Monmouth weekly herald., 1858-08-12

aad heard OF his college disgrace. but
she knew not that he was now an outcast
With sorrowful smile he extended his
hand and said
Blanche, dearest Blanche, farewell
forever"
Where are you going, Edward ?n-
she enquired, with no small degree of in
terest.
| know not" said he. but you are
here In season to see me take passage for
that mysterious place from whence nc
traveller e'er returns. Oil dearest
Blanche, would that | were better for
your sake but l am lost. Farewell
and may God bless you"
In another moment he had disappeared
over the bank, and rushing to the verge
she saw the dark waters close over her
wrctched lover. She ran screaming
down the hill for assistance. That alas
was not at hand. She reached Mr.. Arm
strong's residence and met that gentle
man traversing the garden walks. She
hurried up to him, and with bloodIess
lips related the awful scene she had iust
witnessed.
Then that unhappy parent was ava
kened to an almost overwhelming sense
of his loss. Rousing his neighbors and
servants, he hurried to the stream, anc
after truitless search of several hours
he returned to his home a sadder, anc
it is to be hoped, better man.
The next day he renew the search
assisted by neighbors and friends; but
all to no purpose. The search was con
tinued for ten days with like success
At the close of the tenth day he re
turned home accompanied by his neigh
bors, who had assisted manfully in tht
search, and gave up all hopes of recover
ing the body.
He entered the room where his wifi
was daily wasting away. She raised
her eyes to his haggard face with al
eager, enquiring look;
:" No success, Mary. Our poor boy
can never be permitted a Christian
burial"
Mrs. Armstrong made no reply, bu
turned her face to the wall, and hot
scalding tears rolled down her sunkeI
cheeks like rain.
" May God forgive me for every harsl
word ] ever gave that lost child" criec
the wretched man. dropping upon hi
knees.
A low, soft voice responded ferven
+" amen" 1t was Mrs. Armstrong. wht
could not conceal from herself the truth
She felt that her husband was in
measure, the cause of her child's fearful
end. though she knew not of that las
meeting in the library, and how her sol
had plead in vain to see her and it wa,
well enough she did not. She could no
have survived the knowledge. Mr.
Armstrong did not forget it. The still
small voice goaded him almost to mad
ness. He resolved to forsake the way,
Of the world, and lay up treasure il
heaven. And in this he was successful
He prayed fervently that his gentle com
panion might be spared him yet littl
longer, and merciful father needed hi
petition.
Ten years passed away, and Edwart
Armstrong had almost been forgotten
save by his father and mother and Blanch
Evans. She had never forgotten him
and had never married. Her parent
having died, she had accepted the kint
invitation of the Armstrong;, and wa
now the adopted daughter of the child
less parents, and remaining true ant
steadfast to her first love. She had de
clined many good offers of marriage, ant
still remained single and aloof from al
matrimonial arrangements. She had re
lated to Mr.. and Mrs. Armstrong her las
interview with Edward, and they sool
learned to love her as their own child.
Weeks, months and years had rolled
away, and Blanche Evans was twenty
six--an old maid, as the world call
those who, either from the choice o.
necessity, remain single,
About this time, a gentleman from ;
far distant city, passing through tina
section of country, took fancy to tht
pleasant village and the beautiful ant
romantic scenery with which it was sur
rounded, and concluded to stop for {
short time, in order to rest his iadec
horse and his own tired limbs by few
weeks sojourn in the quiet country (; con
sequendy he pat up at the village hotel
and busted himself for the Grst few days
in walking about the quiet village, and
writing letters to his distant friends
1t so happened. that few days after his
arrival, there was grand picnic and
cotilion ball to come off at the @Village
Hotel" Our traveller was of course in.
vited to participate in the festivities Of
the occasion ; s.nd among the many rus
tic beauties that met his gaze, and We'd
with each other to obtain the hand of the
handsome stranger, was the quiet unas.
suming Blanehe. He asked her to dance
with him the frss SET. She politely ex-
tended her lil'y white hand. and as
she did so, she let the gaze of those
dark, piercing eyes. She faltered, then
uttered wild scream Of Joy. and the
next moment fell almost senseless into
The extended arms Of her long absent low
Armstrong-but she recov.
cred Joy never kills
Our poor pen cannot begin to describe
he scenes that followed. How he met
lis almost heart broken mother and how
le fully forgaye his too hasty aud incen
iderate father, we leave that to you,
athers and mothers, to fill up this space
WITH your imaginations.
We have only to draw aside the cur
aims, and explain the only remaining
MYSTERY.
The new idea that had entered Ed
Yards mind on the evening Of his expul-