The Morning herald., 1878-04-06

uono you SASo W onooe usoioss uouOtloS,
which only seem to make you miserable,
Such dear, blessed old boy as my John ID,
Blanche, and SO handsome Why, con-
fdently expect it will be case of mutual
affinity, you and he, unless he has lost his
heart abroad; this year he has cen to
Germany"
A case Of affinity for heri Blanche felt
o thrill of sick pain Mrs. Pemberton
never imagined her words had caused, for,
although she knew there was love-story
entangled somehow with Blanche's old life,
the girl had been proudly reticent Of
particulars, or Elmer Westcourt's name.
Mrs. Pemberton talked SO much, 50
often, of her darling, ''her blessed boy"
her only son, John, who, to her, fulfilled
every dream of manly excellence and per-
fection. And Blanche used to wonder
often what the quiet home would be like
when Mrs. Pemberton's son came into 1t.
She used to wonder how it would be pos
sible for her to endure the presence of any
one who would in any way remind her of
mans perfdy and heartlessness.
But if their lives-her ife-was to be
invaded by a man. Well, after time,
she grew to be ashamed of her morbid
cowardice of feeling, and resolved, with q
stern determination that was pitiful, that
John Pemberton--and odd, strengthful
name it was to her-should not interfere
with the duties Of the quiet life she had
chosen, and which, although she was hard
ly conscious of it, was leaving its impress
on her discipline, and patience, and nobility
on her nature.
Nevertheless, the pain-the very bitter
ness of woe - was not removed. Her
fathers death she could, in the ordinary
healing course of nature, have got over.
Loss of wealth, position, and summer
friends would, after time, have been as a
trife to her.
But Elmer Westcourt's detection! So
long as she lived, it would hurt her with
that keen, sick pain which some women do
suffer-women with great purity and trust
of nature, who can no more imagine deceit
and cruelty in one they love than them
selves are capable Of it. Truly it was her
darkest hour.
To her, Elmer Westcourt would always
be the one who had power to touch her
heart. To her he would always be the be-
loved, though not the lover-the one above
all others, although unworthy, strangely
paradoxical as it was. ..'
So Blanche tried her best and bravest tc
enter into Mrs. Pemberton's spirit of vel.
come for her son. She beautifed his
room. that for more than year had stood
alone in its uuoccupancy. She baked de-
licious cakes, and arranged toothsome bills
of fare, and went through the whole house,
leaving everywhere the impress Of her
artistic touch, that delighted Mrs. Pember.
ton so thoroughly. ..n, ,.... ,a..
"John will appreciate it SO, bless hit
dear heart Blanche, never wanted any
thing in all my life as want my boy
And do, do Blanche, make him feel, SO ia,
as you are concerned, that you make him
welcome; will you ?'--
Up in her room, hours after, Blanche
remembered particularly what dear ole
old Mrs. Pemberton had said about he'
contributing her share toward welcoming
and pleasing the coming guest, and as
she stood before the glass, brushing
out the long, lustrous hair, that was ful
of CLEANS of sunshine, she thought how fal
mast the time it was when she could be 6
pleasure or pride to any one. = -...
She thought how worn-out she hao
grown to be, how aged and old-womanist
her fierce, ceaseless fight with fate had left
her. and she smiled YEARLY at the idea oi
her being even thought of when Johr
Pemberton came.
I think Blanche really thought it was sc
tina, she was worn and faded, when,
instead of her old-time radiant, sparkling
beauty, she saw sweet, subdued, serious
loveliness, which others recognized anc
admired if she did not.
She had never, in all her flush of beauty,
and wealth, and happiness, made faire'
picture than she looked that day, after she
had dressed for Mrs. Pemberton's sons
home coming.
She wore white, with delicate blue rib
bons, and her lovely hair was piled high or
her head in a golden confusion of fiossJ