Rosa Lambert — page 375: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

er NN ee Ae ate PA SAO NAME i MPA AALALOR AE BA OLE APL Catt) CO OR CY eee ee 364 originally served, nor to whom it had belonged. These tidings, of so appalling a character, filled our hearts with horror and dismay: but when we were again alone together, we agreed that we would still abstain from involving ourselves in the inquiry which was about to take place,—as by such abstention the aims of justice could not be in any way marred, much less defeated; for all that we could tell was already told by the farmer— namely, that some equipage had stopped during the night for nearly an hour and a half in that part of the lane which lay between the Manor and the farm, and that during a considerable portion of this interval of time a light was seen in the field. As may be easily conceived, the event excited an immense sensation in the neighbour- hood. The corpse was removed to a public-house at Edmonton; and in the course of the day the coroner and a jury assembled to hold an inquest. The brief descriptive details I am now about to give, appeared in the newspapers of that time. The corpse, as already stated, was that of a young female; and her age was apparently about eiyhteen or nineteen. She was remarkably beautiful—of middle stature, of slender shape, and of perfect symmetry. Her hair was of raven darkness; and | she had a Grecian profile. ‘That she had met her death by violence, was evident from the mark of strangulation round her neck; and it appeared as 1 ee See teee —————= le SO ee Se ee ROSA LAMBERT. ——_—_———~S oo ewe mee A ee ta tures respecting the mysterious oceurrence—and the reader may surmise how fruitlessly. One day, about a month after we had been located at Marlow Manor, Ilderton went into London to purchase me a new horse, as I had some reason to be dissatisfied with the one I had — hitherto been riding ; and I walked out by myself along the lane. I took the direction of Edmonton, —intending to proceed thither to make some little purchase,—when I was overtaken by a gentleman on horseback; and the moment he caught a glimpse of my countenance, an ejaculation of min- gled joy and surprise burst from his lips: for he was none other than Arthur Brydges. De was dressed in deep mourning; and I was at once convinced that his uncle was no more. “(Good heavens, is it indeed you?” he ex- claimed ; and the next instant springing from his horse, he was by my side. I was seized with trouble and confusion: blushes mantled upon my cheeks—my eyes were cast down—lI could not look him in the face. Although | so inured to the life I was leading that I had long ceased to blush at the idea of being a kept mis- tress, yet there was one being in the world in whose presence I could not maintain that bold hardihood; and this being was before me now. “ Rose,” he said, taking my hand, and speaking in a low sad voice, “does my presence distress But if the foul deed had been accomplished by a thin | you? have you no recollection of the past? cord—for it had cut deep down into the flesh. | perhaps you will believe me when I assure you thus there was no clue to identify the unfortunate victim of this most mysterious and frightful deed: but if was hoped that the publicity given to it would lead to the discovery of who she was. It further appeared that no one had passed along the lane while the carriage was waiting there—or at least no one was forthcoming to offer any testi- mony on the subject; and thus there was a total absence of any clue to the discovery of whose equipage it could be. From the medical evidence it appeared that the murder could not have pre- ceded the interment by many hours, as was judged from the freshness of the corpse. No violence of any other nature had been perpetrated. For some days the newspapers contained para- graphs in respect to the mysterious murder, the excitement it produced, and the strenuous endea- vours of the police to get upon the track of the perpetrators of the crime, as well as to discover who the victim was. Yor several days too the corpse was kept at the public-house, in the hope that it would be identified: but no one came forward to claim it. It seemed as if from the bosom of no family was any young lady missing at all corre- sponding with the published description of the murdered victim. I have used the phrase “young lady,” because it was inferred that such must have been her position in life, as the whiteness and delicacy of her hands indicated that she had done no work. All the endeavours of the police to solve the mystery proved completely unavailing ; the shroud which enveloped it seemed to be impene- trable. No description of the equipage could be procured: the corpse continued unclaimed and unidentified; and it was at length interred in Hd- monton churchyard. Other public matters arose to divert attention into new channels: but LIlderton and L frequently bewildered ourselves with conjec- ~ ttt et LD EL LE DLAI LIE OED LOLA EE LLL EE == ~ The corpse was in a complete state of nudity; and| that in respect to all the past my memory is immortal !”’ “Leave me, Mr. Brydges--I entreat you,’ I said: “leave me! Every instant that you remain here, is fraught with indescribable anguish for me! Ina word, I cannot look you in the face!” “Tell me, Rose,’ he asked, in a tremulous voice, “are you married ?” “No,” I replied, with something like bitterness in my tone. “I am not so lost to all sense of honour as to deceive any confiding man who knows me not: and no one who does know me would think of making me his wife.” | “Yes, Rose—there is one,” was Arthur’s quick response; “and he is before you now!” These words for a moment made my heart flutter with a wild hope: but the next instant it was succeeded by so sickening a sensation of sad- ness—so painful a sense of my own utter un- worthiness—that the tears trickled from my eyes, “You weep!—thank heaven, you weep!” ex- claimed Arthur; “and it is a proof that those good feelings which I always knew you possessed, are not extinct within you! I was thinking of you, Rose, at the very moment I caught sight of your figure in front of me. But when am I not thinking of you? Some years have elapsed since I gave you my heart and offered you my hand: but the lapse of time has not effaced your image from my memory—and never, never can! Perhaps I am wrong to speak thus to you now: for barely two months have elapsed since a sudden illness deprived me of my uncle: but the peculiarity of all those circumstances which are connected with you and me must plead as my excuse. I have inherited the whole of my uncle's wealth: it is far greater than I could have possibly anticipated —ILIam rich—and I offer to share my riches with you. Ah, think you, Rose, I have ever forgotten ete ee x = i _ - mg eA ee Eboo (E(o)