for the first time I began to think that we l might be spending too much money; but | George always reasoned away my fears, ex- pressing his conviction that my father would l relent and at least never allow us to want. With this hope our faithful Martha, who was our only servant, proposed going to Rosemere She wished to sell her effects there, as she was | lofa fr~ tl, ~l-z