Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-10-23
J~ntertstitlg Stmg.
BLAN Fl E.,
THE BRIDE!

m Or, m
THE FIREMAN'S BRIDE!
- do not love him, father. and there
fore cannot marry him. Surely you'd rot
have me wed with one whom | hardly re-
speet, and for whom | do not entertain
the slightest affection"
Blanche Duboise bit her pretty lip as
she ended, and placed her little foot firm
ly on the floor, in the parlor, where she
stood facing her parent.
Love, Blanche,s Nonsense. There is.
no such a thing nova days. The hum
bug of undying love and unfading affec
ton, has long since exploded. It might
flourish in Acadia, and may be a promi-
nent element in the realms the poet
locates In the air, but nothing else
There is nothing real or substantial in it.
1t is all bosh and nonsense, fit Tor only
sentimental maidens of sixteen, or there
abouts, who have only seen the world
through the medium ofromances, in which
Bourcicault swears he will die for Belin-
da, and Belinda vows she can never be
separated from her beloved Bourcicault.
| am ashamed of you, Blanche, that you
indulge in such an exgloded notion as
love-"
Mr.. Duboise paused to watch the effect
of his words. Blanche paled and grew
red by turns as she spoke, and then an
swered. 8 +.
did you ever love r.
The question was a home thrust. It
was 2 moment OF two before ~thoAreHly
came.
"Have you any more ridiculous ques-
tons to ask ? If SO | will answer them
in a lump"
mo. Father, until you answer this
one, | will ask no other. When youm mar
ried my mother, was it for love Of her or
the money, she brought 10 you on the day
Of her bridal? p"
Mr.. Duboise's face flushed with an i'll
concealed anger, as he answered:
Blanche you are impertinate."
But there came no denial, and Blanche
read in his countenance enough to sub
stantiate the charge her heare had made.
Was this the cause, she thought, of the
early fading away of my loving and be-
loved mother. Even now, | can recolect
how agitated she appeared whenever her
husband was In her presence as if she
felt his cruelty and indifference, they are
not framed in words. But her father was
now angry. She saw this. 1t added con
viction to her suspicious. Yet it would
not do to anger him still more, by touch
ing upon the chord she had so gently.
sounded, and which had awakened SO
harsh a response.
Father /" sa ges sa >aa
swell, daughter
81 did not mean to offend. Forgive
me-" 81
Il will, Blanche. But as you love 1ne,
do not touch upon the subject again.
And as you love me, father, do not
speak to me of the marriage with Arthur
Grey"
May, now your silly mood comes on
again. But you hear me, Blanche, as my
daughter, you mnst do my bidding, and
when | say that on next Christmas Eve
you will be the bride Of Arthur Grey, |
mean what I say" a55si aa
No father, you do not.D 58, d8a
Mr.. Duboise, unused to contradiction
In matters of business, was somewhat as.
tonished at this retort. He looked
Blanche in the face for a moment. He
saw there a fixidity Of purpose which sur.
prised him, What could 1t mean? U.s.
ually Blanche had yielded to all his mo.
tiyes. Why not in this case Did she
love another? He secuted the idea, and
yet felt that there was some reason as yet
unknown to him that made Blanche SO
firmly settled in her obstinagy.
Eyes. | do. Blanche Duboise, and you
will live to see it. What do you mean
by this conduct? Have | not ever been
a kind parent to you? as .gsI
Yes" .s
"Haye | not INDUCED You in every
wish ~
YES ao 3
"And 0 when | have your happiness
In view, why are you SO contradictory
and so obstinate r.
:" am neither one nor the other, faith
err" was the calm reply.
But you are when you refuse to be the
bride Of a mar as rich and respected as
Arthur Grey"
al SuuA NiSy 10 FlcA, ~ Is true. ne
IS respected for his richness, nothing
more. He has the heart Of a stone, and
is as much Of a man as an untutored saw.
age. Nay, he is less than q savage for
an Indian a love, but he-neyer.-
Father cannot marry him.
"0nce, twice, and the third time. Mr..
|Duboise paced the parlor, as his daugh-
ter's words fell upon his ear. Then he
spoke again:
You love another 7"
A blush covered the cheeks Of blanche
up to her temples. Mr.. Duboise needed
no other reply but Blanche spoke:
." do"