Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-10-01
Worth Versus Wealth.


Stephens, as gayIy dressed young l0dy
passed by his Office window one balmy May
morning. Very gracefully was the mantilla
folded about her pretty person, and very grace
fully and dantily her light feet pressed the
gtavelcd sidewalk; yet there was an air Of
haughtincss in the carriage Of her head, and
in the flash Of her cold blue eyes which was
not quite so pleasant to the searching glance
of the young lawyer.
lie had spoken truly. Helm Fowler was an
elegant girl, in face form, and mind but, ms
often happens, that mcagrc word eitgdht dc
scribcd her thoroughly. Underneath her calm
elegance there was nothing dccpcr-nothing
to be unfnldrd, tlowcr-likc, by the sunshine OF
friendship or love. Her education was elegant,
not varied nor profound. She could speak
the French language cXccllrntly, she could
dance cnchantingly, and play gracefully all
the fashionable music Of the day. In manners
she was IaultlcSS; in conversation the quick
ness of her wit generally concculrd the slni-
lOwness Of her brain. Her brain was shallow,
and her heart too; yet she was an elegant
girl. and the only daughter Of the richest man
in the furnishing village Of Weston.
She had scarcely turned the corner when
another Young form appeared, and another
light footstrp sounded brncath lIarryS win
dow. But this figure, though dressed with
ncatncSS and grace, was not so nriy rohcd ms
the heirc>S who had preceded her, nor did she
bear herself with such an air Of CONSCIOUS
beauty. But just as she passed the window
she looked up, aud eyes Of such deep, rare
lovclincSS met llarry'S earnest gaze that his
book fell from his grasp unhccdcd and he
watched her rctrcatng form until she was out
of sight.
a. No. ~ IL
he said. as he paced up and down his Office
floor, :" but Agnes Bryan is something more.
Helen is rich and graceful; Agnes is poor in
worldly wealth, simple in manners, yet rich
in graccS Of the heart aud intellect. Helen
could ever attain; Agnes would be house.
hold angel to the lich man or the poor man.
At which shrine shall bow-that Of wealth
or worth 2"
And leaving him to decide this momcntuS
question, we will inform the reader that 4Irnry
Stephens had lately located himself in Weston;
and being now established in business, and
able to have home Of his own, hc was look
ing about him in search of Il wife. Two only
of the village girls had Yet found n favored
were told, Il great many were ready to smile
nrs Bryan, he had met several times at the
social gatherings of the village, and he admired
both. lie had called once at the house OF
each, when he was charmed by the animation
and wit Of the one. and by the unaffected
sweetness of the other Both received him
graciouSly, for in the eyes of both he had
found favor. Though the one acknowledged
this to herself boldly, the other III the admi.
| pa tiOn Xl,ich Shn VC,nl1 mot .,nnf,cc II,,lnp
liked him because he belonged TO an aristo.
cratic family, and possessed n pleasing and
polished manncr Agnes, in listening to his
eloquent and varied conversation, had diScov
cred that there was n chord in his soul and in
hers which vihratcd to one and the same har.
| mUnv.
After both graceful forms had disappeared
Harry suddenly remembered that he was in.
vitcd to u social party that evening where he
would meet the two who had lately occupied
so large space in his thoughts; for Helen
Fowler, being the belle Of the village, was al.
ways invited, and he knew that Mrs. Temple,
who gave the party, was warm friend to
Agnes.
~ will choose tonight, said he, "whether
shall offer my suit at the feet of the bcauti-
ful heircss, or at the hcTt of the lowly but
lovely music teacher"
At night, il Harry Stephens had been gifted
with pair Of magic SpcctaclcS, making brick
walls and closed blinds transparent, he might
have seen Helen FoN Ter in her tlrcSSing.room,
standing irrcSoiutc amid profilsion of silks,
laccs and jewclry. From one rich robe she
turned to another, saying softly to herself
II wish knew which were his favoritc
colors. thought he looked almirinsly at
this purple satin the other evening, but the
pale blue is more becoming. must look as
beautiful aS can to night, for when VIC were
n; Mrs. Gray'S he actually talked an hour with
that nobody, Agnes Bryan"
And with the same magic glasses Harry
might have seen Agnes Bryan giving the last
music lesson of the day to stupid pupil who
either could not or would not understand the
spirit Of II simple waltz winch she was prac.
ticing, but persisted in drumming it forth aS
il it were march for the battlefield. At last
the tired pupil was dismissed, aud Agnes,
weary, but lighthcartcd, went to prepare lol
the party.
"Whcn you are ready, come and read to
inc little" said her invalid mother.
81 will, replied Agnes, chccrGnlly, "you
know it never takes me long to dress"
And i'll n few moments she came down
dressed in u delicate fresh colorcd muslin, her
dark hair falling i'll simple ringlrts, rcqU:"nc
neither wreath nor gem to enhance her quiet
lovellncsS. q" nope that he will be there,
was the thought That Fitted through her mnd
as she took book and began to read aloud
When Harry entered Mrs. Temples parlol
he found Helen already there, and looking
more brilliant than he had ever seen her be-
fore. The gances Of her bright eyes quickly
attracted him to her, and for whole hour h,
yielded himself to the spell of her destinations
She was beginning to think her triumph sure
when Harry, on turning suddenly. met thu
clear soft glance Of Agnes Bryan's dark eyes
lilo bowed Smilingly, and by an irresistible
impulse would have approached, but quick
word from Helen chained him again.
a" do yon know Miss Bryang" he asked
after listening few moments to her gay sal
lies, which had suddenly grown stupid.
Miss Bryan:" she repeated. "No;
believe She gives music lessons to my it'll,
brother, but have pn acquaintance with her.
"Thcre is great deal of character in hel
face, he continued.
"lndeedI DO you think SOP" said III,
proud beauty, with slight, very slight lool
of scorn ON the object Of their conversation
She makes very good music teacher, an
told"
The tone and look had not escaped III,
quick observation Of Harry, and he went OF
rather roguishly:
" And do you know that it takes qualities
of very high order to make a good mus
teacher. There must be patience, Quicknes
OF perception, tirmncss, enthusiasm for tn
art; all these arr necessary requirements, ant
all these can discover in Miss Bryan's face