The Shasta courier., 1866-06-30
COURIER.
THE THREE LOVERS.

Lima Vance was beauty and an heiress.
Had she been neither, perhaps one man in q
thousand would have discovered what good
tempered, gentle hearted little soul she was +;
but, being both, her suitors were as numer-
Gus as the suitors of such fortunate beings
generally are, and she had hardly left the
schoolroom before she knew that she had
but to choose from among dozen or 20
young fellows. all eligible as to standing
and appearance, the one whom she liked
best.
Many girl would have grown wonder
ously conceited and vain under such circum-
stances and Lima knew that she was pretty
as well as any one could have told her. But,
despite of this, her heart told her that half
the pretty speeches and melting gances
which fell to her share were of little real
value, and that many of these aspirants for
her hand were moved by mercenary motives
only. The thought troubled her, all the
more that she had no mother to confde in
and no father to advise her, and often, when
the longing for true heart to trust in was
strong within her bosom, she wished she had
been poor girl, working for her daily bread,
rather than rich one, who, because of her
riches, could not be certain that any man
actually loved herself alone.
She never opened book in which some
sordid fellew did not strive to win an heiress
for her gold. Old songs were sung on the
same theme, and in actual life she herself
saw more marriages for money than for love.
So that in the end. beautiful as she was. and
wealthy as she was, Miss. Vance was actu-
ally unhappy, as those suspicious of their
fellow men must always be.
More than one offer lad she refused with a
scornful glance, which said what her lips
refrained from uttering, 1t is the heiress
you seek. not the woman" And in her
diary, which she kept as all sentimental girls
do, she had recorded the intention of living
and dying in single blessedness when there
arose upon her horzon-perhaps at Newport
perhaps at Saratoga-three gentlemen, who
changed her decision among them, and caus-
ed her to amend it with the resolution to
marry if she ever met with sincere wooer.
These three gentlemen were Harry Dean,
George Blair, and Evan Meadows.
The first, lawyer the second, gentle.
artist, talented and handsome. but by no
means rich. All we're above the mental and
moral caliber of the fortune hunters who
futtered about Miss Vance. Each admired
her, and each proved by his manner that he
W
upon her mind.
As time passed on, she felt sure that she
had but to choose between them. That,
whether they loved her or not, they at least
desired to marry her. Nowhere had she met
with such men, and could she trust one of
them she might yet be happy wife. But
then the doubt arose-even these men might
remember that Lima Vance was heiress,
and it was better to die lonely old made
than to marry and discover too late that he
to whom she was united was not what she
had thought him.
1t was almost impossible to attribute sor-
did motives to Evan Meadows, with his
romantic face and gentle voice. Equally so
to think meanly of the dashing George Blair;
who seemed to have a heart large enough to
match his six feet of splended flesh and
muscle; and though Mr.. Dean had more Of
worldly wisdom, and was little given to
Judge men and their motives harshly, it
seemed impossible to fancy that keen-eyed
man, with his clear-cut features and elegant
address, that abject wretch, a fortune hun
ter
Shame on me for such a thought" said
Lima, to herself. Yet she thought on, even
when her heart beat fast and her cheek
flushed at word or glance from the young
artist, for he, she remembered, was poor
man-as poor as an elegant gentleman could
be, at least-and all women who were mar
ried for their fortunes were deceived. or they
had never wed.
Yet, at times, she smiled so graciously on
each that she unconsciously led them until
one day she sat in her boudoir with three
letters in her hand, each filled with passion
ate protestationss. of affection, and each
containing the offer of hand and heart.
She read them over and over, just as she
had read the faces of the writers. and just
as hopelessly.
The lawyer wrote tersely and frankly, and
spoke of her mind and her heart.
The man of fortune dwet on the raptures
with which her beauty had filled him.
The artist only spoke of his love, and OF
the hesitation which her wealth and his want
of it made him feel in addressing her.
1t was dangerous topic for his hop's.-
The very mention of it caused his letter to be
thrown aside before the others, and halt
inclined Lima Vance to VOW that she would
never think of him again.
Yet she did reread it, and even shed a tear
as she did so 1t was so hard to doubt words
like those. Then she perused the lawyer
letter once more, surely it was little cold
and formal. Perhaps since there could De
no doubt as to the rich mans freedom from
mereenary motives, she had better accept
him at once, and end the matter. He-was
handsome and good, but. then. she liked
Evan Meadows best. That was certain.
And" sobbed little Lima Vance, g l sup
pose it's because women always make
fools of themselves
She put the letter in her pocket and wenl
to bed to think it over. As result of the
meditation, each suiter received little note
next day, stating that Miss Vance was abou
10 leave town for week, and that on her
return she would give an answer to biz
offer,
"A wTeek-a short period, certainly-wha'
eouia COZ happen in that space of time to altel
lie Tor Lima Vance. You would have sale
no1hing- Yet. ere the week was past, tn,
,llt,e town was ringing with the news which
had come to them how. few knew. that til.
real heir of the Vance propertv had mad,