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FRANK LESLIE'S’ NEW: YORK JOURNAL. ‘331
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against’ the Sultan’s seraglio or all the belles of}
Andalusia and Castile! Come,” he added, filling
himself.a glass of wine ; ‘here is‘a toast ; ‘To the
health of the bright-eyed girls of England!’ ”’
It was drunk with enthusiasm.
From general toasts they came at last to particu-
lar ones, and each officer in turn gave the name of
some fair girl, absence from whom had wrung .his
heart with the only pang it had felt on, quitting the
shores of his native land. . Mortimer gave that of|
“his cousin, “ the Lady Alice Pomeroy,” to whom he
had been engaged trom’ boyhood. Marsh toasted
“the daughter of General Walton ;” and Lord Pea-
pod ‘frankly declared, when called upon, that, with-
‘out.’ being unfaithful to half a dozen whom he
admired, it was impossible for him to select a single
beauty—a confession which’ was received with a
~ merry laugh by his companions.
When it came to-Walter Trevanian’s turn, to the
astonishment of our hero, he ‘gave “the health of
Miss Wyndham.” © At first he thought it was a pre-
meditated insult ; but, unwilling to disturb the tem-
porary harmony which reigned amonst them, re-
' pressed his indignation. .
‘When the party broke up, he followed his former
friend to his cabin, in order to'\demand an explana-
tion.
* « You this night mentioned the name of a lady,
Mr. Trevanian,” he said, ‘‘ whose welfare and repu-
tation are most dear to me! She is the daughter of
one of my father’s oldest and most valued friends,
was educated beneath his roof, and for. years has
been considered by me as a sister! May I ask the
right by. which you named her?”?)...-..- + = .
“A sister!” repeated Trevan:
tone} “you surprise me!”
“ Perhaps,’:. observed Cl
a dearer tie between us!” - .
« You must permit me to doubt it!’ replied the
gentleman, haughtily ; “unless,” he. added, ‘the
-fact.-is . more explicitly asserted! “But I have no
desire to quarrel. with you ;: and, in consideration of
circumstances in which :you had some’reason to
complain of me, will gratify your not very courte-
ous question... The lady in question is attached to
me!” . .
jan, in a sarcastic
ement Foster, * there is
“To you!? os. yt 2 i
“Is there anything so extraordinary in the con-
fession ?”’ demanded Walter Trevanian.. “ But as
you have so long felt as a brother towards the lady,
1 will go even further, and show you her last letter
tome!?s jac ni bots tee ee
“A letter from Miss Wyndham!” exclaimed our
hero, more and more astonished by his assertions.
.“ Read, and judge for yourself!” So e
: «His former friend, who had been searching in his
dressing-case, placed a perfumed note in his hand.
Clement recognised the handwriting in an instant.
It ran thus : 3 Ps e :
“Dear Watter,—I shall not be at home at the
time you name. Being engaged with Miss Mendez,
perhaps you will call in the evening with Clement,
-asusual.”) : Foon. .
.: The young soldier read no. more. » He was con-
vinced—painfully convinced—that his feelings had
been trifled with. With a strong effort to appear
calm and unmoved, he returned the note to Tre-
vanian. ,; : bee :
», “1 thank you!” he said; “and aftor this proof
of your confidence, admit that you wero justified in
acting as you have done!” .. re)
-., With these words he. left the cabin, and for the
next three days felt himself to be an altered-man.
But before the end of the week the dis¢overy ap-
peared to be a relief to him—for, as our readers have
doubtless perceived, he had never really loved Miss
Wyndham. “
——
CHAPTER XLVIIL ©
. is saintly chastit,
Hoare tear soul is found Tincerely 30 .
A thousand liveried angels lacquey hers
Driving far off gach thing of sin and ¢ Ite ow.
.. Forrunarety for the progress of our tale, as well
as the patience of our readers—which we have no
desire to draw upon too largely—it is unnecessary
to enter into all the details of the memorable cam-
~ paign in the Peninsula, which crowned with im-
mortal fame the illustrious name of Wellington, and
added fresh Jaurels to the British arms. ‘
«From the siege of Badajoz to Salamanca, Valla-
dolid, Astorga, Seville, to the crowning battle of
' Vittoria, Clement Foster assisted in the glorious
struggle, and had obtained the rank of captain, when
.. tie great commander, after marching six thousand
sand of the veteran troops of France. before, him,
stood on the summit of the Pyrenees a conqueror.
In 1813 the allied army entered France. ‘The star
of Napoleon, which had paled in Russia. sank, like
‘a.meteor quenched. in blood,.upon the field of
Leipsic. “Europe stood arrayed in arms against him,
and willed once more to be free.
- Of our hero’s success Colonel Barrett’had unin-
tentionally been the means. Whenever a service of
more than ordinary danger was to be performed, Lord
Peapod and Clement were invariably chosen. At first
the young soldier considered |that this marked _pre-
ference arose from a generous desire of affording
him and his lordship an opportunity of distinguish-
ing themselves—of atoning for the injustice with
which he had been treated on first joining the regi-
ment. . A very short experience, however, dissipated
this illusion. His name was studiously kept from
the reports, and had it not been for the friendship of:
General De Vere, who kept his eye upon him, on
more than one occasion he would have missed the
reward of his gallantry and perseverance.
A little reflection gave him the key of the enigma.
The death of Lord Peapod and himself would not
only elevate the colonel to the peerage but relieve
him from the presence of a man who had mortally
offended him.
‘Wounded vanity seldom forgives.
The common danger into which they were thus
frequently thrown naturally cemented a\ mutual
friendship between the young men. With all. his
folly and prejudices, the noble nephew of Colonel
Barratt possessed many of the sterling qualities of
an English gentleman. He was brave even to rash-
ness, and rode forth to battle with the same joyous
recklessness he had displayed when a boy at Eton
in the boat-race or the cricket-ficld—in which manly
sports, par parenthése—he was far more distin-
guished than for his skill in making Greek and Latin
verses, or his love of mathematics. At the age of
sixteen his lordship was the best bowler and stroke
oarsman in the school, where he never rose beyond
the fourth form, to the despair of his private tutor
and ‘great disappointment of his maternal grand-
father, the bishop—who was indebted to his extra-
ordinary knowledge of Greek roots, his annotations
on Sophocles and AEschylus for his elevation to the
bench. :
Strange, that a commentary, however learned, on’
two profane pagan play-writers should be considered
a qualification for the honors of a Christian church.
At Salamanca, where Lord Peapod was severely
wounded, Clement Foster, amid a shower of bullets,
carried him to the rear of his regiment, and thus
preserved his life.’ ,
From that day it was positively dangerous for
any one in his lordship’s presence to ‘speak dispa-
ragingly of our hero. : He was far more more sen-
sensitive on his account than on his own. Walter
Trevanian only avoided a duel by a timely apology.
He even braved his uncle at the mess-table, by pub-
licly telling him that his conduct towards his friend
was unworthy of an officer and a gentleman.' | *
The colonel dared not resent it—he had borrowed
too much of his nephew’s money to quarrel with
him: but from that night he hated both with equal
bitterness, and, ‘like the venom of the snake, this
eeling grew more dangerous as it became more con-
centrated. “ ‘ :
Towards the close of a cold winter’s day, the last
division of the British army, which a few days pre-
viously had passsed the Garonne, was hastening by
forced: marches to attack Toulouse, defended by
Marshal Soult, who was a uative of that place.
'. After the troops came a party of officers, most of
whom had been wounded in the gallant but unsuc-
‘eessful affair.on the heights of Colvinet; and the
surgeons not having yet pronounced them fit for
active service, they were permitted to follow their
respective regiments at their leisure. | ;
A few servants and one or two orderlies followed
at a respéctful distance. 5 ‘ Mealy
Just as they reached the lodge-gate leading to one
ofthe numerous chateaux in the environs of the
village, one of the officers, a fine, tall, soldier-like
looking man, whose right arm was suspended ina
black sling, was observed to reel in his saddle. : He
had over-taxed his strength, and must have fallen,
had not Clement Foster, who was riding next him,
supported him.’ This accident threw the party into
some confusion. ue :
“Something is the matter!’ observed Lieutenant
Mortimer, who was riding with two or three dragoon
officers in front. J
...The next’moment they heard Lord’ Peapod ex-
claim, “that Colonel Harrington had fainted!” | °
Walter Trevanian instantly turned back. There
niles, capturing nearly three thousannd pieces of
cannon, and driving one hundred and twenty thou-
was a peculiar smile upon‘ his countenance’as he
the wounded man, whose servant—a fine soldier-like
looking .man—had ridden ‘up, and. proffered his
master a small silver flask filled with wine.
«“ Water—water !” murmured the colonel.
All were iurnished with flasks—some containing
wine, others brandy ; but not one was filled with
the pure element the sufferer demanded. ’
“It is impossible,” said his lordship, “ he can
proceed in this state!” -. : .
After a brief consultation it was decided to convey
him ‘to the chateau, and demand a few hours’ hos-
pitality. :
To their summons at the lodge no reply was ob-
tained. . The domestics had taken fright, and aban-
doned their post. ut as it was evident, from the
smoke issuing from the tall stack of chimneys, the
house was still inhabited, they forced the grille, and
advanced to the mansion. 7 >
| After repeated summonses, a very beautiful girl,
not more than sixteen years of age, appeared at the
window, directly over the porch. She was accom-
panied by two men, evidently peasants or farm-
servants, who were well armed. _ ::
A few brief words spoken in French explained the
purport of their visit.
Both Clement Foster and Walter Trevanian men-
tally confessed that a more lovely creature had never
met. their gaze. They were tired of admiring the
eternal black eyes and gipsy-like beauties of Spain.
There was something in her appearance which re-
minded them of their countrywomen.at home—the
quiet loveliness of English girls, which wins the
heart by gentleness and retiring modesty, instead of
boldly challenging its admiration like their glowing
sisters of the south. ~ . :
Despite the remonstrances of the two men, the
young lady directed the door of the chateau to be
unbarred and the party admitted. ,
olonel Harrington was assisted. into a saloon
which had more the appearance of a studio than a
drawing-room. ‘The walls were covered with faded
tapestry from the, fooms of Flanders, and adorned
by several portraits, which our hero observed with
surprise were allof the same person—a female—and
taken in every conceivable variety of costume, in-
cluding those of an Eastern queen, a vestal, and. an
Italian peasant girl of the Campagna. »,. °. /)
the furniture was entirely of walnut-tree wood,
the chairs and sofas covered with embossed amber-
colored ‘velvet.’ The only articles of Jaxury in the
apartment were a piano and a harp. Evidently the
inmates of the house were excecdingly musical, for
the tables were heaped with piles of books, scores,
and partitions of the operas of the great masters.
© sooner was Colonel Harrington placed on one
of the sofas, than the young lady who had first ad-
dressed them from the window entered the room,
accompanied by a female of more advanced years,
whose appearance was s0 extraordinary that we
feel tempted to describe it. - She was a tall, stately-
looking woman, between forty and fifty years of age.
Over her broad, intellectual forehead ‘she: wore a.
band of the finest linen, which concealed her: hair.’ «
From the back of her head hung _a veil, not unlike
those worn by the nuns in Catholic countries ; and
yet it was evident from the rest of her costume that
she was not devoted to a cloistered life, since she
wore a dress of dark-green silk, fastened down the
front with small clasps of gold, and her fingers were
adorned with rings of considerable value... Her
features, which were strongly marked and perfectly
colorless, still retained the traces of former beauty ;
ut it was in the ‘eyes its. peculiar expression lay.
They were of a dark ‘grey—wild and restless, like
those of some inspired sybil or: enthusiast.» .. Few
whom she addressed could endure without an inde-
scribable feeling of uneasiness their - penetrating
glance. Her companion, on the contrary, was gifted
With all the freshness as weil as loveliness of youth.
Her ‘auburn hair,’ rebellious to-the ribbon which
should have bound it at the back of a divinely-formed
head, fell in’ stray ringlets over her neck and shoul-
ders.” Her large, eloquent eyes were of the tender-
est blue, lips arched like Cupid's bow, red as the
cdral first ‘ravished from. its ocean bed, and a form
whose delicate and graceful outlines were..just
emerging from the promise of childhood to the full
grace of womanly beauty. . .
’. A bright blush tinted her cheeks at the half-sup-
pressed murmur of admiration which broke from the
group of officers as she approached the wounded
man, to ask hosy she could be of use to him. °
“ Water!” murmured the sufferer,’ Water!”
“ Thanks!” he added, after draining the glass he
had received from her hands ; “ a soldier’s thanks !
I shall be better soon, and will relieve you from the
inconvenience of my presence!” oe
fixed his eyes upon the pale, deathlike features of
The fair girl made some observation in German .