Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-06-21
The Love Cure---A Sketch from Life.

4
! had already had some skill and notoriety
in my treatment Of pulmonary complaints, and
travelling North one summer for health and
rest, | stopped for a 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 to'see the
young daughter of wealthy farmer by the
name of Summer.
Ida Summer had been the belle of the coun-
ty, and though only seventeen, her marvellous
beauty had already kindled quenchess fire in
the heart Of many a suitor to her favor
Frank, confding, and at once playful and mod
est, arch. yet innocent, full Of wild spirits, yet
utterly devoid Of coquetry 10 see her was to
love her.
| | found the peerless girl, whom | remem-
bereG from the summer before as buoyant and
rosy with health. pale and wan as a summer
cloud, and apparently in the last and closing
stages Of deep decline. A careful investiga-
tIon into the state Of her lungs convinced me
consumption | studied her case carefully,
watched the various expressions of her speak
ing face, and at last came TO the cqhclusion that
her malady was one Of the heart.
Of unrequ.ted affection could not think
that; beautiful and good as she was. The
[, sase was difficult one. Tenderly and gently
| probed every sounding, but could arrive at no
conclusion. Thus much | discovered; that
she possessed no particular regard for any one
of the youths far or near, whose name could
get hold of. And, notwithstanding all my eff
forts, she seemed rapidly declining.
made minute inquiry into her past life !;
but cautiously, as not to let my motives be ap-
parent. | 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 repaired,
but by closest inquiry could ascertain nothing.
To all alike she had been friendly, but nothing
more.
The clergyman Of the church she had al
tended was young man, but one given to
study and seclusion. She had consequently
seen nothing of him except 10 the pulpit. I
had made preieAt 10 call on him, and found
i him man altogether made after the model of
what might be the highest aspirations Of wom-
ans heart. In fact, all the unengaged young
ladies of his parish were well nigh crazy abont
him. But to all he accorded nothing but a
friendly greeting and leaving them all, sought
the privacy of his own study. He was emf
nently handsome, and, added to his tall, manly
form and beautifully chiseled features, he pos
sessed a benignity of expression that was near
ly divine.
/ l. had much conversation with him, and.
among ether things, casually mentioned Ida
Summer aud her evidently dying state, en-
larging somewhat on her beauty and goodness
His color deepened somewhat as be assented to
my remarks, and expressed his own regrets at
her untimely fate; bot otherwise he manifest
ed no emotion. / remarked, before left him,
that il was time for him to give his pretty par
4 sonage mistress. @ @ ~
4 uaty utdily years iiOtn uO"s fcpiieu ne,
with sudden and deepening sadness but
early learned to distrnst ;he 6isinterested and
abiding affection Of our modern young women
II | marry, shall probably marry late in life. ;
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, bade him good morning.
i On my return found my patient rather low
er than left her. told her had been to the
village of -. Suddenly and tumultnously
the warm blood rushed up to her bosom and
her face, and she looked at me With her sofi,
inquiring eyes. told her Of her friends, and
casually mentioned the name ofthe young cler-
1 gyman, Robert Stuart. To her clear, blue
veined.temples the same trnaat blood sped with
!, fearful force. iEa 'ss'A~- Aaia L t'S-vlg-