Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-01-18
ADOPTED.

"1cs, ~ IS very strange, went on MISS
Penroy, musing With herself. II know %
little about him have only known him
ten dsys-yet whsn he spoke about leaving
Elm Point lsst night. il seemed NJ i oil tho
sunshine werc going out Of the world for
INC. o. Blancae ! naughty, naughty little
Banchew she added, leaning forward and
apos'rophzng tn, fair face mirror~d IN no
glca stream q, her feet. is il possible that
you've allowed yourself to isl 10 love WIN
that ,tll, bl'ck-eyel, Young soutnefns'
Ten days ego | had never seq .im- @hu
now !"
The roses mounted up in her cisck rs
abe wondsred with herself whether Mr..
Evering carei for her.
~ wish kns~ r she mu,t.rcd aloud.
"Kn.w whssw demanded q calm voice.
and Mr.. Gilbert Evering took up q bunch
Of grasses on the log and coolly testsd him
sell besids hsr-a straight, handsome man,
with brilliant dark eyes. rather irregular
features, and . deep color glowing through
his olive skin.
Blanche dsmurely looked at him-she
Vas not to be taken by storm thus easily.
whether il would rain TOMORROW, for
our picnic. wan, to wear my white India
muslin.
oh! the picnic; ! had foreotton that
when I spoke Of leaving to-morrow. Of
course, though. nv presence or absence
will make no great difference"
Blanche was silent. Somshow that scar
lie, and brown spotted maple leaf required
. great deal oil adjustment in the ribbon Of
her hat.
anche-shsll I go or stay 7"
"Just ~ you please"
mo, Just ~ somebody else pleases. les
or no! And forewarn you. yes means
great deal ~
"IIow much does il meant questioned
Blanche half Archly, half umosously.
"Rverythin "
"rhen you may stay y
MY Blanche-my little white daisy y
he whispered. bending his stately head over
the slender hand that lay on the autumn
leaves And BlaLchs ielt that in the golden
stiffness Of that October dell he had turned
a new page in her life.
Shc was very. very happy, and all that
day she seemed to be walking through the
bright mysteries Of dream. But with the
morning came other feelings; alas that
shadow should always follow sunshine in
this world Of ours.
"Tm not supposed 10 be unreasonable,
Blanche" said Gilbert in whisper, - ne
arranged her white lace shawl for her, amid
the merry tumult Of the picnic ground.
"but / do think you have waltzed quite
often enough with that puppy, Birming-
haml'
jealous already, Gilbsrtr' tainted tho
girl. flushed and now rosy with triumphs Of
her beauty. and the irresistitls instincts Of
coquetry. She colored crimson.
"0f course. you'll do % you vlease,
Blanche; only warn you. il is . choice
between Walter Birmingham and me. You
dance with him again ~ your own sish y
Al the came instant young Birmingham
came up.
May | have the pleasure Of this polk,
with you, Miss Pcnroy p
And Blanche, defsnt and willful. and :
little piqued, answered
Eyes"
And glided away with her plump hant
on Walter Birmingham shoulder. 0ilber
had no business to be unreasonable.
His grave, stern face rather startled be
~ sh. came once more to the rustic seat o
twisted boughs. when the string bant
music Was silent, and Mr.. Birmingham ha,
gone 10 bring her glass Of iced lemonade
Colbert, why do you look 50 cross :"
because I have reason. | sm sorry 70,
! pay 50 iit,lc attention TO NV wishes, Ms
| Penroy T.
She drew herself up haughtily.
You are beginning to dictate early
SIR
"lIavu not the right ?"
Nothing If the sort, Mr.. Evering."
"Be it 80, Blanche" he said in n voics
that betrayed how deep the arrow ranked
IN his bosom. IL give up the right nov
and heacrforvnrd."
Blanche was startled. She would hav,
said IN re, but Walter Birmingham WAS nj
vancing ,owar her. and when next she hat
leisure to LOOK around, Gilbert was gon
| from her aide.
"What have l done !" she thought il
i,smAy. "l'il see MIN In the evening an,
coax him into good humor once more. II
! surely can't be vexed al mo for an idle wor
like that"
An, little Blanche. il is not the we'll Leon
sidcred sentence that does oil the harm i
this wor dit 10 the idle word.
'Such charming day rs We have had
Mrs. Trainc," said Blanche, as she came v
the steps OF the hotel piaza, as smiling an
radiant as il the worm, rcmorss, was no
gnswins at her heart.
"rhit, Of course" said the bloomin
matron. who was reading in an easy chat
under the shadow Of the vines "But wha
sent Mr.. Evering away in such hurry"
">ent him away -
Yes. by the evening train. He cam,
home, packed up his things, and drove ava,
as if there was not . momen, to lose.
am very sorry We shall miss him $,
| much"
Blanche went slowly up stairs and 81
down by her window. looking on 1t the pur
pie glow of the evening Landscape as If i
were festureless bank. So he was reall,
gone away, and bv her own folly she ha,
lost the priceless treasure Of Gilbert Ever
ipg's love.
"AnA ! canno. even write to him, for
do not even know his address, she though
with clsspsd hands and fearless eyes
well. il is my own fault, and must abid
the consequences as best may"
Blanche Penroy went home from the gay
lounging place = saddcr and wiser woman
and the November mists dropping DER th,
brick aud mortar wilderness Of her New
York home, had never seemed half 90 drsary
TO her as they seemed now.
IL shall nov be an old maid" though,
Blanche walking up and down the 6reigh,
darkness Of her twilight drawing rooms
with her dimPlcd hands clssped behind he.
waist
81 never care for any one now % cared
for-fos Gilbert: and dare say I shall
keep cot, and grow fond Of green isa and
scandal sewing circles! All, we'll . day
life cannot last forever T.
She rang the bell with On impatient Jerk
"Ars there any letters, Sanderson ?"
| "Onc, msam; Il came by the evening
post about I've minutes ago."
Blanche sat dow by the ere and opsnet
the letter. BLACK edged and black sealed
SO poor Mrs. MArchmont is gone ct last ?
Il Was from the executors Of Miss Pen
roy's dIstant cousin, formally and briea,
announcing her death, which had taksi
place in one Of the West Indis Island
some months since; but Of which the incl
ancholy news," - the latter ran, had eol,
just been received. IL vas not entirely un
expected. as Mrs. Marchmont had been 70
some years slowly fading out Of the world
q victim 70 hereditary consumption.
Leaving one child, . son." slowly re
| raafaj Rls ncha 1eaosnr r.. .h..L