Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-10-11

"Are you not glad 20 sec me, Helen y
she asked.
"Very," was the cordial response.
at"I met Mr.. Burfield this morning when
| was out on shopping tour" said the
fair, naughty lady, throwing herself into
a chair, and tanning herself with rare
sandalwood fan "and awaited myself OF
the opportunity to make all the inquiries
about you that could. The young gen
tleman informed me that he had made an
engagement to ride out with you this at
ternoon, and invited me to accompany
you, thinking probably it would crafty
! you; SO | accepted the invitation, and
here / am What makes you look so
sober, Helen?" m D. .ua9J
"Nothing that | can tell you, Isabel,
she replied. Somehow don't care about
taking this ride"
| Don't like taking it !" said Isabel.
What will Mr. Burfield say You will
break his heart"
Don't say that, Isabel. Dir. Buriield
and | are only friends; and the look OF
seriousness deepened into pain.
Well, all I've got to say, Helen, is, that
it is not John Burfeid's fault if he is only
your friend said Isabel, watching Helen
narrowly, as she arranged her thick brown
plaits OF hair, II
To Helen Aliens honor be it recorded
that she preserved inviolate the secret OF
John Burfield's affection for her. and that
her friend had only srlspecte1 1t from The
young mans manner.
| .f" Wen, granting what you say Is true,
| Isabel, it is not right to encourage his at
| tentions," said Helen speaking more TO
herself than to her auditor.
ri" Yes, it is right enough to receive him,
if he knows your real feelings towards him,
you absurd little pussl9 said Isabel 6 A
woman may make a friend of her lover
without doing any harm Pm sure"
"But may be it Is doing wrong to him -
wrong if in anywise he INDUCES hope
4 which must end in bitterness and disap-
pointment p -~
Helen's tones placed al interrogation at
! the end of her sentence ~ ~2-EA
| "Nonsense /" exclaimed her guest, with
her light, quick, heartless laugh, " You
are SO squeamish, Helen. Mems hearts
are tougher than you suspect, and they'll
bear little pressure just like Indiarubber.
Rest assured that your lovers will not shoot
or drown themselves, because you refuse
them and the best way generally is to
smooth the denial as much as possible, and
keep it out of sight in general. You don't
know much about men, Helen"
These words sank into the young girls
heart, and Helen Allen asked herself If, af-
ter all, her friends sentiments were not
very near the truth.
| OF course her aunt was one OF the bes.
and noblest of women Everybody knew
that; but then, her ideas of life and con-
duct were all so refined and exalted that il
was almost impossible TO carry them out in
every day practical life.
She wasn't going to disturb herself any
more about the matter John Burfield
knew his position with regard to her, and
if he chose to visit her twas his own fault
Mems hearts were not SO easily broken af-
| ter all. IN GAIA
| Helen Aliens thoughts ran on after this
fashion as she arranged her shawl and hat
before the glass, for her friend had excused
herself, and had gone down stairs to enter
tain the young merchant until Helen pre-
| sented herself
The two girls had been school-fellows
and the intimacy commenced when they
were children, had never been suspended
Isabel Eyre was brilliant, dashing girl
with no high ideals of standards OF life
thoroughly worldly in all her pursuits and
aims. She was accomplished after the
fashionable standard; she had grace, wit
and tact, but of heart or high principles
very little.
Helen Allen was vastly her superior in
all the moral range of feeling and pur-
pose; but the influence of companion
like Isabel Eyre over q young impressible
nature could be only injurious, especially
when its whole force was brought to bear
on the weakest side of Helen's character
and this was q sense of appreciation,
and love of admiration. ..
Mrs. Stanley left her neice in o few days
after the conversation which we have re-
corded, and the eubect was not renewed
by the ladies--indeed, Helen avoided it.
John Burfeld continued his visits as be-
fore, and they grew more frequent; for the
year was falling into Winter, and Helen
found her country home little dull, for it
was not always convenient to visit town,
and the visits and attentions of j ohm Bur
field became sort of necessity, in the alb
sence of any one who eclipsed him. Helen 9
conscience was not however always at ease.
There were chances and pressures of the
hand at Injecting and parting, which she
could not misinterpret; and there were
times when the shadow of John Burfield'a
forehead, and the involuntary signs that
crept up from his heart, told his hostess, as
no words could have done, of the doubt
and pain that wrung it. .t
But, on the whole the young lover was
usually cheerful, or full of high spirits, in
the presence OF his enchantress1 How
could he help living on the hope which all
her actions kept alive, no matter what her
words said But at last, the end came.
Late in the Winter, Helen Allen met, on a
brief visit to town, a young lawyer, in
whom she at once became interested.
| The attraction was mutual, and in the
spring the young gentleman was very fire.
! quent guest at her fathers John Burfeld
| had been absent about month, and it 80
happened that he did not see the young
| lawyer, or suspect the true state of things,
| for some time. But one evening the two
gentlemen met at the residence of Doctor
Allen. Love has singular acuteness, and,
| though his hostess was polite as ever, still
| John Burfeld felt there was an indescriba-
| bic change In her manner, and that he was
not, as heretofore, theSmost favored guest
He left early, but before his departure he
said to her, when alone in the conservatory
--" You know we made an engagement last
week, to get up small picnic party Are
you engaged next Friday Helen?"
" Yes john" sho replied with a little
au.tering III her cheek J" | have promised
Mr. Paulding to join similar party on
that day, so l am afraid we must defer
ours for another week. -" AS you like, u
said Mr.. Burfeid - " ss-
There was something hoarse and hard
in the monosylables, which made Helen
look up to his face, 1t was very pale
and about the mouth, and in the eyes, there
was look of terrible suffering. at
| What is the matter, John p exclaimed
the lady, in real alarm.