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Article ELIBANK; OR, THE NOBLE BASKET-MAKER. ← Page 4 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Elibank; Or, The Noble Basket-Maker.
to me , and in justice to yourself , leave me for the present ; another tune—and I may be more able to listen to yon as I ought . " His lordship saw the propriety and necessity of taking , however unwillingly , his immediate departure . At their next interview tho young lady appeared lo be somewhat better reconciled to the novelty of her situation , and patiently , calmly , unalteredand unmoved
, , listened with apparent pleasure to the soothings of that love , in the thoughts of which she had not until now dared for a moment to indulge . Thus hour after hour passed rapidly away , and day after day rolled onwards , they brought fresh joys , and augmented the love and happiness with which tbe lovers were now surrounded ; when , all of a sudden , the dark and dismal cloud of life ' s drear uncertainty overshadowed them in its gloom , and had well ni gh shattered to pieces the fond hopes which had been nurtured and cherished in their breasts , until the destruction or cutting asunder of those bright and glorious hopes would , to them , have been worse to endure than death itself .
I he father of the young lady , whose eccentric turn of mind we have already noticed , having learned what was going forward , peremptorily and somewhat sternly commanded his daughter to discard the young AT ' , alul t 0 cast Ilim out from her heart and her affections for ever . Alas I he knew not—he felt not , in the cold recesses of his own mercenary bosom , that it was easier to annihilate the world itself than to loosen the bonds with which the heart and soul of his only child were for knit to that of
ever the young Lord of Elibank . In vain did she plead in favour of his many virtues and personal attractions ; in vain did she allude to his ancient lineage , his noble domains , and his power and influence with the sovereign . It was nothing , said the old man , that he was a scion of Scottish nobility . It was nothing that he was in possession of lands and herds and flocks—he wanted that which alone could make him worthy to receive the heart and hand of his daughter , to enjoy her fortune , and to make her father happy . " And what , my dearest father , are the stipulations required to gain your blessing , and render mc completely hannv ?"
" He , ' said the relentless parent , " must be the master of a trade , whereby he may be enabled to earn an honest livelihood for himself and family , when all his lands , and herds , and flocks may have passed away into other hands—then , and not until then , will I listen to your pleadings , nor in any other shape whatever , will I countenance your union . " And with these words sounding , or rather ringing in her ear , he left her to her meditations . Let the reader judge what would be the tenor of those meditations under
circumstances so excruciating , and yet so ridiculousl y absurd . The very thought of disclosing such a measure to Elibank was misery , and retiring at an earl y hour , she , like a spoiled child , wept herself to sleep . The same evening Elibank called as he was wont to do , and was deeply mortified and disappointed when informed by a domestic that the object of his solicitude hadseveral hours beforeretired to her
, , own apartment , after having given tbe most positive instructions that no one was to be allowed to break in upon her privacy , or in any other way disturb her , until the following morning . " But , " said the domestic , " she desired me to deliver into the hands of your lordship this small packet . " Elibank , hastily tearing open the seal , read as follows : —
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Elibank; Or, The Noble Basket-Maker.
to me , and in justice to yourself , leave me for the present ; another tune—and I may be more able to listen to yon as I ought . " His lordship saw the propriety and necessity of taking , however unwillingly , his immediate departure . At their next interview tho young lady appeared lo be somewhat better reconciled to the novelty of her situation , and patiently , calmly , unalteredand unmoved
, , listened with apparent pleasure to the soothings of that love , in the thoughts of which she had not until now dared for a moment to indulge . Thus hour after hour passed rapidly away , and day after day rolled onwards , they brought fresh joys , and augmented the love and happiness with which tbe lovers were now surrounded ; when , all of a sudden , the dark and dismal cloud of life ' s drear uncertainty overshadowed them in its gloom , and had well ni gh shattered to pieces the fond hopes which had been nurtured and cherished in their breasts , until the destruction or cutting asunder of those bright and glorious hopes would , to them , have been worse to endure than death itself .
I he father of the young lady , whose eccentric turn of mind we have already noticed , having learned what was going forward , peremptorily and somewhat sternly commanded his daughter to discard the young AT ' , alul t 0 cast Ilim out from her heart and her affections for ever . Alas I he knew not—he felt not , in the cold recesses of his own mercenary bosom , that it was easier to annihilate the world itself than to loosen the bonds with which the heart and soul of his only child were for knit to that of
ever the young Lord of Elibank . In vain did she plead in favour of his many virtues and personal attractions ; in vain did she allude to his ancient lineage , his noble domains , and his power and influence with the sovereign . It was nothing , said the old man , that he was a scion of Scottish nobility . It was nothing that he was in possession of lands and herds and flocks—he wanted that which alone could make him worthy to receive the heart and hand of his daughter , to enjoy her fortune , and to make her father happy . " And what , my dearest father , are the stipulations required to gain your blessing , and render mc completely hannv ?"
" He , ' said the relentless parent , " must be the master of a trade , whereby he may be enabled to earn an honest livelihood for himself and family , when all his lands , and herds , and flocks may have passed away into other hands—then , and not until then , will I listen to your pleadings , nor in any other shape whatever , will I countenance your union . " And with these words sounding , or rather ringing in her ear , he left her to her meditations . Let the reader judge what would be the tenor of those meditations under
circumstances so excruciating , and yet so ridiculousl y absurd . The very thought of disclosing such a measure to Elibank was misery , and retiring at an earl y hour , she , like a spoiled child , wept herself to sleep . The same evening Elibank called as he was wont to do , and was deeply mortified and disappointed when informed by a domestic that the object of his solicitude hadseveral hours beforeretired to her
, , own apartment , after having given tbe most positive instructions that no one was to be allowed to break in upon her privacy , or in any other way disturb her , until the following morning . " But , " said the domestic , " she desired me to deliver into the hands of your lordship this small packet . " Elibank , hastily tearing open the seal , read as follows : —