The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-05-19
BElIsTVIII.IE, y. =, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1859.

of withered flowers which she held in her hand,
The shining black curfs were brushed carelessly
back from the pale brow, and o gloomy shadow
rested upon the fair face.
What ails you darling, 2 said j softly, as /
seated myself beside her.
She raised her dark eyes to mine, and they
were wet with tears as she replied "oh / am so
wretched but my dear friend, my only true
friend, listen and | will tell you all; for many
months | have been the promised bride of Percy
Clair; but for few weeks past the wealthy
Claude Leraine has paid me married attention;
and my Mother dazzled by his brilliant preten
sions, has f@bdden me to meet with Percy again !.
and when told him that it was my Mothers
wish that we should part, he asked not for an
explanation, he needed not my entreates, but
coldly, and hurriedly left HE and to morrow he
weds with fair Emma Cline; and when she
stands beside him. and breathes the marriage vow,
she will little dream that the words which make
her the wife Of Percy Clair, will place dark
gulf of misery 'twiXt the heart of her friend
Blanche, and happiness here is his last gift Of
love,to me, these withered flowers, poor faded
things are they, / have cherished them well, yet
like his love, they are passing away frord he,
and treasures that once were all my own, will
soon be mine no more; but so my friend | would
now be left alone, and tomorrow when you meet
with the bright and happy ones, who will as
semble to witness the bridal of Percy and En-
ma think of your sad, and lonely friend.
/ sought to soothe my dear friend, and kissing
her brow I turned away with many tears; and
when the morrow dawned heard the words
which linked together Percy Clair, and Emma
Cline; and noted the shadow that rested upon
the brow of the bridegroom and my heart went
out full love and pity to the quiet room of my
poor friend Blanche 1t vas fair sunny morn
ing, when a message came to nle, that Blanche
was i'll and pressing the dewy grass 'neathe my
hasty footsteps, unmindful, of the rich music, of
the sweet songsters above me, | hurried to the
home of Mr. Ray, and was soon by the bedside
wandered, and she raved wildly about her Moth
er's cruelty and Percey's marriage. strove to
sooth her. smoothed back the shining black
curls from the white brow; bathed the fever
held the cooling beverage to her parched lips; [
took the burning hands in my own, and bathed
them soothingly; but in vain were all my efforts
to quiet her mind; while | was thus engaged
cofc do +,1r
[ beheld Emma Clair, the fair young bride of
Percy. Trembling with fear lest the wild words
of Blanche should reveal her sad secret, | was
anxious to draw the young wife from the room;
but no, she besought me to let her remain and
watch beside her sick friend You need not
fear,' said she, ~ now know all, her Mother
told me the cause of her Illness and | would
watch beside her, she must not die--ah, me-.
there may be happy hours in store for her yet,
bridals as fair and sunny as mine appeared to be,
have been followed close by the shadow of q
love unreturncd you remember the day wore
the cypress wreath, do you not and your sad
forebodings at the time; ah, yes, it was ! who
smiled at your fears, but, the sorrow is mine
my husband loves me not | trusted my happi-
ness to the keeping of one, who will tire of the
love so freely given him; but will sleep soon,
and you must fold my hands, and soothe me to
rest, my slumber win be deep, and long. T"
I looked sadly at the dear speaker, and the
pale face, and fearful eyes, were more eloquent,
than words; they told Of sorrow to deep for
language ever to express.
All day long Emma watched by her suffering
friend, keeping back her own great grief, and
waiting patiently for the return Of reason to the
mind Of Blanche. And thus day after day found
her by the bedside Of the invalid until, we saw
the health-hue coming back to her cheeks; and
the light of reason shining forth from her dark
eyes once more.
AS Blanche gained health, and strength,
missed the sad, pale face of Emma in the room of
her friend and when called to see her found her
sad hearted, and lonely; her blue eyes were dim
with weeping; apd she told me that she felt i'll,
and broken hearted that her husband seemed
restless, and unhappy when in her presence, and
that life for her had lost its charms; I am an
unloved wife, said she, the star that shone with
radiance, and beauty, in the sky Of richly tinted
blue which o'ercanopied the ideal Paridise !"