The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-08-27
Who do you think has come back7 7 he
said. 'Latour himself He arrived yesterday

y
afternoon"
At the announcement of her lovers return,
Napnette's heart leaped with joy; but when she
heard he had been back so long without com.
ing to see her, her spirit sauS, for she had con-
tinued to love the absent soldier, in spite of the
the notarys son and her hundred other adnli-
rers.
"He is come back in a sorry plight though"
continued the gossip, "lame, a bcggar, aud
| with but one arni. He is sick at heart too, and
so ashamed that he will not show himself he
says he only wishes to die; he is not fit to live
with the young aud happy
Poor Nanette! Her heart was full of pity for
her lover. She turned aside to conceal her
tears. Yet still size wondered why he had not
come to see her, and she felt almost angry
again wheh she thought Of it.
He tells me news too, which never knew
before, you are SO sly about it, Nanette. He
says you are to marry the notary's SOP. do
believe, by the way he spoke, he has never got
over his old love for you ; when he spoke of the
notary's son he sighed, looking at his tattered
garment, his stump of an arm, and his leg lame
with travel
Nanette heard no more She understood
all now. She left her mother to entertain the
gossip. and hurrying up stairs, attired herself
in her holiday garments; and then selecting the
choicest fruits from their garden, and filling
her apron with flowers, sle hurried to the cot
tage of Pierres family.
Never had she looked more charming. Her
white head.dress, falling low on her shoulders,
relieved her dark tresses, and added greater ei.
feet to her brilliant black eyes. A handkcr.
chief worn around her neck, modcstly conceal.
ed her swelling bust. Her arms, rounded and
mellow as antique marble, were bare almost to
the shoulder; in word, always beautiful. her
dress and high spirits now made her perfectly
bewitching.
who's there {! said a voice as she knocked,
She knew that the family was all abroad at
this hour at their work, and that the voice must
be Perres else she would scarcely have recog.
nzed it, so discoutented and so hopeless was
the tone once so happy and bright. But she
knew magic, she believed, to call back all its
old Sweetness.
at is | ~ she answered, Disgusting her voice
and as she thought of the joyful surprise she
had in store for Picrrc she archly smiled
She heard Il muttered grow inside, and some
one coming to the door. oh the great jeal-
ous bear she said to herself, 'how he hates to
be distu-bed-but we shall see.'
When the door opened aud the laughing girl
stood before him, Pierre staggered back. Sur
prised with gloom in his features, but the smile
ofNannette gradually treasured him. At last
he stammered oat, You are here, Nannette !!
What does it mean!
The happy girl read in every look of that
haggard face how truly Pierre loved her, and
she could no longer contain herself, but speak
ing amid smiles and tears, while she put down
her basket of fruit and emptied thc flowers on
tie table before him. said, 1T means, dear Pierre
that us you wont come to See me, have come
tn see You: and as heard that YOU were i'll ana
tired, have brought all the fruits and flowers
for your acceptance; yes, aud myself, too, If
you will have ME ? and weeping she claspcd
him in her arms.
What and do you love poor Pierre still;
and you won't have the notary's son he MIR
ml:ed in amaze lent.
no will have no other but you. Oh.how
could YOU think could desert YOU Don't YOU
believe, dear Pierre, that we women can be con-
slant as well as you men ?
But, Nannettc,' | said Pierre, looking at Ills
stump 4 am mlilned now--ahd- d-.and have
come back without my cross
mo, YOU have not said she, touching the
mangled shoulder kindly, Here is your cross
oftle Legion of Honor; and a nobler one than
Il piece OF mere ribbon. do bcliave,' she said,
bursting into tears that shall love you all the
better for having lost your arm
Happiness soon restored the bloonlto Picrre's
cheeks, and on the morning of his marriage, he
looked the handsomest man in the whole gay
company. Nor was his bride the only one WHO
thou ght this honorable scar added to the interest
which he inspired, for all the village girls en-
We'd Nauncttc her husband.