Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-06-27

the sweet smile that sat upon her face, and by
her really singular beauty. An idea flashed
across his mind He took off his working
blouse, passed his hand through his hair. took
his hat, and went out of his room, locking the
door behind him. He moved rapidly and boldt
ly to the door of the young girl. Once IN from
oft, he halted. Charles was brave and would
have efended barricade with cool determina-
ton but there he hesitated. Mastering cour-
age, however, he knocked gently. The instant
he had done so, he would have given the world
to have been away, and his heart beat SO vio-
lenty he could almost hear its throbbings.
"What is it can do for Monsieur :" said the
young girl, smiling and blushing, as on opening
the door she recognised her handsome neigh.
Dor the artist.
: "Mademoiselle," said Charles with consider.
able hesitation, 81 fancied by your flowers and
your dress, that to-day was your te'e. am
your neighbor, and l thought might take the
liberty to come and wish you happy one"
"Monseur is very good. We are old neigh
bors, it is true though we have never spoken"
"It has not been for the want Of wishing on
my part" exclaimed the artis eagerly.
The young girl looked at Charles. There
was SC much modesty, resigned and respectful
affection in the expression of his face, that she
could not for moment onfound him with the
usual mass Of young men, who, caught by her
pretty face, had sought to make her acqualn
tancc. She held out her hand
"Snce we are neighbors, let us be friends"
said she.
"Oh, thank you," exclaimed Charles, with
burst of genuine gratitude. "Mademoiselle,
you do me good. have no friends. scarce
ly ever see human face which has any SYM
pathy for me. If Mademoisele would only let
me paint her portrait, it would give me so much
pleasure"
"But, Monsieur, it would be encroaching on
your goodness" replied Constance, who, how
ever, looked excessively pleased.
"You accept then!"
"Why, Monsieur, never had my portrait
painted. How could refuse!"
"We would begin to day, but this isyour tete.
Would Mademoisele allow me the honor of
taking her out for walk!"
Constance, after moments hesitation, accep-
ted. When one is young, one makes friends so
easily, especially in France; and then Charles
had the talent Of making himselflked by every.
body. He entered her little room, neat, so
clean, SO pretty, it made him sigh, as he CON-
pared it with his ,wn 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 bonnet
and neat shawl, the fruits Of her industry, and
then tripped down stairs happy as bird, for
we may as we'll reveal the secret. Constance
had for more than month longed as much to
make the pale young artists acquaintance, as
he had to make hers.
They made for the Boulevards mechanically,
as every body does, followed them some dis
tance, crossed the magnificent Place de la Con.
cord, the finest Place in the world, entered the
Champs Elysces, and by common consent
ma'le Tor tue Bois de Boulogne. 1t was love.
ly day. But though they had both seen many
such, yet they thought they never had. They
scarcely spoke. Walked arm in arm, side by
side, and in the wood hand.in.hand. Once
Charles asked Constance if she enjoyed her.
sell.
81 am so happy" she replied, raising her
dove-like eyes beaming with happiness towards
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 hungry. They then entered the
house of humble traheur, and the young ar.
tist offered his fair friend very plain dinner,
but which neither would have exhanged for the
feasts of the Palais- National. Happy age! hap
py feelings happy Charles happy Constance
Towards dusk they returned to Paris, and
the young man insisted, on the occasion of the
girls fete, upon taking her to the theatre
They selected moderate. priced seat, and here
again, the thing being rare to both, enjoyed
themselves exceedingly. On leaving the thea
tire they walked quietly home and parted, to
think with rapture on the happiest day which
either had ever yet spent.
The acquaintance SO pleasantly made was
continued. Every morning they nodded to
one another from their windows, and about
mid. day, Constance gave the artist sitting
Several times, too, Charles brought in sketches
to show her. and then in the evening he would
get books from cabinet de lecture and read to
her. Every day their happiness seemed to in
crease. They learned each others good quail
ties. Charles was wel.educated, wel-read,
with fund of anecdote, and rich stores OF
knowledge. Constance knew little, but she
was all apt scholar She had quick lntell-
gence, noble and generous heart. and she
was pure and innocent as child.
For some weeks the lovers, for such they
now were, went on happier, each day than The
last. Tae portrait made little progress, because
4 4 l,kE Ia fInnn 10.