Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-12-12


iancful fevor OF one who knew little or nothing
OF his real temper, and invested the paternal char.
acter with all that is high and holy. She loved
the abbess, the nuns, every one who was connec.
ted with her recoIlections OF her chdhood-the
old grey.headed gardener, the very trees and Aow-
ers oil tie convent garden, came in for share OF
her regard. She cherished the memory OF her LOST
mother with the same kind Of tender reverence
that she had been taught to feel for the saints IN
! glory. Her love oil Giovanni was newer and
more real feeling than these it was blending Of
gratitude for all the enjoyment he led her to find,
| IN paths hitherto unknown TO her, with that cher
!shing love which 6 ows warmly in the heart OF
woman towards any one 10 whom she feels she is
OF use.
But before Cooley Western had come and
gone half dozen times between his own residence
and her home, poor Blanca was strangely troubled,
as in al her life she had never been before Sleep
ing or waking, his eyes, his smile, his voice, syl.
tabled into his incorrect but most musca Italian
were present with her. Once he left small vol.
ume Of English poetry behind, and Blanca took
it TO her own chamber, and turning over every
leaf, traced the unknown words with strange Gu.
riosty. and feeling as if she would give the
world to be able TO penetrate their meaning.
But before his next visit she had taken it back
to the very place whence she had removed It,
bIushng and trembling as she did so, lest any
one should observe her, and seated herself little
wav off gazing on it as if t were a treasure from
which she was 10th to part, and in whose neigh
bolhoOd it was delight to nger She scarcely
ever named Western to her brother, but if Clio
vanni spoke OF him. her heart beat quickly and
her eyes involuntalily sunk before his. YET she
knew not that this was indeed love, and wonder.
ed more and more what was the matter with her
1t was reserved for Godfrey himself to tell her.
The picture was nearly finished when Govan.
nj lie home one day, Oh the plea Of particular
business, and Bianc was left alone to receive the
usual visit from Western. By this time She had
lear It to feel the full meaning Of every word he
uttered, and to believe that he was wise and as
kind as Giovanni, though they were very, very
d fferent from each other He came, and the tone
in which he expressed his surprise at finding her
by herself thrilled her hearr-there was SO much
Of delight mingled with his establishment. Then
signing as he Withdrew his eye from the fair face
where he had suffered them 10 rest a moment in
fond admiration, he arranged his colors, and re
sumed his task.
The language OF true love is universal, no mat
ter whether its vehicle be English, French, Ger
man, or choice Italian; it is selfinerpreting and
than an hour Godfrey Western and Blanca Mont
perfectly understood that each was dearer to the
other than all the world besides, and the gentle
girls head rested, on his shoulder as conflingIy
and fondIy as if they had been formally betrothec
for twelve month.
Godreys greatest difficulty was to make his
lovely Blanca comprehend that there were weigh
ty reasons why this mutual avoraI Of their love
must be kept secret for the present. She did moi
doubt for "A moment that Western truly loved her
and would soon remove the seal Of secrecy; hui
she grieved meanwhile that she m; ght not tell Gil
ovanni how ve;y happy she felt.
Godfrey Western was not altogether what h
seemed 10 be- He was really the seconI son Of
wealthy English baronet, but an unfortunate mis-
understanding with his elder brother, who was TN
! avorlte Of his father, had caused him 10 leav,
home in disgust. He had considerable tn ent FOL
: painting, and was now travelling through Italy il
; the disguise Of a poor artist, partly for tine SAX
, Of Improvement, and partly the romance Of hi
disposition. or course, he was known in Geno;
in his assumed character only, and having formed
somewhat exaggerated notions OF Italian pride
and jealousy, he feared that, if his attachment: t
Blanca were divulged in the first instance, his &C
count Of himself would obtain little credit fron
her brother, and the stlletto might be quicker thai
5 the arrival of his letters from England. Indeed
on the whole, he thought it best to return thithe
Immediately, and, providing himself proofs OF hi
rank and station, visit Genoa again, and claim hi
beautiful bride This he solemnIy promised to do
+ as he kissed again and again the cheek and tn
lips Of Blanca, and besought her to believe in hi
:; unchanging affection.
e Once more and only once, the lovers met be
Z fore Godfrey left Genoa; and in after hours thu
$ fair brow of Blanca often burnt with nader
l shame when she remembered that their partin,
r interview was a stolen one, and that, with al
s. energy which she marvelled to think upon, sh
l had vowed to be his, rs she chung closer ant
T, closer 10 his bosom. She Ionged to tell Govann
Of her happiness, and Of her resolve to return
h the convent no more. She broke no VOW b
/ changing her resolution; she had merely quietl
e acquiesced in her fathers wish expressed in hi
asst moments, at a time when heI inclination
= needed no promise to be a restraint on then
n but now that her views Of life were atogelhe
l. different, she Iet that to pursue her original in
:. tcntion would be cruel injustice both to hcrse
e and 10 Western,
- She felt sufficiently lonely and sad during tn
=, lew days Immediately following the painter
- departure, but the elastic spirit Of youth IS raise
y as easily as it is depressed, her mind soon n
=, gained much 0 its tranquility, and her maunC
It's usual cheeliulness, Nay, her color was richie
- her eye brighter, her step more airy, than the
- had ever been, and Giovanni saw and wondele
y at the change, while he did not seek very deepl
- into its cause. Indeed his mind was fully occ
> pied with other matters, which every day We
70 acquiring more and more influence over him.
,e On the very day on which Western had Goul
m raUaal IN Rianco tha biStnrv