The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-12-17
WESTMINSTER Mo- THURSDAY MORNING., DECEMBER II

II
accept the young lady's invitation and
brave it out or conquer through her
sympathy; for certainly one girl can
feel for another when CATERS are mud
to the tops and dress torn to atoms.
They entered the front hall, and. as
cending the stairs, were soon in Clara's
own room, where fresh CATERS aud
clean muslin dress were at her disposal
Arranging her hair carefully she was
soon prescntable, for Blanche owned a
bewitching, coqucttish looking face, en-
tirely her own. -
The two young ladies descended to
the library. where the brother was in
Whiting, of course; = luncheon had been
ordered, and the young people were not
long in getting acquainted.
The young man conversed most adj
mirably and Blanche was fascinated.-
She soon learned that he was, senior
student at Yale, and was to graduate at
commencement. Hour after hour wore
away most agreeably. till at last the clock
struck Eve, aud Blanche started in dis
may.
j She was two miles from home, and
had No time to lose. Her new acquain-
tances urged her to remain, and they
would send word to her aunt where she
was; but the girl understood her posi-
ton better than to comply with such a
request, however kind in itself.
Promising to return the borrowed
garments in few days, she expressed
manv thanks for Miss Clara's kindness,
| and took her leave. AS she stepped
into the front verandah, to her surprise
a carriage was in waiting. The brother
handed her in and ordered the driver
to Mrs. Wilbur's.
They were soon in sight of the grounds
of her aunt's mansion, but Blanche
urged the propriety of acalftng the last
quarter of a mile, and going unattended.
This arrangement was readily consented
to, and thanking the gentleman for his
politeness, the tired girl walked up the
back lane, ente red the kitchen door, an d
rushed up stairs before any body had
time to notice her. Hurriedly arraying
herself in one of her own dresses, she
walked down the front stairs and met
her aunt at the tea table. They took
their repast, silently. AS the allusion
to Clarence Gray in the morning had
caused Blanche to rush from the house
and remain absent during the day, her
aunt thought best not to speak of him.
The next morning their breakfast
passed as silently as their tea the night
previous the determined girl, half
pouting, half sad, slipping her coffe and
twirling her teaspoon. e - =
AS soon as the cloth was removed,
Blanche too6 her botany aud wandered
in the direction OF the mansion she had
discovered, the day previous, though she
firmly resolved not to go near it. Some
wild flowers were gathered, and she
seated herself on log, to separate the
petals Of the calyx and the petals of the
carolla. The stamens were counted, and
Blanche had given the plant its locali-
tv. in accordance with Linnaeus, and
was about deciding upon Natural Order
and Genus, according to Jussien, when
she heard footsteps. Looking up, there
stood Charles Clifford, the gentleman
whose acquaintance she had formed the
day previous. .9.II.e
He had started to go over to Mrs.
Wilbur's to call upon her, but finding
her upon the way analyzins flowers, COP
,cluded not to go farther. From Mr..
Clifford polite request, there was an
arrangement for them to review their
botanical lessons for an hour each day,
IN the shade of a maple which stood
near them. The young college student
was in lore, and Blanche was not less
fascinated. 4 asa ~ tis4tll6
Three weeks elapsed, and the young
people were engaged, though each re-
solved upon winning aunt Rachel's con-
sent to their. union if possible. ~
any sister will call upon you to-mor-
row, Miss Merton; she wonders every
day why you do not come over. You
may expect her without fail, SO be on
your guard, and look beautiful, just as
you do now.'' Blanche blushed and
looked down, feeling indescribably hap
py, till the thought cane rushing over
her that her amt would never consent
to her marrying any one but yoang
Gray, gentleman whom she had never
seen, and of course cared nothing for.
Is there anything equal to being COM
PEELED to drag out a life time with one
we cannot love, while those most dear
to US are as unfortunately tied to some
one else?
DtL II Jr,,;tb l tbonobts