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24 BLANCHE OF BROOMSIDE. impression upon her intense imagination. Her troubles did not terminate with her husband's death. Mr. Seabright, deprived of his daughter's society, felt listless in his lonely cottage, and had been induced to embark part of his property in a mercantile speculation, with which, like most country gentlemen, he was perfectly unacquainted. After her husband's death, Blanche returned to the dwelling of her childhood; but, although her father's affection was unchanged, he had not leisure to devote his sole attention to his daughter as in former times; poor Blanche suffered from an overwrought sensibility, and fancied, what was only the result of occupation, the result of coldness. Had she not her child's welfare so strongly at heart, she must have sunk a victim to real and artificial sorrow. Mr. Seabright at length became gloomy and ill tempered; and even the infantine caresses of his little grandson failed at times to engage his attention. Suddenly he absented himself almost entirely from his dwelling, and his daughter became really alarmed; unskilled in the world's ways, she was at a loss to account for his strange habits; and when, one gloomy December evening, he returned, after a ten days' absence, brooding and melancholy, she ventured upon the dreaded task of inquiring why he was so altered.

"Blanche," he replied, you cannot understand how my affairs have been mismanaged, or how perfectly we are all on the very brink of ruin; in a few days we shall have hardly a roof to shelter us, and I have been occupied in consulting with old Mr. Eversham as to the means " of our preservation. Blanche, it is in your power not only to save me from destruction - me, your old grey - headed parent, but to secure for this, your fatherless boy, a rich and noble heritage." Blanche replied not, but pressed her son to her bosom, and looked towards her father with an imploring countenance. "I know not, my child, whether or not you can bear me to proceed -- but I rest my hopes on your strength of mind, and the pure affection you bear your relatives. ” — There was a long pause. " You know how anxious, about three years ago, your mother-in-law was for your husband to retain the friendship of Lord Dunmeade." Blanche started. "When that nobleman mentioned to me his love (Blanche shuddered) for you, I yielded to your feelings from fatherly affection, and permitted you tc make your own choice - your son is his lordship's relative; and as he is even now anxious to make you his wife, we all think that it would be very unwise in you to lose the opportunity of securing the property to the family - the chances are that this child will be his sole heir. " Blanche arose from her chair, and walked with a steady step to the door. One glance at her pale but firm - set countenance told her father that his cause was lost; the old man, in a voice rendered tremulous by agitation, called upon her to stop - and advanced to her at an uneven pace.

"Blanche," he exclaimed, taking her hand, pause a moment ere you decide. I tell you another week will find me a degraded man: my credit gone, my hopes blasted. I have engaged in speculation, and been ruined - Lord Dun- meade discovered it, and has generously offered to free me from my difficulties , to marry you , and be a father to your child. Blanche, will you render your father houseless , and a wanderer ? - Will you sacrifice this boy on the shrine of un- availing grief ? -Will you permit him to say in after life, when struggling with poverty , and smarting under the scourge of adversity , My mother could have prevented this , but she would not. ' Eversham's family are anxious for it - I speak not of myself, " added the old man . Blanche pressed her hand to her forehead , and with a hasty action folded the mourning robe around her figure and rushed from the room . Long and bitterly did she weep - and earnestly did she pray to the Almighty for advice and support - the well- being of her father and her child - the prospect ( and who does not tremble at such ) the prospect of want ; -- and then the natural romance of cha- racter , which circumstances had deadened , not destroyed - all worked upon her mind , and , after a long struggle , she resolved to immolate herself ; to stand at God's altar , and to pledge her hitherto unpolluted faith to one she loathed - for the sake of her father and her child.

She had collected all the energies of body and mind to communicate her resolution to her fa- ther. As she was leaving the room, a weight seemed to oppress her , even to suffocation - and she threw open the latticed window to admit the air ; -she shrunk quickly from it , for she saw or imagined she saw , under the shadow of the green - house wall , the mummering fortune teller , crouched to the earth , and watching her move- ments with the eye and attitude of an insidious cat. " It is fated, " murmured the future bride of Dunmeade , as she rapidly descended the stairs. " It is vain to strive with fate."

"Rich were the jewels, and gorgeous the equi- pages that awaited the bridal ; and the world talked of the fair prospects of the house of Evers- ham - and still more of the extraordinary good fortune which awaited a dowerless widow . Notes of congratulation - lace - feathers - and satins , crowded the house ; -and the boy , in his childish glee , delighted in the pageantry, and tore open afresh (if indeed they had ever healed) the heart- wounds of his fading mother - ever and anon prattling his childish fantasies , and inquiring if his dead papa had been as little and as ugly as his new one . Blanche , to the eye , bore it all attentions of her intended lord . Oh , how abomi- astonishingly even the fulsome and disgusting nable are such tributes ! The settlements were drawn her father and child provided for - but , contrary to all received opinions , Blanche per- sisted in her resolution of being married in her village church - this was a whim nobody could account for. Lord Dunmeade was anxious that the ceremony should have been performed in town; but the lady was resolute; and people (good - natured people), when talking about her fine fortune, added, that "she had no more feeling than a stone, notwithstanding her pale looks