In the mean time, the lovers were leading a rapturous life in the past, the present, the future. In the past they remembered the morning glories of Miramichi; in the present they saw, daily, in each other's eyes, unfathomed depths of love; as to the future it shone out before them, resplendent with the light of an earthly Paradise.
At last, the wedding day came, and the parting between Adèle and her parents. It was a great sacrifice on the part of M. and Mdme. Dubois. But, remembering their own early trials, they made no opposition to Adèle's choice. They sought only her happiness.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CONCLUSION.
On a dark, stormy day, in the winter of 1845, at ten o'clock, afternoon, a tall, stout, elderly man, muffled in fur, rang at the door of Mr. Lansdowne.
The house was large, of brown stone, and situated on H—— Street, in the city of P——.
As the servant opened the door, the hall light fell upon a face of strongly marked features, irradiated by an expression of almost youthful cheerfulness. To the inquiry, if Mr. and Mrs. Lansdowne were at home, the servant replied, that they were absent, but would return shortly.
"Miss Adèle is in the drawing-room sir", he added, immediately throwing open the door of that apartment, to its widest extent, as if to insure the entrance of Mr. Norton, for it was no other than the good missionary of Miramichi. He was still the warmly cherished and highly revered friend of the entire family.
Adèle, a young lady of sixteen, was sitting on a low seat in the drawing-room, beneath a blaze of waxen candles, intently occupied with a new book. She gave a start, on being recalled so suddenly from the fancy land in which she was roaming, but after a moment of bewilderment, flung aside her book, came quickly forward, put her arms around the neck of Mr. Norton, who bent down to receive them, and welcomed him with a cordial kiss.
"Every day more and more like your mother, Miss Adèle", said he, as, after returning her salutation, he held her at arm's length and surveyed her from head to foot.
"Papa and mamma will be home soon", said Adèle. "They went to dine at Mr. Holbrook's. It is time for their return".
"All right, my dear. And how are you all?"
The young lady led him to a large, cushioned arm-chair.
"How did you leave mamma Norton, Jenny, and Fanny?"
"All quite well. And they sent love;" replied the missionary.
"How is Gray Eagle?"
"Ah! Gray Eagle is good for many a trot round the parish yet".
"I have not forgotten how he shot over the hills with me, last summer. He began his scamper, the moment I was fairly seated on his back. I hope he has sobered down a little since then", said Adèle.
"Yes, I remember. Gray Eagle knew well enough that the little sprite he carried, liked a scamper as well as himself. The animal is quite well, I thank you, and is on good behavior. So are your other acquaintances, Cherry, the cow, and Hodge, the cat".
"I am glad to hear it. I had a charming visit at Rockdale last summer. Johnny and Gabrielle are wild to go there. But mamma and I, and all of us, were so disappointed because you would not consent to Fanny and Jenny coming to spend the winter with us. Mamma says she does not quite understand yet why you objected".
"Ah! well, my dear, I'll make it all right with your mamma. The fact is, I wish to get a few rational ideas into the heads of those precious little ladies before they are launched out into city life. Just a little ballast to keep them from capsizing in a gale".
"Mamma says they are both very much like you", said Adèle, archly.
"True, my dear. That makes it all the more necessary to look after them carefully".
After a few moments of chat, Adèle left the room to give orders for hastening supper.
During her absence, Mr. Norton, with his eyes fixed upon the glowing grate, fell into a fit of musing. Look at him a moment, while he sits thus, occupied with the memories of the past. Twenty years have passed since he was introduced to the attention of the reader, a missionary to a remote and benighted region. He is now sixty years old, and very few have passed through greater toil and hardships than he has endured, in asserting the claims of the Redeemer to the gratitude and love of the race. Yet his health and vigor of mind are scarcely impaired, and his zeal continues unabated.
Beginning his journey early each spring and returning to his family late every autumn, he had spent sixteen successive summers in Miramichi, engaged in self-imposed labors. Each winter, he wrought at his anvil, and thus helped to maintain an honest independence.
Four years previous, a parish having become vacant, in the town where he resided, it was urged upon his acceptance, by the unanimous voice of the people. By his efforts, a great change had been wrought in the field of his past labors and a supply of suitable religious teachers having been provided there, he accepted the invitation as a call of Divine Providence, and had ministered to the spiritual wants of the people of Rockdale since.
Business called him occasionally to the city of P. His visits there were always regarded by the Lansdownes as especial favors. The two families had frequently interchanged visits and had grown into habits of the closest intimacy.
Having been in the city several hours and dispatched the affairs which drew him thither, he had now come to look in upon his friends for the night, expecting to hasten away at day dawn.
There was something in his situation this evening, thus housed in warmth, light, and comfort, protected from the darkness and the storm without, and ministered unto by a lovely young maiden, that reminded him of a like scene, that had occurred, twenty years ago. He vividly recalled the evening, when, after a day of toil and travel on the banks of the distant Miramichi, he reached the house of Dubois, and how while the tempest raged without he was cheered by the light and warmth within, and was ministered unto by another youthful maiden, in form and feature so like her, who had just left him, that he could almost imagine them the same. A glance around the apartment, however, dispelled the momentary fancy. Its rich and beautiful adornments afforded a striking contrast to the appointments of that humble room.
He was roused from his meditations by the ringing of the street bell, and in a moment Mr. and Mrs. Lansdowne came forward to welcome their early and long-tried friend.
The good man, who loved them with an affection akin to that which he felt for his own family, had preserved a watchful care over their earthly and spiritual welfare. Sometimes he feared that their wealth and fame might draw away their hearts from the highest good and impair the simplicity of their religious faith.
After the first cordial greetings, in accordance with his habit on occasions like this, he indulged in a careful scrutiny of his two friends.
Time had in no wise impaired the charms of Mrs. Lansdowne. Experience of life, maternal cares, and religious duties had added a softer light to her once proud beauty, and her old friend might well be pardoned a thrill of admiration as he gazed and thought within his heart, that Mrs. Lansdowne, robed in black velvet, Mechlin lace, and the diamonds of the house of Rossillon, surpassed in loveliness, the radiant Adèle Dubois, arrayed in the aerial garments of girlhood.
When also his keen eye had wandered over the face and figure of John Lansdowne, it returned from its explorations satisfied. No habits of excess had impaired the muscular strength and vigor of his form. Nor had ungoverned passion, avarice, political craft, or disappointed ambition drawn deep defacing lives, to mar the noble beauty of his countenance.
"It is well with them still", ejaculated the good man mentally, "and may God bless them forever".
THE END.
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PIQUE:
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It has the merit of being amusing, pleasantly written, and engrossing.
The characters being high-bred men and women, are charming companions for an hour's solitude, and one puts the book aside regretfully, even as one closes the eyes on a delicious vision. The American edition has taken everyone by surprise, that so remarkably good a novel should have so long escaped attention.
Everybody is charmed with it, and its sale is immense, and will endure for years to come.
FAITH GARTNEY'S GIRLHOOD.
By the Author of "Boys at Chequasset".
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This charming story fills a void long felt for something for a
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A lady of rare culture, and wide experience, says,—
"'Faith Gartney's Girlhood,' is a noble, good work, that could only have been accomplished by an elevated mind united to a chaste, tender heart. From the first page to the last, the impression is received of a life which has been lived; the characters are genuine, well drawn, skilfully presented; they are received at once with kind, friendly greeting, and followed with interest, till the last page compels a reluctant farewell.
" 'The book is written for girls, growing as they grow to womanhood.' The story has an interest, far beyond that found in modern romances of the day, conveyed in pure, refined language; suggestive, pleasing thoughts are unfolded on every page; the reflective and descriptive passages are natural, simple, and exquisitely finished.
"In these days, when the tendency of society is to educate girls for heartless, aimless, factitious life, a book like this is to be welcomed and gratefully received. Wherever it is read, it will be retained as a thoughtful, suggestive—if silent—friend".
Parents, give it a wide circulation.
Margaret and her Bridesmaids.
BY THE AUTHOR OF
"The Lady of Glynne", "Mr. and Mrs. Ashton",
"Valley of a Hundred Fires", "The Ladies
of Lovel Leigh", "The Challenge",
"The Queen of the County".
3d edition. 1 vol., 12mo. Cloth. Price $2.00.
This talented authoress ranks first among the successful female novel
writers of England. Her books are immensely popular there; edition
after edition of each has been called for, and the announcement of a new
one from her pen creates a new demand, and increases the popularity
of what has been published. By an arrangement with her and her English
publishers, all her books are to be brought before the American
public, where she is almost wholly unknown, except to the readers at
LORING'S CIRCULATING LIBRARY, and they are enthusiastic
over them.
"Margaret and Her Bridesmaids" is the one chosen to introduce her with, as this, she writes me, has enjoyed the greatest popularity in England. This will be followed by "THE QUEEN OF THE COUNTY", and the others, as fast as compatible.
It is the history of four school-girls.
The London Athenæum, the highest literary authority, says of it: "We may save ourselves the trouble of giving any lengthened review of this book, for we recommend all who are in search of a fascinating novel, to read it for themselves. They will find it well worth their while. There is a freshness and originality about it quite charming, and there is a certain nobleness in the treatment, both of sentiment and incident, which is not often found. We imagine that few can read it without deriving some comfort or profit from the quiet good sense and unobtrusive words of counsel with which it abounds".
The story is very interesting. It is the history of four school-fellows.
Margaret, the heroine, is, of course, a woman in the highest state of
perfection. But Lotty—the little, wilful, wild, fascinating, brave Lotty—is
the gem of the book, and, as far as our experience in novel reading
goes, is an entirely original character—a creation—and a very charming
one. No story that occurs to our memory contains more interest
than this for novel readers, particularly those of the tender sex, to whom
it will be a dear favorite.
We hope the authoress will give us some more novels, as good as "Margaret and her Bridesmaids".
TWICE LOST.
A NOVEL.
By S.M., Author of "Linnet's Trial".
Read the Opinions of the English Press.
Another first-rate novel by a woman! The plot well conceived and worked out, the
characters individualized and clear-cut, and the story so admirably told that you are
hurried along for two hours and a half with a smile often breaking out at the humor,
a tear ready to start at the pathos, and with unflagging interest, till the heroine's release
from all trouble is announced at the end....* We heartily recommend the
book to all readers. It is more full of character than any book we remember since
Charles Reade's "Christie Johnstone".—Reader.
"Twice Lost" is an entertaining novel; the struggle between the high-spirited, generous,
half-savage heroine, and her specious, handsome, unprincipled, soi-disant
father, is exciting; and the sympathy of the reader is cleverly enlisted for the
heroine, Lucia, from the first moment. The personages have all of them a certain
look of reality, and there is a notion of likeness which insures the reader's interest.
We can recommend "Twice Lost" as a novel worth reading.—Athenæum.
By far the cleverest book on our list is "Twice Lost" *** This is bold and
skilful drawing, and it is a fair sample of the earlier half of the volume. The combined
vigor, ease, and perspicuity of the writing is unusual.—Guardian.
Nothing can be better of its kind than the first portion of "Twice Lost" *** .
The caustic humor and strong common sense which mark the sketches of character
in this book, betray a keenness of observation and aptitude for producing a telling
likeness with a few strokes, which need only a wider cultivation to secure a more
complete success than has been attained in "Twice Lost".—Westminster Review.
It is quite clear that the author has given a good deal of thought to the construction
of the story, with a view to producing strong interest without the use of the
common sensational expedients. To say that "Twice Lost" is very well written,
and very interesting, would not be doing it justice.—Morning Herald.
There can be no doubt of the author's power. She holds her characters and incidents
well in hand, writes firmly, and often very happily, and there are many passages
which indicate power much above mediocrity.—London Review.
Not very often do we meet with a novel so thoroughly good as "Twice Lost". If,
as may be assumed from both subject and style, its author is a woman, she may at
once be classed with the Brontë sisters and George Eliot. She has the firm conception
and distinct touch of the first-class artist. Her characters are real and individual.—Press.
This is a well-written romantic tale, in which we find many pleasing incidents and
some successful portraiture of character. The character of Miss Derwent, the companion
and governess of the heroine, Miss Langley, is very well developed in the
course of the narrative. The moral tone of the book is very good, and so far as religious
matters are touched upon, they are treated with propriety and reverence.—English
Churchman.
The characters are well drawn—the situations are new, the sentiments are unsentimental,
and the incidental remarks those of a clever woman who is reasonable and
tolerant.—Globe.
The plot of this tale is an original one, and well worked out *** We can sincerely
recommend this tale; it is quite out of the general run of books, and is sure to
prove an interesting one.—Observer.
We notice this story because its authoress will one day, we believe, produce a
powerful novel.—Spectator.
The reader is carried along with unflagging and exciting interest, and the book is
full of characters finely sketched, and of passages powerfully written.—Patriot.
That the author of "Twice Lost" can write well, the book itself furnishes sufficient
evidence.—Nation.
This is a striking story. It has a freshness and originality about it which are very
pleasant.—Morning Advertiser.
Without being a sensation novel this is a most exciting and attractive story.—Daily
News.
A most romantic story, the interest being well sustained throughout, and everything
coming right at the end. Any one must be entertained by it.—John Bull.