TIME rolled on. Months had melted into months until they were
calendared by years, since we bade adieu to Madam Truxton's
finishing class on that departed June day 185-, and watched with
regretful eye the last well-executed drill of the graduating cadets
of the same year.
Sunny twelvemonths only had so far passed over these sundered
friends, many of whom still clung to each other with the old love of
school days, and maintained by frequent correspondence a thorough
knowledge of each other's lives and doings. It is worth mentioning
that these years had brought some changes to the lives and fortunes
of three of the four firm friends at Madam Truxton's, and to others
who were once sworn friends at the institute.
In her quiet home at Melrose, Lizzie Heartwell was confronting daily
the stern duties of life amid a bevy of bright-eyed little scholars,
wearing with easy grace the dignity of school-mistress.
Helen Le Grande, a bright fresh blonde in school days, had blossomed
into a fair, beautiful, fashionable belle, as devoted to society as
society was devoted to her.
Bertha Levy, roguish and merry-hearted as ever, had been sent abroad
to complete her education in Berlin--"To sober her down, and try and
break her spirit," as she wrote in a letter to Lizzie.
It was only the life of Leah Mordecai that apparently was marked by
no change. She was older by a few years-that was all the world saw
of change in her life. To strangers' eyes, she was still pursuing
the even tenor of her life, still wearing the melancholy expression,
and still envied by many for her wealth and beauty. The eyes of the
world could not read the impoverished heart that throbbed within her
bosom.
On first leaving college, Emile Le Grande intended to study law, and
for months endeavored to concentrate his mind upon the prosaic,
practical teachings of Blackstone. The effort proved unsuccessful,
and then procuring employment in a well-established banking house,
he applied himself to business with commendable assiduity. Yet alive
in his heart was the passion so long nourished for the beautiful
Jewess. He still lost no opportunity of assuring her again and again
of his unchanging devotion, and constantly endeavored, by tenderest
utterances of love, to gain the promise of her hand.
This persistent homage, though avoided long by Leah, became in time
not unwelcome; and as month after month passed on, she often
whispered to herself, "Struggle as I may against it, I do love him.
Love wins love, always, I believe."
George Marshall, realizing the fulfilment of his long-cherished
dream, was in the active service of his country, a captain in the
regular army. Though he was removed from his native State, no one
who knew him could doubt that he stood firmly, bravely at his post
of duty, ready to do his country's work at her bidding.