American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-05-17
THE LOVE CURE,
A SKETCH FROM LIFE.
DY OUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

I bad already some skill and noteriety
in my treatment of pulmonary complaints;
and travelling North honesummer for health
? and rest, stopped for a few weeks at a
beautiful little village near the St. Law
renee, where | was somewhat known. /
40 had only been in the village two days
when was called to the young daughter
Of a wealthy farmer by the name of Sum
mer.
Ida Summer had been the belle of the
q county and, though only seventeen, her
marvellous beauty had already kiudled a
bright fire in the heart of many suitor in
her favor Frank eonfding, and at once
playful and modest, arch, yet innocent,
full of wild spirits, yet utterly devoid of
=. coquetry 10 see her was to love her.
& found the peerless girl whom had re-
membered from hesummer before as buoy
ant and rosy with health. pale and wanas
I, a summer cloud. and apparently in the last
and closing stages of a deep decline. A
careful investigation into the state of her
lungs convinced, me that her'swasa men
tai rather than physical consumption. l
studied her case carefully, watched the var
ious expressions Of her speaking face, and
at last came to the conclusion that her NAL
ady was one OF the heart
One of unrequited affection? i could
not think that beautiful and good as she
was.
The case was a difficult one. Tenderly
and gently probed every sounding, but
could arrive at no conclusion. Thus much
II sI,discovered; that she possessed no par
ftieularregard for any one of the youths far
or near, whose name could get hold Of
And Notwithstanding all my efforts, she
seemed rapidly declining.
i made minute inquiry into her pastlife;
but cautiously, as not to letmy motives be
apparent. learned that she had spent a
few weeks of the winter preceding with an
intimate friend in an adjoining town, where
/ repaired; but by closest enquiry could
ascertain nothing more.
The Clergyman of the church which she
had attended was young man, but one
given to study and seclusion. She had
consequently seen nothing of him except
in the pulpit | had made pretext to
call on him, and found him man altogeth-
er made after the model of which might
be the highest aspirations of woman's
heart
In fact, all the unengaged young ladies
of his parish wero well nigh crazy about
him. But to all he accorded nothing buta
friendly greeting; and leaving them all
p sought the privacy of his own study. He
was eminently handsome, and, added to
his tall manly form and beautifully chiseled
features, he possessed benignity of ex-
preston that was nearly divine.
. had much conversation with him, and
among other things casually mentioned Ida
Summer, and her evidently dying state.
senlarging somewhat on her beauty and
goodness. His color deepened somewhat
as he assented to my remarks,a express
ed his own regrets at her untinely fate;
but otherwisehe manifested no emotion.
! remarked him that it was time for him
: to give his pretty parsonage mistress.
may, many years from now,' replied
he, with asudden and deepening sadness;
.o' 'but early learned to distrustthe disinter-i
d ested and abiding affectionof our modern
f.. young women. IL I marry, ! shall prob
i ably marry late in life .is
a "A fallacy, take my word forit Mr., Stu
art. Our modern women, some of them,
are as fonda true as any Of the danes Of
old. The thing is to find the right one,
and thus saying, Ibade him good morn
ing. e