Squatter sovereign., 1855-04-03
Mlistellaneoals.
THE LOVE CURE.
A TRUE SKETCH.
BY THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

I had already had some skill and noto-
riety in my treatment of pulmonary COM
plants, and travelling North one summer
for health and and rest, / stopped for a few
weeks at beautiful little village near the
St. Lawrence, where I was somewhat
known.
l had only been in the village two days
when I was called in to see the young
daughter of 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
quenchless fame in the hearts of many an
unsuccessful suitor to her favor Frank,
confiding and at once playful and modest,
arch, yet innocent, full of wild spirits, yet
utterly devoid of coquetry-to see her was
to love her.
l found the peerless girl, whom I had
remembered from the summer before as
buoyant and rosy with health, pale and
wan as summer cloud, and apparently in
the closing stages of a decline.
A careful investigation into the state Of
her lungs convinced me that hers was
mental rather than physical consumption
1 studied her case carefully, watched the
various expressions Of her speaking face,
and at last came to the conclusion that
her malady was one purely of the heart.
OF unrequited affection! l could not
think that-beautiful and good as she was.
The case was a difficult one. Tenderly
and gently 1 probed every sounding, but
could arrive at no conclusion. Thus much
/ discovered-that she possessed no par
ticular regard for any Of the youths far or
near, whose names l could get hold Of
And Notwithstanding all my efforts, she
seemed rapidly declining.
made minute inquiry into all her past
| life, and of her mother; but so cautiously
as to let my motive remain unapparent. |
learnt that she had spent few weeks of
the winter preceding with a friend in an
adjoining town, and from that time had
begun to fade.
To that town | repaired; but by closest
inquiry Of one or two friends in that place
could ascertain no clue to her illness. To
all the swains alike had she been friendly,
but nothing more.
The clergyman of the church which she
had attended-and she had been exceed
ingly regular and devout in her attendance
was a young man, but one much given
to study and seclusion, and one who refused
to mingle in any manner in social gather
ings. She had consequently seen nothing
of him, except while officiating in his pull
pit l made a pretext to call on him, and
found him a man made altogether after
the model of what might be the highest
aspirations of woman's heart. In fact,
all the unengaged young ladies of the par
ish were well nigh crazy about him. But
to all alike he accorded nothing but friend
ly greeting; and leaving them all, sorght
the privacy of his own quiet study.
He was eminently handsome, and, added
to his tall, manly form and beautifully chis-
eled features, he possessed benignity OF
expression that was nearly divine.
had much conversation with him, and,
among other things. casually mentioned
Ida Summer and her evidently dying state,
enlarging somewhat on her beauty and
goodness.
His color deepened somewhat as he as
sented to my remarks, and expressed his
own regret at her untimely fate; but 9TH
erwise he manifested no emotion.
l remarked before left him, that it was
time Tor him to give his pretty parsonage
a mistress.
1 may many years from now," replied
he, with sudden and deepening sadness;
but early learned to distrust the disin-
terested and abiding affection of our mod
ern young women. If marry I shall
probably marry late In life."
"A fallacy, take my word for it, Mr..
Stuart. Our modern women, some oil
them, are as good and true as any of the
DANES of old. The thing is to find the
right one." And thus saying, bid him
good morning.
On my return. I found my patient rather
lower than left her.
| told her had had been to the village
iof -. Suddenly and unanimously the
warm blood rushed up to her bosom and
face, and she looked at me with her soft,
inquiring eyes.