The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-01-17

and bright and pleasant fancies, as she
strolled along and prattled happily by
my side.
Innocent, confding, candid as 4
child, | believe it was as a child that
loved her-and life had grown pre-
cious andS!ear to me once more, when
suddenly Frank awoke me from my
dream, and opened my eyes to the
wretched reality he declared to me
that he loved her, and sought my per-
mission to win her for his wife.
l gave it. What better could hope
for than to make her my sister indeed.
What other hope was there for me7
A CLEAN of sunshine had come into
my darkened life, only to depart and
leave the gloom yet blacker than be-
fore sweet bird had flown to my
desolate heart, and sang it to oblivion
of pain, only to take wing again, and
leave the silence more irksome for hav-
ing been so sweetly broken.
But when Frank came back to me,
and told me Of the failure of his WOO
ing, a new pang rent my heart. 1t was
not my grief for the boys disappoint-
ment-though through all my own
pain l felt for him-but he had said /:
"She loves another r' Therefore poor
Franks loss gave no hope to me-she
would 60, where her heart had gone
to strangers, and the light would fade
forever from my life.
Frank left US. The place was intol-
cradle to him now, but Blanche avoided
me. A change had come over her.
She was no longer the artless child,
fearlessly claiming her place by my
side. She had grown strangely shy and
timid-even sad-a change which
panied me inexpressibly.
I resolved to question her. One
lovely evening l came upon her sitting
in the rose-arbor, her eyes fixed with
an expression of mingled affection and
sadness, upon a portrait which she
held in her hand. 1t was small pho
tograph, unframed, and as l stood
moment watching her, she pressed it
to her lips. The next moment she had
seen me and risen to her feet in beau
tiful confusion, crimson blush dyeing
her soft. fair cheeks.
Blanche" l said, advancing hast
ily "why are you so changed-so sad7
How have l deserved to forfeit your
friendship, your confidence? Dear
child, show me your heart-believe me
my own contains no dearcr wish than
to secure your happiness"
She did not speak but the bushes
deepened, and spread DER her droop-
ing neck and brow, and she trembled
vlsibly. ! took her hand in mine,
scarcely less agitated than herself.
"ls it on account of poor Frank?
He has told me that your heart was
given away before he sued for it. Oh,
my darling! conhde in me, as you
would have done in your own father
who is it that you love1"
She drew her hand away, her soft
eyes met mine with strange express
sion that made my heart leap wildly
a look of tender reproach was in them.
"A is not as a father that Think of
you" she whispered, and then dropped
her scarlet face on her little hands aud
fled away.
stood there gazing after her, stun
ned, COMPOUNDED. A wild, delirious
happiness filled my soul. What did
she mean? What had l read in her
eyes? Was 1 fool or a mailman,
that Sc wild hope should cheat me?
Scarce knowing what l did was about
to follow her, when l saw the photo
graph she had been holding, laying
where it had fallen on the ground.
My heart sank down. Fool. fool
that had been Here was the pic
ture she had kissed-the portrait of my
rival Could 1 bear to look upon it7
| raised it, and behold-my own pic
ture
Taken before the accident; but 1
forgot the accident now forgot that it
had made me an object of disgust and
pity-her words-her eyes-the kiss
upon the senseless paper-I followed
her.
She stood in the library. She was
strangely excited, an air of defiance
was about her, her eyes were wet, but
her head was thrown back proudly all
her pride was in arms now; all the
woman was reused to guard her secret,
the secret that gave back happiness to
my life.
Blanche" 1 cried, II love you,
adore you Oh, my darling, will you
be my wife9"
She sank into my arms, weeping
softly, 81 am yours" she said. Poor
papa gave me to you. 1 am your own
forever l'
My darling smiled when I spoke OF
my hideousness.
'Were you Caliban himself I should
love you," she said. 81 love your
noble soul. But you are not hideous,
Walter; look in the glass.
Oh, what a change two years had
wrought The disfguring scars were
almost gone, and softened and hidden
by the beard. Not quite the old face
in the picture, certainly, but very near
very near.