Nebraska advertiser., 1876-09-07
TRACKED.
PART FIRST.
CHAPTER XII.
BL ANCHE.

Charley awoke next morning with
new object of interest to engage his
thoughts-the promised introduction
to Miss Mewson. He had asked nu-
merous questions of Mrs. Wilkins re-
specting her, all of which had been
answered in the highest strain of eu-
lozy, 30 be came to the conclusion
that if Miss Blanche deserved half the
Iaudations which were heaped upon
her by her faithful servitUr, she must
indeed be an angel upon earth.
He was highly dissatisfied with the
pale, thin face that he saw reflected
in the glass, as he carefully performed
his toilette, and feared that it would
not favorably impress this wonderful
beauty. He was equally dissatisfied
with his costume, which, never re-
markable for cut, now looked worse
than ever upon his somewhat shrunk-
en- body.
Mrs. Wilkins led the way to the
modest sitting-room, opened the door,
and announced "MF Charles"
The next instant he felt his hand
gently pressed, a pair of kind eyes
looking into his face, and heard q
kind voice. with pretty foreign &C.
cent, saying, "Ah, monsieur, am 60
glad to see you so much recovered.
Pray sit down there, In the easy chair
here, quite away from the draught. -
At first the face of the speaker dis
appointed him. His ideas of her
beauty had been raised to such an ex-
travagant height by Mrs. Wilkins
glowing descriptions, that he expect
ed to see something more than NOR
tai; and had be been presented to
yivification of some creation of Phidi-
as, instead of to imperfect flesh and
blood, it might not have realized the
idea that he had created in his imag-
ination. But. as the sweet reality
grew upon him, he preferred it to the
monstrous perfection of his dream.
Perfect beauty-if IL exists-is too
often cold. The beauty of Blanche
Lewson was neither. It was child
like, yet warm. A wonderful luXuri-
ance OF soft brown hair, of a chestnut
shade. rippled free and untrammeIled,
save by narrow, dark blue ribbon,
which held it back from her face, over
her neck and shoulders. Her eyes
were of the same brown hue, not
sparkling, but soft as velvet, large and
pensive-looking beneath their long
lashes, and with a world of poetry in
them. Her mouth might have been
pronounced by a connoisseur too
large, but the beauty of the teeth COM
pensated for this trifling defect. Her
complexion was pale, and of that
shade common In handsome French
women. Her figure, although petite,
was perfectly matured, and exceed
ingly graceful. Her dress, although |
of plain materials, was made and |
worn with that exquisite grace which |
at once declared her not to be an Eng
lishwoman.
It.was the first time that Charley
had ever conversed on terms of equal
ity with lady-he felt awkward and
restrained; and while she, with that
charming abandon and freedom of
manner, so grateful after the frigidi-
ty of English women, conversed
pleasantly and naturally upon a doz-
en- different subjects, he could only
talk in monosyllables.
Presently Mr.. Lewson came in and
Joined them.
"Ah, this looks like recovery" he
said warmly shaking Charley by the
hand; "but you are still weak. You
must not over-eXert your small !
strength. Your pulse, too, Is faster /