St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-01-13

splioW anu SiuiSS hdu pSSh
into the time.
The morning after the funeral saw
him on the way to Mrs. Changers. 1t
was too solemn a time to think of love,
lac felt that it would be selfish trifling
to dream Of such a thing now, but
Helen was all that was left him, near
or still for having been so loved by.
his lost child, and 50 deeply wronged,
as he suspected, by his niece. As for
Alice, she had demanded her fortune
OF her uncle, and left him without any
explanation, or excuse.
Helen was just able to sit up a few
hours, and was leaning back in an
easy chair with her eyes closed when
Mr.. Wcthere!l rode up the gravel walk.
Almost fainting with agitation, she
tried to rise when he entered the room,
and she saw his mourning dress, and
the great change that anxiety and
sorrow had wrought upon his face.
"My dear child. My poor, suffering
child! Thank God / have not lost
you also !" Mr.. Wetherell exclaimed.
folding her in his arms, regardless of
Mrs. Granger's presence. "Helen,
do you forgive me for doubling you
as | did ~
al never blamed you" Helen said,
when she recovered strength TO speak.
at was not wonderful that you should
think of me as you did, appearances
were so much against me"
But Louis never believed them for
a moment, Helen. His love was bet
ter than mine"
"Dear Louis !" she said, gently dis,
engaging herself from his arms, and
sinking back into the chair. There
was something in the that
struck heavily upon his heart, al
though she had not meant it, and all
through the interview, and in the days
of convalescence that followed, that
nameless something of GOODNESS or
shyness remained. 1t was almost
nothing, for she was as kind, as CRATE
full, as frank in most things as she had
formerly been, still Mr.. Wetherell felt
that a barrier had grown up between
them, none the less real for being so
indefinite.
In a few weeks Helen was strong
enough to return to Hazelwood, and
at Mr.. Wctherell's request, Mrs. Gran
ger accompanied her. The summer
passed calmly and sadly enough to
those who remembered what the last
one had been, for Alice's conduct gave
almost as much sorrow as the loss OF
her cousin. The winter also went al
most impcrceptibly, for none Of them
felt like visiting or receiving company,
and liked better the quiet, intellectual
intercourse of their little circle, for
Mrs. Granger, at Helen's earnest re-
quest had consented to remain at la.
zelwood, and closed her own house for
that purpose. Mr.. Wetherell had join
ed in the invitation but had been deep
ly hurt at the urgent name in which
Helen had %besought her to stay. 1t
seemed to him as if she wished to be
relieved from his society, and though
fully as kind, he grew more respect
ful and distant in his manner to her,
from that time.
But if the family declined mingling
in society, and thought Hazelwood
better even in winter, than the city,
Mr.. Wetherell felt that Helen ought
not to be buried in the country always,
and when during the latter part of
February an invitation was received
to visit an old schoolmate who resided
in town, he urged her acceptance
-strongls Helen seemed not in the
least battered by the notice, aud quite
reluctant to go, but as Mrs. Granger
also joined her entreaties to Mr..
Wetherell's and their arguments were
unanswerable, she consented, and
with only a weeks preparation, left
Hazelwood accompanied by her guar.
dian. He could not go with her
farther than the first stage, and at
that place he put her under the care
of a friend who was making the jour
ney, parting with her kindly, but more
formally than he had ever done before.
how lonely the road home, and the
short winter day seemed when he
turned back on his way. How differ
ent the twinkling of the parlor lamps
ont through the leafess trees, now
that the light of her fair face could not
greet him. lie trembled as he reflect
cd how necessary she had become to
him, and how certain it was that he
must lose her at no distant day.
Helen's letters home were principal
ly to Mrs. Granger, though she always
enclosed a note to her guardian, and
were filled with accounts of the gay
society she moved among, the amuse.
ments she al taken constantly to
see, and the people with whom she
became most intimate. Mr.. Wether.
ell read these letters which were al.
ways handed him, with a jealous ca.
gerness to find if any persons name
was oftener mentioned than any other,
or spoken more highly of. How sharp
a pang pierced him when she mention.
cd any man with praise. How sweet
a sensation he felt when she said That
she would give all tne gayety for
dear Hazelwood and the budding trees.
He was loving with all the jealous in.
tensity Of his youth, but with the diff
ference that the strong will of mature
manhood held it in check, so that no
word or act could betray it.
1t was a beautiful day in mid May
when Helen came home, and to sur
prise them, she came un%announccd,
walking up the avenue and stepping
into the parlor where her guardian
and MIsArange were sitting after
tea, stood a moment just inside of the
threshold smiling at their surprise.
al thought you would stay longer"
ave were not expecting you this
long time" were among the greetings.
"Did You wish l would stay long
er," she asked playfully. 81 am sor-
ny ! came, if you are not ready for me,
but | took a tit Of Inconsistencies, and
nothing could hold me-"
How sweet the words, as we'll as
the tones were to the thirsty heart of
her guardian. How happy she was
to get back again. How she never
could seem to get enough of the woods,
the lake, the garden. How she was