The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-06-09

l had already had some skill and noto-
riety in my treatment of pulmonary COM
plants, and travelling north one summer
for health and rest, 1 stopped for few
weeks at beautiful little village near
the st. Lawrence, where was somewhat
known.
had only been in the village two days
when was called in to see the young
daughterofa a wealthy farmer by the name
of Summer.
Ida Summer had been the belle of the
county, and though only seventeen, her
marvellous beauty had already kindled a
quenchless FIRE in the hearts of many an
unsuccessful suitor in her favor. Frank,
confiding andat once playful and modest,
arch, yet innocent, full of wild spirits,
yet utterly devoid of coquetry-to see
her was to love her.
found the peerless girl, whom ! had
remembered from the summer before as
buoyant and rosy as health, pale and wan
as summer cloud, and apparently in the
closing stages of decline.
A careful investigation into the state of
her lungs convinced me that hers was a
mental rather than physical consump-
ton. Istudicd her case, carefully watch
ed the various expressions of her speak
ing face, and at last came to the conclu-
sion that her malady was one purely of
heart.
OF unrequitted affection! / could not
think that-beautiful and good as she
was. The case was difficult one. Ten
derly and gently probed every sound
ing, but could arrive at no conclusion.
Thus much | discovered-that she pos
sessed no particular regard for any one of
the youths far or near, whose name |
could get hold of. And notwithstanding
all my efforts she seemed rapidly decli-
ming.
Imade minute inquiry into all her past
life of her mother, but so cautiously as
not to let my motive be apparent. l
learned that she had spent few weeks of
the winter preceding with an intimate
friend in an adjoining town, and from that
time had begun to fade.
To that town l repaired; but by clo-
sest inquiry of one or two friends in that
place could ascertain no clue to her ill.,
ness. To all the swsins alike she had
been friendly, but nothing more.
The clergyman of the church which
she had attended-and she had been ex-
ceedingly regular and devoted in her at
tendance-was a young man. but one
much given to study and seclusion, and
one who refused to mingle in any man
ner in social gatherings. She had con-
sequently seen nothing of him, except
while he was officiating in his pulpit.
had made a pretext to call on him,
and found him man altogether made
after the model of what might be the
highest aspirations of true woman s
heart. In fact, all the unengaged young
ladies of the parish were well nigh crazy
about him. But to all alike he accorded
nothing but friendly greeting; and leaving
them all. sought the privacy of his own
quiet study.
He was eminently handsome. and, ad-
ded to his tall. manly form and beautiful
ay chiselled features, he possessed be-
nignity of expression that was nearly
divine.
/ had much conversation with him and
among otherthings, / casually mentioned
Ida Summer and her evidently dying
state, and enlarging somewhat on hel
beauty and goodness
His color deepened somewhat as he
assented to my remarks, and expressed
hisown regret at her untimeiy fate; bui
otherwise he manifested no emotion.
REMARKED. before / left him, that il
was time for him to give his pretty par.
sonage mistress.
may many years from now" re.
piled ne with sudden and deepening
sadness; ''but I early learned to dissrusl
the disintefested and abiding affection Of
our modern young women. If I marry
L shall probably marry late in life."
A fallacy. take my word for il, Mr.
Stuart Our modern women, some ei
them, are as fond and true as any Of the
DANES OF old. The thing is to find the
right one." And thus saying. I bade him
good morning.
on my return, found my patient "a.
ther lower than left her.
L told her i had been in the village o.
Suddenly and tunnultuously
ths warm blood rushed up to her bosom