The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-06-03

denly waking at the silence, lie cried ont,
'Why bless me we've all taken something
to keep out the cold this evening but Mr..
Wentworth" and rung the bell
Al! And yet Henry did not notice that
word Love is Blind. Flora's blush had be-
come fixed tint, and Henry in all innocence
handed her the screen. She took it, and placed
it-not between her face and the fire, but be.
tween her and Henry.
Wine was brought, which Henry declined.
perhaps you would like something better ~
That Henry declined too. Mr. Blanchard
rose, and full ofgallantry offered his daughter
his arm. Mrs. Blanchard took the arm of
Henry, and they adjourned to the supper
room. Eatables always remove reserve; and
as they discussed the cold fowl, champagne
and oysters, the play was criticised in style
so original by Mr.. and Mrs. Blanchard, that
though foreign to the thread of our brief
story, VIC must state the heads. Mrs. Blan-
chard was clearly of opinion that the poet had
omitted great point in not introducing o
mother to take charge of the heroine. Mr..
Knowles was not mother himself! or he
would not have made such an omission. 1t
was unnatural that Julia should have grown
up so accomplshed-here she looked fsndly
at Flora-without a mothers guidance. For
her o~'n part, in her own harrow experience,
she ha often seen the benefit of a mothers
example, and she rejoiccd that when she was
gone there would be one left to testify to it,
Henry smiled-hc could not help it-anI
Floras face was again suffused with bushes.
Hardly allowing his wife to finish, Mr..
Blanchard broke in as he pulled drum. stick
from his mouth and spearcd an oyster on his
fork.-''Formy part, said he, ''the most UNI
reasonable thing noticed, was the unb,lsi-
ness-likc conduct Of the Earle of Rochdale.
Why, sir, would not have admitted to valid
ity of that document. I would have stood tho
llunchback suit at law, sir. The simple as
sertion, Il am the Earle of Rochdale,' should
not have chouscd ME out of my property. lie
should have got probate on the WILL sir, and
have proved his identity before I would have
resigned my claim" Here TIE oyster, which
had remained suspended to his fork, during
the delivery of this legal opinion, was trans
ferred to his mouth, and another glass of
champagne pressed all round. Flora rose
from the table, begging to be excused, and
Henry followed her. She would gladly have
excused that, but could not refuse his arm.
He seated her OH the sofa in the drawing
room, and Selling the first moment in which
he had met her alone that evening, offered her
his hand, heart and fortune. This was by no
means unexpected by Fora-but she did not
dream of hearing it just then. She had no
time to rally her thoughts and show off the
proper maidenly finesse. Dclirious with Joy
or something else, she accepted at once, and
when Henry attempted to steal kiss, she
generously gave him half dozen. Pressing
her lips was in more than one sense like pres
sing luscious grapes.
Was Henry quite happy, as with his hands
thrust to the full depths Of his surtout pock-
cts, he stumped home that night from -
street, with the step and air of a man who
has made desperate promise, but is resoly-
ed to abide by it?
When the father and mother came from the
next room Henry was gone. Flora was asleep
on the sofa-so sound that they could with
difficulty wake her. The excitement of the
evening had been too much for her delicate
health-she was inscnsible for long time to
all calls; and when she was at last aroused to
half consciousness, declared she was very ill.
The mother was frightened protested that
the supper had killed her child, and dispatch
ed messenger for the doctor.
Concluded next week.