The Old Countess; or, The Two Proposals Part 52

After a little, the windows along the facade of the building were thrown back, and a gay throng poured itself into a broad balcony, that projected a little over the stone terrace, where the wine was flowing, and the eager people crowding forward for the first look.

Foremost came Lord Hilton, leading Clara--Lady Ca.r.s.et--by the hand. Then Hepworth Closs stepped forth, and on his arm a bright, sparkling little figure, in a cloud of gauzy silk, and crowned with white roses, who smiled and kissed her hand to the crowd, while her little feet kept time, and almost danced, to the music, which broke from terrace and covert as the bridal party appeared.

Standing a little back, near one of the windows, stood two gentlemen, one very old and stricken in years, who leaned heavily on his cane, and looked smilingly down upon the mult.i.tude swaying in front of the castle; and well he might, for two of the finest estates in England had been joined that day, and from horizon to horizon stretched the united lands which the children of his grandson would inherit.

The other gentleman, standing there with the sad, worn face was Lord Hope, who leaned heavily against the window-frame, and looked afar off over the heads of the mult.i.tude wearily, wearily, as if the days of marrying and giving in marriage were all a blank to him. When the young bride, who had given up her name, t.i.tle and fortune willingly to another, came up to him at the window, she laid her hand tenderly on his arm, whispering:

"Farewell, father, farewell! I am not the less your child because of the blue blood, for she cannot love you better than I do. Will you not shake hands with my husband, father?"

Lord Hope lifted his heavy eyes to Hepworth Closs, saw the features of another, whom no one ever mentioned now, in that face, flung both arms about the bridegroom, shaking from head to foot with tearless sobs.

A little while after a carriage drove from Houghton to the station, and in two days a steamer sailed with Hepworth Closs and his wife, with that kind and faithful man, her father, for New York.

Just as they were about to sail, an old woman came quietly into the second-cla.s.s cabin, paid her pa.s.sage, and rested there, never coming on deck till the steamer landed. Then she gathered up her effects in a carpet-bag and went ash.o.r.e.

That night a fire blazed on the hearth at Cedar Cottage, and the dilapidated furniture in the various rooms was arranged in the kitchen.

About six months after, this old woman was found dead upon an iron bedstead up-stairs, and the neighbors held a consultation about burying her at the expense of the town; but, on searching the rooms, plenty of English gold was found to have kept her comfortable for years. Then some one remembered that a convict, discharged from the prison not many years ago, was said to be the mother of Daniel Yates, a good man and excellent citizen, and they decided to bury the poor old convict by his side.

There is a very prosperous firm in New York, which has stood the shock of gold corners, and railway crashes, with the firm resistance of heavy capital and business integrity. It is the firm of Closs & Brown.

The younger member is an active, shrewd, generous man, full of resources, and capable of wonderful combinations.

The other superintends the in-door business, and makes himself very useful, in a quiet sort of way, in keeping things straight--no unimportant position in a business house, let me a.s.sure you.

As for Caroline--Mrs. Hepworth Closs--you may see her, any fine day, das.h.i.+ng faster than the law allows, along the avenues of Central Park, holding a pair of white ponies well in hand, while she chats and laughs with her husband, glorying in him, and exulting in the freedom which she gained in losing a grand t.i.tle and estate.

THE END.

MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS' WORKS.

Each Work is complete in one volume, 12mo.

THE OLD COUNTESS; OR, THE TWO PROPOSALS.

LORD HOPE'S CHOICE.

THE REIGNING BELLE.

A n.o.bLE WOMAN.

MARRIED IN HASTE.

WIVES AND WIDOWS; OR, THE BROKEN LIFE.

THE REJECTED WIFE.

THE GOLD BRICK.

THE CURSE OF GOLD.

THE HEIRESS.

FAs.h.i.+ON AND FAMINE.

PALACES AND PRISONS.

THE OLD HOMESTEAD.

SILENT STRUGGLES.

MARY DERWENT.

THE WIFE'S SECRET.

THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS.

RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY.

MABEL'S MISTAKE.

DOUBLY FALSE.