CHAPTER XXXI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 149, 10 March 1876, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE ElXCr's TLEDGE BEDEEAir.D — ST. OTMr U > * . ShE paused after a while, and loaned against the palisade?, and a sense of quiet happiness to which she hud long been v stranger took possession ot her heart. Absorbed in her own pleasant joyous thoughts, ?he heard nothing, saw nothing, regarded not the lapse of time, and knew not that the fond eyes of Queen Mary Beatrice, attended by another, to whom she was dearer far than life itself, were gazing down upon her from a window of the chateau ; and she was still looking away into the future, •wearing bright dreams of wedded happiness, picturing to herself how a certain chateau, at present vacant, m the valley, might be redecorated, and of all the good she, with her wealth, might be able to do for the poor emigrants, when the words — "Florence, my betrothed!" fell on her car in the tones of a wellremembered voice', like a strain of music, the molody of which has never been forgotten. The surprise was too sudden ; she would have fallen, but for a strong arm outstretched to support her, and then, after awhile, he grew eloquent in praise of her constancy and truth, and foigetful of all the world bes.de, they talked over the days that had gone by, and conjured up fair visions of the futuie ; of home ties and jojs which death alone should break. In the midst of her new-found happiness, Florence had not forgotten the un ortunate Mrs. Ashton arc! her children, and, above all other, Grace, the friend to whom she owed so very much, in whose character flourished bj the grace of repentance, those same virtues inherent in the queen. The packet, containing the story of her life, which Florence had a year since forwarded to the queen, had of itself been sufficient to introduce her to the notice of the latter. Not very long, you may be sure, were the nuptials of Florence and Sir Reginald delayed. In tho Chapel Koyal of St. Germains the ceremony which completed their betrothal was soon celebrated, taking place after the Easter festivities. In the middle of the week following Low Sunday, there was a great gathering at St. Gcnnaius. The iond hinds of Grace, who looked on Florence as her own child, had dressed the bride's hair; had twined amongst the golden tresses the delicate orange blossom, and arranged the veil, and had decked her in as costly a robe as that which Mary of England had presented her with two years sii.ee. It was the gift of Louis of France. Eight young ladies, chosen from the most distinguished Jacobite families resident at St. Germains, acted as bridesmaids, and King James gave the bride away. The French king was also present, with Madame do Muintenon and many of the nobles of his court ; and without doubt, those who gathered within the Chapel Royal were right in saying, there could not be found in the whole realm of France a lovelier or a more virtuous bride, or a braver knight, than Florence O'Neill and Reginald St. John.