Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-06-28

hat, and went out of his room, locking the
door behind him. He moved rapidly and
boldly to the door of the young girl
Once in front Of it be halted. Charles
was brave and would have defended a
barricade with cool determination but
here he hesitated. Mastering courage,
however, he knocked gently. The mo-
ment he bad done so, he would have given
the world TO have been away, and his
heart beat SO violently he could almost
hear its throbbings.
'What is it | can do for Monsieur 2
said the young girl, smiling and blushing,
as on opening the door she recognized her
handsome neighbor the artist.
'Mademoiselle,' said Charles, with con-
siderable hesitation, q iancied by your
flowers and your dress, that to-day was
your tete. | am your neighbor and
thought l might take the liberty to come
and wish you happy one.'
Monsieur is very good. We are old
nelghbors, it is true, though we have never
spoken
st has not been for the want OF wishing
on my part,' exclaimed the artist, eagerly.
The young girl looked at Charles
There was so much modesty, resigned and
respectful affection in the expression of his
face, that she could not for moment con-
founG him with the usual mass of young
men, who caught by her pretty face had
sought TO make her acquaintance. She
held out her hand.
Since we are neighbors, let US be friends
said she.
'Oh, thank you,' exclaimed Charles,
with burst of genuine gratitude. mad
emoiselle, you do me good. have no
friends | scarcely ever see a human face
which has any sympathy for me. If Mad
emoiselle would only let me paint her
portrait, it would give me so much pleas
ure.'
But, Monsieur, it would be encroaching
on your goodness replied Constance, who,
however, looked excessively pleased.
'You accept, then!'
'Why, Monsieur l never had my portrait
painted. How could | refuse p
'We would begin to-day; but this is
your tete. Would Mademoiselle allow
me the honor of taking her out for walk %
Constance, after moments hesitation,
accepted. When one is young, one makes
friends so easily, especially in France;
aud then Charles had the talent of making
himself liked by every body. He entered
her little room, SO neat, SO clean, SO pretty
it made him sigh, as he compared it with
his own bachelor den, where no woman's
hand had for many months disturbed either
dust or cobwebS. In ten minutes Con-
stance was ready. She put on nice bon
net and neat shawl, the fruits of her in
dustry, and then tripped down stairs, hap
py as bird, for we may as we'll reveal a
secret. Constance had for more than a
month longed as much to. make the pale
young artists acquaintance, as he had to
make hers.
They made for the Boulevards mechani-
caIly, as every body does, followed them
some distance, crossed the magnificent Place
de la Concorde, the finest Piqcein the world,
entered the Champs Elysees, and by COM
mon consent made for the Bois de Bou-
logne. 1t was lovely day. But though
they had both seen many such, yet they
thought they never had. They scarcely
spoke. They walked arm in arm, side by
side, and in the wood hand-in-hand. Once
Charles asked Constance if she enjoyed
herself.
Il am SO happy she replied, raising her
dove-like eyes braming with happiness to-
wards him.
There was something in The words, in
the look, which made the young mans
heart beat with intense emotion. Thus
passed the day in occasional conversation,
in constant walking until both felt hun
CRY. They then entered the house of
humble tral eur, and the young artist offer
ed his fair friend a very plain dinner, but
which neither would have exchanged for
the ftasts of the Paais- National. Happy
age happy feelings happy Charles! hap
py Constance!
Towards dusk they returned 10 Paris,
and the young man insisted, on the occa-
sion OF the girls .tcie, upon taking her to
the theatre. They selected moderate
priced seat, and here again, the thing be-
ing rare to both, enjoyed themselves ex-
ceedingly. On leaving the theatre they
walked quietly home and parted, to think
with rapture on :he happiest day which
either had ever yet spent.
The acquaintance so pleasantly made
, was continued. Every morning they nod
ded to one another from their windows,
and about midday, Constance gave the ar
fist a sitting. Several times, too, Charles
brought in sketches TO show her, and then
in the evening he would get books from
caJinet de lecture and read to her. Every
day their happiness seemed to lncreasp.-
They learned each others good qualities.
Charles was well-educated, well-rpad, with
fund of anecdotes, and rich stores of
knowledge. Constance knew little, but
she was an apt scholar. She had a quick
Intelligence, a noble and generous heart,
and she was poor and innocent as a child.
For some weeks the lovers, Tor such
they now were, went on happier each day
than the last. The portrait made little pro-
II