The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-09-20
cHApTER XXI.

TIE co-sFEssIoS OF BLANCHE
"Oh, Sonora, YOU should have been
along last evening! We had delight
ful timem was Cordelia's first exclama-
tion as her friend entered the breakfast
room the next morning. 'FThe play
was without fault. believe every dor
mant power within me awoke laughing
at the comiealities Of Burton, that orig
inal man"
81 am glad you enjoyed yourselves,
girls, for ! feared the past few days had
marred the pleasure Of your visit; but,
dear Blanche, you DO not look well this
morning. Did you not rest well last
night?' enquired Sonora, as her friend
stood at the window, gazing out upon
the morning beauties, apparently in
deep thought
81 have a slight headache only,
caused I presume by a little too much
excitement" replied Blanche, looking
up. 81 viii 90 out on the balcony and
take the air. / will return soon," and
closing the door hastily behind her, she
went out alone, more to hide her feel
ings than TO alleviate her pain.
All, Blanche, you feared You would
wiring the heart Of your true and carly
friend. But mistaken girl! you have
crushed your own heart i'm trying to
usurp the place which belonged to her,
and to which you had no right. Better
for you had you never seen Clarence
Pierpont
blanche looks very pale" remarked
Sonora. 81 hope she is not going to be
ill.,
30, she has looked and acted like one
in a trance ever since last night. After
coming from the theater, we stopped at
one Of the oyster saloons on broadway,
when whom should we see sitting oppo-
site US but Clarence Pierpont, your old
lover, I believe. He was with Isabel
Stuart, an old schoolmate of mine,
whom he introduced as his cousin. 1
was delighted beyond measure at meet !
ing her, can assure you, and partly
promised 10 call on her this afternoon,
providing could get you to accompany
me-" said Cordelia.
Clarence Pierpont in the eityp es-
capped from the lips Of Sonora, while a
vivid blush mantled her beaming face
then, recolleeting herself she added:
.'Why, ] thought he was settled at the
South, and at present engaged with his
clerical duties"
''No; he intends spending the summer
at the North. In the fall he is to be or
dained pastor of the Divine Chapel at
D, Georgia"
Thus Sonora learned just what she
most wished to know, but could not
ask.
''He is in excellent health" contin-
ued Cordelia, little thinking she was
making the heart of her friend over
flow with happiness at this joyful intel
ligence. 'He only arrived yesterday,
and knew nothing of the affair regard
ing Norman until Isabel told him last
night. wish you could have seen him.
He actually clapped his hands with
such force upon the table as he ex-
claimed, Thank God, she has escaped
the serpent's fangs ? that If it had
been anything but marble, it would GER
tainly have been split to pieces. ! could
not refrain from smiling, but Blanche
looked as demure as a kitten, and really
seemed hurt at my levity; but somehow
/ never did have any sympathetic feel
ings for any one in love-" ratified Cor
della, as she picked 10 pieces an elegant
little tea rose that lay upon the window
sill where she was lounging.
Sonora was too deeply engaged in
thinking about the past to pay much
attention to what Cordelia was saving
until the latter part Of her speech ar
rested her attention.
"Any one in love" thought Sonora.
According TO that, Blanche docs enter
tain some affection for Clarence. and
my surmises were not entirely without
foundation. Perhaps this is the caus,
of her pale cheeks and loss Of spirits a
times. It is a secret love like Gracie's
Dear Blanchcl rather than hurt my
feelings she has refrained from tellin.
me, knowing that ] still love him.
viii resign all hopes Of ever becoming
his that he may, if possible, turn hi
love TO Blanche; for 1 could not b,
happy if ] thought my happines
brought sorrow to the heart Of my dear
sweet friend. 1 viii see her alone anC
gain from her the truth. Perhaps
may be the means of bringing back tn,
roses to her cheeks" Thus reasoned
Sonora to herself as the bell sounded fol
breakfast, and the subject of hel
thoughts entered with her father ans
mother.
That afternoon as the three girls sat
sewing in Sonora's room, there was ,
tap at the door, and Rissey entered will
a card.
"Dar am ticket fer YOU. Mis-,
Marsh" said she, handing it TO Cor
della, Sand de gemman is down stair
wild his horse an wagon in de narlo
waitin', p and was retracing her stems
feeling herself Of great Importance
when Cordelia, glancing at the card. ex
claimed:
"Claude Montrose! Tell him, Rissev
! willbe down in a moment"
Eyes, marm," and running dow
stairs at full speed, she opened the pan