Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-03-04
SfIfft Story.
ADOPTED.

ADOPTED.
ats very strange" unused Blanche Penroy,
slowly weaving together the wreath OF scarlet
autumn leaves with which she was decorating
her broad brimmed straw hat. "I know SO lit
tie about him-Ihave only known him ten days
yet when he spoke about leaving Elm Point,
last night it seemed as if all the sunshine were
gone out of the world for me. oh, Blanchee! I!
Won naughty naughty little Blancher' she adj
ded. leaning forward and apostrophising the
fair face mirrowed in the glen stream at her
feet. sis it possible that you've allowed your
self to fall in love with that tall, black eyed
fellow?'
The roses mounted up into her cheek as she
wondered within herself whether Gilbert Ever
ing cared for her. 81
.Iwish knew she uttered allowed.
"Knew whats" demanded a calm voice, and
Mr. Evering seated himself on the log beside
her-a straight, handsome man, with brilliant
dark eyes, rather irregular features, and q deep
color going through his olive skin.
Blanche demurely looked up at him-she was
not to be taken by storm thus easily.
"whether 1t would rain Tomorrow for our
picnic. I want to wear my white Indian
muslinr"
aoh, the picnic! Ihad forgotten that when
spoke of leaving tomorrow. OF course, though,
INV presence or absence would make no very
great difference
Some how that scarlet and brown spotted
maple leaf required great deal of extra ADJUST
ment in the ribbon of her hat.
blanche shall go or stay?"
sJust as you please"
mo: Just as sombody else pleases. Yes no!
And forewarn you that yes means great
deal.''
"How much does it mean, now?" questioned
Blanche, halfarchly and half timorously.
"Everythingr'
"Then you may stay ~
"My Blanche-my little white daisy?" he
whispered, bending his stately head over the
slender hand that lay on the autumn leaves
And Blanche felt that in the golden stiffness Of
that October dell she had turned new page in
her life.
She was very, very happy, and all that day she
seemed to be walking through the bright mys-
teries of a dream. But with the morning came
another feeling, alas that shadow should al
ways follow sunshine in this world OF ours.
"rna not supposed to be unreasonable,
Blanche" said Gilbert in a whisper, as he ar
ranged her white lace shawl for her, amid the
think you've waltzed quite often enough with
that puppy, Birmingham"
Jealousy already, Gilbert ~ taunted the girl,
flushed and rosy with the triumphs of her
beauty, and the irresistable instincts of coquet-
ry She colored crimson.
"of course you will do as you please, only !
warn you, Blanche, it's a choice between Birm-
tngharn and me. You dance with him at yA4r
own risk! ---- .r....e
At that instant Walt<r came up, and respect
fully asked: "If hecould have the pleasure of
the polka witk1diss Penroy?"
And Blanche defiant and wilful, and little
piqued, answered:
"Yes." 1
And glided away with her plump hand on
Birminghams shoulder. Gilbert had no busi-
ness to beunreasonable.
His grave, stern face rather startled her as she
came back to the rustic seat of twisted boughs
when the dance had been finished, and Birm.
ingham had gone to bring her an iced lemonade.
"Gilbert, why do you look so crosss" asas'
because I have reason. I am sorry you pay
SO little attention to my wishes, Miss Penroy.,'
She drew herself haughtily. ss--s
"You are beginning to dictate rather early,
SIR
"Have not right9"
"Nething of the sort, Mr.. Evering" y '
"Be it so, Blanche . he said in a voice that
betrayed how deeply the arrow rankled in his
bosom. "I give up the right now forever"
Blanche was startled. She would have said
more, but Birmingham was advancing toward
her, and when next she had leisure to look
round, Gilbert was gone from her side.
"What have done ~ she thought in dismay.
"Fll see him this evening, and coax him into
good humor once more. He surely can't be
vexed at me for an idle word like that"
All, little Blanche, it is not the well consider
ed sentence that does all the harm in the world
it is the idle wordi
"Such charming day as we have had, Mrs.
Traine," said Blanche, as she came up the steps
OF the hotel piazza, as smiling and radiant as If
the worm Of remorse was not knawtng at her
heart.
"That, of course" said the blooming matron,
who was reading in an easy chair under the
shadow of the vines. "But what sent Mr.. Ev-
ering away in such hurry
'Sent him away?"
"Yes-by the evening train. He came home,
packed his things, and drove away as If there
was not moment to lose. l am very sorry; we
shall miss him very much.''
Blanche went slowly up stairs and sat down
by her window, looking out at the purple glow
ofthe evening landscape as if it were afutureless
blank. So he was gone away, and by her own
folly she had lost the priceless treasure of Gill
bert Evenings love.
81 cannot write to him. for do not know his
address," she said, with clasped hands, and
fearless eyes, "well it's my own fault, and
must abide by the consequences as best may
Blanche Penroy went from the gay summer
lounging place sadder and wiser woman; and
the November mists dropping over the brick
and mortar wilderness of her New York home
had never seemed half so dreary to her before as
they seemed now.
ST shall be an old maid,' thought Blanche, as
she walked up and down the fire light darkness
of her quist drawing rooms, with her dimpied
hands clasped behind her waist. ~ SGD. -
"Inever care for any one now as cared for
for Gilbert; and dare say shall keep q cat,
and grow fond ofgreen tea, and scandal, and the
sewing circles. All. well-a-day! this kind of
Life cannot last foreverr'
She rang the bell with a very impatient jerk
"Are there any letters, Sanderson?"
aOne, ma'am; it came by the evening post
only few minutes since"
Blanche sat down by the fire and opened 1t and
commenced to read.
aBlack edged-and black sealedi So poor Mrs.
Marchmount is gone at last"
TWAS from tbs executors OF Miss Penorys,