Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-05-03
THE LOVE CURE.
BIZ AN OLD PHYSICIAN.

Afpoih@c3 ohus ttdNCliuS, AfOitu Ou
summer for health and rest, i stoppe,
!. for few weeks alta beautiful little vii
lage near the st. Lawrence, where
was somewhat known. | had orl,
been in the village two days, when
was called to see the young daugh:e
of a wealthy farmer by the rame o
Sumner.
I Ida Sumner had been the belle o
the county and though only seveteen
her marvellous beauty had already
= kindled a quenchless fire in the hear
of many suitor to her favor. Frank
confding, and at once playful anc
modest, arch, yet innocent, full o.
wild spirits, yet utterly devoid o.
tcoquetry, 10 see her was to love her
| found the peerless girl whom ]
had remembered from the summer
before, as buoyant and rosy with
health, pale and wan as summer
cloud, and apparently in the last and
tclosing stages of a deep decline. A
careful Investigation into the state Of
her lungs convinced me that hers
was mental rather than n physical
consumption. | studied her case care
fully watched the various expressions
of her speaking face,and at last came
to the concluson that her malady was
one of the heart.
Ofunrequited affection? / could
not think that; beautiful and good
as she was. The case was difficult
one. Tenderly and gently / probed
every sounding, but could arrive at
no conclusion. Thus much | dis
covered: that she possessed no par
ticular regard for any one of the
youths far or near,whose name ] could
get hold of. And Notwithstanding
all my efforts she seemed rapidly
declining.
made minute inquiry into her
past life, but cautiously as not to let
my motives be apparent. learned
that she had spent few weeks of the
preceding winter with an intimate
friend in an adjoining town, and
from that time had begun to fade
To that town repaired, but BY close
inquiry could learn nothing To all
alike she had been friendly, but
nothing more.
The clergyman of the church
which she had attended was young
man, but, one given to study and
seelusion. She had consequently !
seen nothing Of him except in the
pulpit. had made a pretext to call !
on him and found him man altogether
made after the model of'what might
be the highest aspiration of woman's
heart. In fact, all the unengaged
young ladies Of his parish were we'll
nigh crazy about him. But to all he
accorded nothing but a friendly
greetipg,and leaving them all sought |
the privacy of his own study. He
was eminently handsome, and, added
to his tall manly form and beautifully |
cbiseled features, be possessed a be-
nightly Of expression that was nearly
divine.
] had much conversation with him,
and among other things | casually
mentioned Ida Sumner and her evil
IDENTIFY dying state, and enlarged some
what on her beauty and goodness. His
color deepencd somewhat as he as
ented TO my remark, and expressed
his own regret as to her untimely
fate; bu! otherwise he manifested no
1 remarked before | left
him, that it was time for him to give
his pretty parsonage a mistress.
4 may, years from now,' replied
be, with a sudden and deepening sad
ness, but | early learned to distrust
the disinterested and abiding afec-
ton Of our modern young women.-
If | marry, / shall probably marry
late in life.' ha
"A fallacy, take my word for it,Mr.
Stuart. Our modern women,some OF
them, are as fond and true as any OF
the danes of old. The thing is to
find the right one.' And thus say
ing, l babe him good morning.
On my return, ] found my patient
rather lower than ! left her. / told
her | had been to the village o..
Suddenly and tumultuously the
warm blood rushed up to her face,