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.
