Our readers have, doubtless, anticipated the communication
made to Major Blackwater by the Adjutant Lawson. Bowed
down to the dust by the accomplishment of the curse of
Ellen Halloway, the inflexibility of Colonel de Haldimar's
pride was not proof against the utter annihilation wrought
to his hopes as a father by the unrelenting hatred of
the enemy his early falsehood and treachery had raised
up to him. When the adjutant entered his apartment, the
stony coldness of his cheek attested he had been dead
some hours.
We pass over the few days of bitter trial that succeeded
to the restoration of Captain de Haldimar and his bride
to their friends; days, during which were consigned to
the same grave the bodies of the governor, his lamented
children, and the scarcely less regretted Sir Everard
Valletort. The funeral service was attempted by Captain
Blessington; but the strong affection of that excellent
officer, for three of the defunct parties at least, was
not armed against the trial. He had undertaken a task
far beyond his strength; and scarcely had commenced, ere
he was compelled to relinquish the performance of the
ritual to the adjutant.
Pages:
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828