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

had discrimination, and was not long in de-
tccting the sentiment of Henry Wentworth to-
wards her. She had a correct Judgement and
was no coquctte she cared nothing for con-
quests, and while she denied all encourage
neiit to those who sought it, she extended it
in thousand refined and nameless ways to
the ''you'h who never told his love-" He ac-
ccptcd these tokens of approval as the bless
ings of divinity, and still sighed on, as in
sensible to their true intent and meaning as
he would have been to that of an answer in
Greek from the Delphic oracle. lie rated Flora
to high. and himself too low. to fancy that
by any possibility his idol could be rccip-
rocal dolatIcss.
Commenting Floras judgement in deciding
what she would say when he proposed, was
recording our good opinion of him. He was
also man after her fathers own heart; at-
tcntive to business, and as prudent as atten-
tive. His name was good in the street for any
sum for which he would offer it; as in those
days of well regulated credit and legitimate
modes of doing business, people did not in
quire so much into mans positive means, as
into his character for honesty, and his ability
so to invest his money, that it should be ready
for his engagements when he wished for it
again. IMMORAL character and in the requiSit-
cs which constitute gentleman he was as
nearly perfect as any man we meet, and well
vcrscd in the accomplishments which make
man agreeable to a virtuous woman Flora
loved him, and knew he loved her. Thus on
two points that interested both, Flora was
better informed than Henry Wentworth, who
had no suspicion that he was beloved by the
belle, and as little that she posscssct! his
secret.
Regularly as evening came, Henry turned
his face towards - street; as regularly as
dinner was cleared away the Blanchards ex-
pcctcd him. lie seldom dincd there, though
repeated invited; but looking forward to
time when iii wealth or in competence he
could take leisure at his dinner, h,,sbandcd
every moment. To the evening visits he
brought more than his bare presence as his
welcome. To Mr.. Blanchard, after exchang-
ing bow and few words of compliment
with the ladies, he communicated such news,
commercial and political as the old gentle
mans semi-rctiremcnt from business had
prevented his meeting during the day: or such
facts, failures, arrivals and insurance losses
as had transpircd since the early hour at
which Mr.. B. left Change These topics af-
fordcd abundant matter for long converse
ton; Mr.. b. directing his own operations on
the intelligence communicated by the young
man, and giving him in return therefor, the
advantages ofhis advice and experience. They
were partners in everything but pecuniary
capital; and many of the other visitors sup
posed an actual business connection as the
only cause which could bring the modest,
retiring Henry Wentworth so ofton to the
house.
The father despatched, Henry next turned
to enc who always received him with such
smiles, that it was wonderful he was so long
in learning to understand them. For her he
had always the last novelty in the literary or
musical world. As they were not formal, re-
cognizcd lovers they could not talk by the
hour of thcmsclvcs-that is to say, the stcro-
typed protcstatons of nndying affection and
all that could not be introduced to fill up
gap or while away the time What a pity
that ladies cannot, in certain cases, be allow
cd to open negotiation themselves, instead
of waiting for bashful SWANS like Henry
Wentworth! However, the couple never
lacked subjects for converse. Their reading
was the same, and as Flora had only wanted
direction in the right paths of literature to
store her mind with useful as we'll as elegant
information, she improved rapidly under
Wentworth's tuition. Loving her teacher, she
was a docilc scholar, and whenever she found
herself deficient or unable to cope with him
on subjects which ladies should understand,
that discovery was enough to induce her to
seek the requisite information. Thus was this
what might reasonably be termed an intel
lectual courtship-for this complexion the
delicate attentions of Wentworth were ever
giving it. To Flora it opened new existence.
Ever emulous of learning, her only drawback
had been Incidence occasioncl by mere lack
of induccment or exercise to learn. To the
reading required for such society as ladies
generally meet, she had attended. Friendship
Or we may as well say love, though the
word has been so often taken in vain that it
almost disgusts one-lovc required something
more. To appreciate the man she loved, she
must understand him. To understand him,
she must read. and she did read for him and
with him. The inducement she lacked be-
fore she had now found. Existence was a Joy
to her-and if the early Partially of parents
had not taught her she was in delicate health,
she never would have learned it of Henry
Wentworth.
Wine is a mockcr--and what mockor 1t
mocks our hopes and our fears-and joys and
our griefs-our repose and our excitement. In
the hour of ennui we fly to it for rclief-in the
hour Of excitement we appeal to it for more.
In grief we claim it as comfortcr-in Joy no