The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-06-27
SELECTED TALES.
From the Home Journal.
LOVE VS.. Law.
by MISS AUGUSTA BROWNE.

II am certainly the most m miserable be
ing in the universe !" exclaimed Walter
Forsythe, as he burst violently into tn,
studio Of his friend, Earnest Lacy, anc
flung himself passionately into corne,
of the sofa. So .'
allow sol" calculated the latter, ab
stractedly, laying down his brush and
shifting the easal triAe, that he might
the better note the effect of ray of sun.
shine With which he had just FURNISHED
cottage window; "ah, my dear boy
what IS the trouble now has the ;ncon,.
patable Mildred cruelty laughed to scorn
that rhapsody to her eyebrow whereon
you spent the hour of midnight! or has
she reclaimed the old glove which es-
pied you so ecstaticaily pressing to your
bosom yestereen If SO | can hardly
blame her, for, indeed, an odd glove is the
most useless thing imaginable"
Earnest had you heart capable OF
appreciating my anguish, never could YOU
thus mock mel" said Walter, as, tossing
his hat one way and his gloves another,
hesettled himself more comfortably into
the soft couch. Albeit well accustomed
to his late eccentric moods, Earnest felt
now that something more than usually
unpleasant must have occurred to mar his
friends humor; and, aware that repose
4 +is the best rs~forati'ae of ea,,rosnSn, ha
quietly proceeded TO sh de in n few
, sstreaks Of purple and crimson into glow
ing sunset sky, to add companion horn
to the font Of a segacious looking COW,
and to transform into respectable brown
charger, n singular visaged phenomenon
in glaring pink. Thus engrossed in his
fascinating employment, he might have
become oblivious to the woes OF the un-
fortunate upon the sofa, had not couple
Of prolonged sighs recalled him to his re-
collection. ~
Pardon me, caro- milo, my inattention,"
said he, laying lingeringly down his pal
ette and brushes, after parting stroke
on the round cheek Of rudiy milk,maid !;
Is there anything that | can do for you
eospetto, that color wont dry ~
"Alas! no, no; life has become bur
den to mei but It's bliss TO know that its
sorrows will soon be DER"
A dismal sigh that succeeded, aud the
deep melancholy in his voice that seemed
the vibration Of blow struck upon his
heart restrained the railery that rose to
Earuest's lips. and with gentle sympathy
he enieavored to fathom the cause Of his
despondency, After much skilful cross
questioning he managed to collate, from
rather an incoherent tale, fresh yerifca-
ton Of the ancient saw, that "the course
Of true love never did run smooth"
The two young men bad been, from years
Of boyhood, inseparable friends and fellow
students, and after completing, in snnny
Italy, their artistic studies, had returned
together to L., n few months pre-
yious to the time at which we find them.
Their genius and elegant manners pre-
sented under happy auspiciep, soon bro't
them into repute, and orders flowed in
upon them with such rapidity, that fame
and fortune appeared certain. Technique
loslincss of a." Contadina," by Walter,
attracted the admiration Of an eminent
Chancellor, who forthwith invited him to
bis ncansion, about q mile from the city,
TO paint the portrait Of his niece, beau
siful heiress of NOS quite nsnsteen sum
rncs, aud ward In el,ancsry. And very
upadyised acsion did il prove 70 be on the
part Of the sage lawyer, Tor lone ere the
picture was finished, the thoughtlesa pair
had pledged 70 each othss coastancy In
violable. The Counsellor, an enthusiasts
tic piSfaoso in the Fine Arts, unsuspicious
Of the mischief bFewing.{fos he never
dreamed that an artist could presume 10
lin bic gaze 20 an Earl's hcirsss,) grew
moro and.pore facinated with the gsniu.,
'ncdestY and distinguished mannem ofthe
young painter aud kept him constantly
producing new works for him; thus AZ.
fording the :Icsers contianal opportaaitIe,
Of meeting, whiet they were pat slow ,ic
improve All had gone on vssy charm
fnsiy apsifthis terrible day. when she old
gentleman, n high delight AcQaain'ed
waI,as.cOnaisnsislly, that .inlerdeti
alliance Of Mildred with the Earl Of Oar