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


then the separation betwIxt herself and
him ought to be entire. 1t cannot safely
be otherwise and for myself, I would
sooner part with my right hand than feel
that, because Of any vanity, OF any
thoughtlessness of mine, / had broken a
mans heart or blighted his happiness for
life"
"But, aunty, your ideal of men is so
high, just after your own pattern. Their
hearts are not so easily broken or their
lives blighted as you imagine"
but they are sometimes" said Mrs.
Stanley land it is very shallow logic to
excuse ones own faults because of other
peoples" v.e vsrar-
II know it, aunt, and am sorry that |
accepted Mr.. Burfeld's invitation to ride
out with him this afternoon"
Let it be the last time, Helen You
owe it to yourself and TO him to make this
separation entire"
-" But should not like to lose John as
a friend, aunt" said Helen. 81 like his
society, and its dreadful dull here some
times"
81 am sorry" said Mrs Stanley; "but l
should not be very desirable aunt were
l to counsel my niece to do wrong because
it was pleasanter"
1t was smile, sweet and touching in its
soliCitous tenderness, which was now lifted
to the face Of Helen Allen. She was very
fon,, of her aunt, generous and impulsive
withal, and she sprang forward and threw
her small W hite arms about the ladys neck,
exclaimiug, "Well, aunt, your niece would
be O. very unworthy one. If, with such a
counsellor, she did not do what was right ;
and she will!' 81 t.s5s ,vrsf Isy
At that moment DR.. Allen, Helen's
father, entered the room to tell his sister
and daughter that the roses for which they
had been watching for several days had
opened after the last nights rain; the
ladies hurried out to see the blossoms, and
the subject of their last half hours CONVEX
sation was dismissed.
Helen Allen was an intelligent and UNI
usually interesting girl, In her twenty
fourth year If she had not positive
beauty, she had grace and expression,
which were far more attractive, Her face
was bright, sweet one, and her converse
tional powers, her natural sprightiness
and adaptation made her q singular favor
ito with gentlemen. :.
She was aware of all this, but the knowl-
edge had not spoiled her. Heart, con-
science, principles-all these she pos
sessed; but she had a great sense of ap-
probation, and was too fond of admira-
ton. It' -''
Helen was an only child; for ten years
her father had been a Widower, and he
never saw fault in her, and INDUCED her
lightest Whim. No one can be surrounded
constantly with an atmosphere of admira-
ton and flattery without some moral sner-
z~atso,, foJ1or,sYn oc fha rncecDaru rngt1lt
and Helen Allen had not escaped the in
fiuences of such nurture. as.ug1 tsyj
Still her instincts for truth and right
were very strong, and her fathers sister,
who exchanged visit with her every
wear. exerted a most healthful influence
over the opening years of her niece's life
Mrs. Stanley, left childless and widow,
was noble Christian woman--a woman
who in daily life strove to realise her
highest IDEALS one whose nature sorrow
had exalted and clarified She had passed
the meridian of her life, but even In old
age she possessed the fresh flowing sym
pathies of her youth.
Mrs. Stanley had never met the young
merchant, John Burfield, until that morn
ing; for though he had been tor two years
visitor at her brothers, it happened that
lshe was absent from home when the lady
was with her niece the previous year.
He was young man of most pleasing
address, O faVorite with all who knew him
generous, confiding, with deep and endur-
ing affections. |
It never entered the heart or mind OF
Helen Allen that she was in anywise re-
sponsible because these affections had been
lavished on her She was just the style of
woman to suit John Burffeld, and she
could not help being pleased with his
society.
Still, she always felt lack of strength
and force in his character, which excluded
any deep regard on her part, for Helen
was one of those women whose heart de-
manded these in the man she should
marry.
Her husband must, to her imagination,
be hero, and this John Burfeld, with his
graceful person and pleasing social gifts,
would never be. But Helen was too kind
hearted, and really thought too much of
the young man, to wound him more than
was necessary, and her sympathies were
greatly stirred when she saw the agony
her refusal cost him.
It was 9 very gentle, yet, to do her JUS
tice, decided refusal; but she made an
egregious mistake when she desired him
to visit her at all times as friend, q priv
lege of which he was only too glad to avail
himself; so she and the lover she had re-
fused were thrown constantly together on
terms of greater intimacy than ever.
He brought her flowers, and books, and
fruit he took her to ride and to walk: he
was her usual attendant at sail, or party,
or picnic; she sang for him her sweetest
songs, and there was no week in which
John Burfield did not visit her; and as
Helen's home was few miles from town,
the young merchants horse always re-
NAMED for several hours at the front gate
of the doctors pleasant cottage; and yet
all these things were done in the name of
friendship; and Helen Allen made herself
believe that these relations were altogether
harmless--that John Burfeld understood
her feelings, and there was nothing that
should prevent his being her friend.
OF course there was not but Helen
Allen knew very well that 1t was moral
impossibility for John Burf1eld to be more
than this She read the utter rSfutation
of her pretty, plausible sophistry in every
tone of his voice, and every glance of his
eyes, and she knew perfectly well that his
heart still chung to the idol of his worship;
but Helen was wilfully blind. She would
not see that the indulgence of her society
was doing to him the most cruel wrong
that a woman could do to true and sim
cere man; and she did not look down into
the silent chambers of her own heart, and
see how vanity and love of admiration
were warping her Judgment, and stlmula-
ting her to course of action which the
better part of her nature must have risen
ND and condemned For the admiration
of John Burfield was very pleasant to her
She knew very well the smiles and tones