The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-05-12


rendered that tough muscle, his heart, to the
destinations OF Miss Desher. You see, my
love, what his protestatons were worth ~
As Mr.. Mathews predicted, Captain Des-
pard arrived in the morning train and as
he was one of those genial men who carry
sunshine and good humor wherever they
move, and was backed by handsome face
and fortune. Mrs Vexer resigned herself to
her easy chair and ner crocheting, confident
that he was capable of soothing the smart
that Langthorue's behavior had inflicted, by
his courly and well-timed attentions At
first she remarked that Isabella was pale and
distraH, but by degrees this gave place to
an unwonted flow Of spirits on her part; she
corruscated with gayety, which made her
almost beautiful in spite of features that
lacked symmetry and eyes that lacked
color. Mrs. Vexer made sure that pride
had come to her daughters aid, and van
quished every tender sentiment for Lang
thorne, and she flattered herself that Cap
tain Despard's attentions would not be
wasted, coming at this crisis when wounded
affection required the sclace that nothing
but love could offer, and Mrs. Nexer gave
herself credit for having made bold stroke
in staying at Gorham and fighting it out in
the teeth of her adversary.
To Blanche Deshler the days seemed only
half long enough for the pleasure that over
flowed them. To be sure, now that the house
was full Of young people, there were fewer
solitary drives and rides with Langthorne; !;
but there were giddy waltzes with him in
the dancing hall, and psalm-singing Sunday
evenings from the same book in the north
paror, and stolen half hours on the noon
lit piazza, with Mounts Madison and Adams
hanging like petrifed clouds over the brow
of Mount Carter. "You knew Miss Vexer
before" she once said, as they promenaded
through the long hall and piazza. "She was
so pale and sad-cyed that thought her
really plain when she first arrived, do you
know but Captain Despard, seems to have
developed her capabilities"
Just then, in the shadows of the verandah
a rustic of silk and perfume of san lei
wood swept by them and Langthorne stopped
to pick up bit of white cambric that flut-
tered to his feet.
"Your handkerchief, Miss Vexer" he said
quite coldly, and passed on.
''How did you know her in the dark
The captain can't be far of, whispered
Blanche.
"Dear me !" said Clara Cew the next
night, in the full swing of Portland Fancy,
"Miss Vexer ought TO cultivate her muscle
she hasn't enough to enable her to hold fast
her goods and chattels. Langthorne has
just picked up her fan. See, he's reading
the precious autographs upon it. Why
dosen't he add pretty sentiment
"What should it be? queried Claras part
ner.
"My heart is another's, and never can be
yours or, thing of beauty is joy for
ever -
"For shame !" said Clara. Handsome
beautiful; some of US must be good in
stead"
That evening, after Blanche had taken
down her hair, she missed the gold scorpion
with which she looped the folds of her pol
onaise. She mad strolled with Langthorne
and the Others by moonlight through the
underpath after the dance had ended, and
divning that it must have fallen out there,
she decided to rise early and go out to seek
it, without awaking Clara Accordingly,
the next morning, while the sun and the
mists lay in ragged patches on the hills, she
tiptoed out through the vacant rooms and
the deserted piazza, retracing her steps of
the previous night. Blanche had gained the
hill, and was sauntering along the edge of
the wood that bordered it,when she detected
rustling among the fallen boughs and a
gush of voices and looking over her shoulder
into the hollow below, she saw two lovers
strolling down the dried bed of an ancient
brook, made picturesque by times fantastic
touches and the flickering light that tlecked
gazed after them, puzzled by something fa-
miliar, they paused and embraced lingering
ly. Then he was out of sight with a bound,
and Fastening home by the railway track,
while his sweetheart walked slowly on alone
by the underpath, singing softly as she
walked.
"What pretty picture" thought Blanche.
"The captain must be desperately in love, to
leave his pillow at this hour, when he has
the day before MIN :" for in parting the girl
had half turned, and revealed the face of
Isabella VeXer. 81 must tell Mr.. Lang
thorne about it. Surely the early bird
glow worm"
She drove to the village after breakfast
with Langthorne for some shopping, They
had the stage all TO themselves, and, true
enough, she painted the picture as she had
seen it, and Langthorne laughed heartily,
and said, "Stolen sweets, ycu know, Miss
Deshler,"
There was an evening party toBerlinFalls,
when the next moon waxed full, along the
banks OF the capricious nver over which the
mists were curling in weird outlines, as if
the spirits Of the stream were abroad. The
falls themselves were wreathed ir their own
spray ,spanned by lunar rainbow, and over
shadowed by great clouds of yapor, like
half guessed shapes of genii and strolling
over the slippery rocks in that deceptive,
half-luminous atmosphere which almost
blinded one, somebody stretched out hand
to Blanche, and held her fast in two arms
for an instant, whispering, "Darling, have
pity on me Let it be tomorrow, Bella"
For the first breath she had believed that
Langthorne's arms imprisoned her that the
old, old story was on his lips. Then she was
hal: angry with herself at the thought, at
the thrill it gave her, though she laughed as
she slipped away, saying, "lou have mis-
taken your audience, Captain Despard, 1t
is Isabella's Shetland shawl that has misled