The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-01-23

I uorSOA, Ill6 only SON anu Heir Vi tue
good preceptress She was a. year
older than Blanche, and only waited
the completion of her lovers course at
college before taking upon herself with
new name, the untried duties and
cares of matrimony.
Six months had passed away. TO
the lonely prisoner in his cell, six
months of WEAKNESS, and home pining,
and heart aching. To the grey haired
six months of toilsome journeying
along the road to the graye-long
weary months--so way worn and trav-
el stained and foot -sore-with that
strange journey of human life, which
looking forward from the starting, APP
pears long and fair and sunny, but
viewed by the failing eye sight of age,
seems short and rugged and unsatis-
flying To the newly welded, six
months Of experience, much of disap-
pointment bnt more of JOY and conf
dence and love- Six months to all
Lying, leaving each half year nearer
to that great change which comes
alike to all and comes but once to
none.
But the changing months had bro't
only pleasing changes to our friends at
the Seminary at Beech Grove, Judging
from the radient faces of the young
couple occupying the same little par
lor before mentioned, The gentleman
had risen from his seat at the yarn
CRATE aud stood regarding the lady
with smile that for the time, chased
away. even the faint shadowing of sad
ness which was so habitual to his fine
face
Then dear Blanche, you 90 not
chide me for my presumption, in seek
ing to enshrine myself in your most
holy affections? You do not despise
the offering of heart which has moth
ing but itself to. offer? Answer me
once more dearest. Tell me that some
times | am present to your thoughts,
and not an unweleome intruder in the
pnre sanctuary, but valued guest"
the gentleman said, taking possession
of the little hand resting on the arm Of
the sofa where Blanche was then sit
ting.
&" love you, Jerome LecIerk, and
those love are seldom absent from
my thoughts. But since I have ac-
knowledged my preference for you, i
claim the privilege of friend, to help
you bear your burdens. I am often
made anxious by the sadness which
you strive to hide; will you not en-
trust me with some Of the sorrows
that Cypress Won, and by dividing,
tighten them ~
do not wish to cloud your sunny
face, Blanche, dearest, but before I
can ask you to become at some future
day my own darling wife, you ought
to know more of my past history than
you do now, for / do not wish to de-
ceive youth the least. That's why /
sought you this morning We shall
necessarily be thrown much together
during the bridal festivities of our
friends Amy and Charles, and it will
be much more satisfactory to us both,
to know how we stand in relation to
each other.
If, after hearing what have to say,
you are willing to undertake with me
the journey of life, my happineas shall
be to minister to yonrs; but if you
think [ am asking too much, I still can
say, God bless you with light, though
my own path be amid darkness"
Do not talk so sadly Jerome, /
cannot bear it. Perhaps it is I'M
maidenly to say so, but never knew
how blessed thing life was, or how
many joys were about me, till sincelthe
light ofyour love revealed them to
me" and Blanche turned away her
face. and wept without restraint.
4Nay, dearest, +? said Leclerk, draw
ing her ohm, and kissing away the
tears that would gush forth. Listen
to my story first, and then if you feel
as you do now, that the love of poor
exile is Of any value, / promise to for
| get the gloomy past, in the cheerful
| present, and will labor eheerfully to
provide home, in this land of my
adoption, for myself and the dear
bride have won. Lay your head on
| my lgosomI love, and il ] am somewhat
sad while / uncover the buried embers
Of the past, donot let it sadden you
1 am used to sorrow, and can bear it,
bat it wrings my heart to think Of
bringing tears into those bright azure
eyes. @
" | wish could picture to yon dear
Blanche, my beautiful home, in the
sunniest spot in Ia bella France
with its gardens, its pictures, its
groups of statuary, and its thousand
other attractions. of which the chief to