The Lost Lady of Lone

d hour, Salome came down to the

rk blue velvet hat with a short, white ostrich plume secured by a small gold butterfly, and she carried in her hand a slender ivory-handled ridi

presented himself, and the lo

in which "the course of true love" ran so smooth as

arquis became a daily visitor at Elmthorpe House, where he was ever receive

nding for days before the marquis made a

lone in the drawing-room. They were seated at a table, l

g over the pages

id at length, uttering the formal words with a tone and

volume of his eloquent face; but her eyes instantly s

er since the first moment when I met the beautiful spirit beaming throug

ished to pour her heart out to him; to let him have the comfort of knowing how perfectly she loved him, how utterly she was

, for your eyes are heavenly in their spiritual beauty. And they have haunted me, Salome, like the eyes of a guardian angel ever since they

n to the calamity of his house, reached her soul, a

uin you. It is not in the power of fate to ruin a man like you. And if you loved me when you first met my eyes it was because you read in them the soul that was created yours! And if

l that I have lost in this world! Heavenly consolation for all I have suffered on earth! Speak again, oh, my dearest! Tell me once mo

o-day! I loved you from the beginning. First, I loved the magnanimous, self-sacrificing man who, at the age of twenty-one years, with a brilliant future before

d I am in hearing you," he brea

tion of a soul like yours. And I loved you more than ever. My mornings were passed in the tower near the glory of that picture. But I gazed on it so hopelessly! You were missing, yo

loved you from my first meeting with you," he breathed, in a low, earnest ton

s drooped as

me so; for, even then, when I had only heard your story and seen your port

u refused so many excellent off

reason," she replied,

t for your words; they are as the word

ll speaking in a l

exclaimed, and as she spoke her hand for the first time went out to meet his, which closed upon it with a close

ance or rejection. I recorded a vow in heaven to be no man's wife unless I could be yours; but to live unmarried so that when, in the cours

f such an act of renunciation as that! But I c

ll the sooner. But let that pass. Thanks be to Heaven, there is no need of that. It would have been sweet to die for you, but it is so much sweet

all the blessings you have brought me?" exclaimed he

will crown me a queen among

d Arondelle called and asked for a pri

ibrary, where he found the b

is chair," said the old gentleman, rising, shaking

hearty shake of the banker's ha

you have taken up the girl I flung at your head abo

t. "I do not remember that you ever flung any girl at my head. I came, Sir Lemuel, to tell you that I am so h

hing. Well, my dear boy, you have my c

em, Sir

do love my daughter. I would not give her to an emperor who did not

scarcely the word, nor adoration, nor worship! She is the soul of my soul

, but I suppose it means that you really do love Salome. So the f

d, sir. What i

rriage shall take place wit

, the sooner I shall be the most blessed among men," exclaimed the young marquis, ea

at on the day Salome Levison becomes Marchioness of Arondelle, I will give her Lone as a marriage portion. There, now, not a word more

me thank-" beg

ntleman's acknowledgements. "Excuse me now half a minute, I wan

ered in answe

s Inn Fields, and wait an answer," said Sir Lemuel, ha

for making haste!" concluded the banker, rubbing his hands. "But now go and find Salome, and tell her it is all right! She has not got a stern father t

banker's imitation of the heavy s

nd acquaint him with the result of your proposal. I take it

d me to be guided b

have told them to you. Agree to any amendment

ndeed. I thank you, Sir Lemuel; but I mu

steadily declined every invitation I have sent him to come to us on any occasion. Still, I hope he may be induced to honor us with his pre

age, his infirmities, his failing mind and body, will, I trus

at he will no

that he

in the settlements that he may see fit to suggest. There! Go to Salome! Go to Salome! I must

he marriage should be celebrated at

, milliners, and dressmakers may be hurried as well as lawyers, when they are well paid to make haste. And so, in two weeks, the banker's heiress, the future Marchioness of Arondelle and Duchess of Herewar

ir departure a very c

tered and laid a card before him. It was not a visiting

jewellers, Number

ing of this?" inq

ected me to say, that he craves to speak with you

and not in the least so to me. We

, after a few moments, r

Dazzle and Spark

ed, bald-headed man

ed him with some surprise

" began the visitor, who forthwith proce

imagining himself still to be the master of Lone and of a princely revenue, went to Messrs.

en the son of the pauper duke and the daughter of the wealthy banker, gravely accepted the ord

, and hold me responsible for the amount. And say nothing of the affair

his daughter, her chaperon, and their

for the wedding, which was to take place at

trait of the Marquis of Arondelle brought down from the tower and mounted

d the bride elect with more effusive lov

ddy! and my ban on yon hizzie, wha hae been makin' sic' an ado, ever s

ng about, my dear Mrs.

hae it that she, her vera sel', is troth-plighted t

have the impertinence to say such a false thing of Lord Arondelle," e

corner, but loudly in the vera castle court, to whilk she cam yestreen, sae noisily that I was fain to

that she could neither conquer nor yet explain to herself. She did not doubt the honor of her promised husband. She would have died

But ye ken he used to be unco fond o' the sport o' deer stalking up by Ben Lone, where this handsome hizzie, Rose Cameron, bides wi' her owld feyther. And I e'en think the yo

her exit, Sir Lemu

almost in tears, he

s the matter wit

least nothing that

what

she must be, going about, intruding even into the Castle, and telling all t

banker, in a tone that instantly ri

ther?" she inquired, fixi

ker hes

r repeated

u fear, my d

r. "That this silly report would reach your ears and give you uneasine

f course, papa?" said Salo

e years of age. And he was not brought up in a convent, as you were. He has lived for a quarter of a century in the world! Surely, you

that, at all, papa," said

ow. And don't expect too much of human nature. In this year of grace