Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-12-10
SfIefle0 St0rlI.
PRRFECT LOVE.
By raANcEs uENsHAw BADEN.

else could obtain so full and true state
ment of the events which uanspired atte
Ileft her ten years ago. -'-4S
"When did you see her last?"
1.-THE winter of 1856. / was with her, o.
the time of her engagement 10 Abner Gray
s9n l remained until after the arrival
ner cousin from Europe" Ianswered,
''I wns absent then, have often wishec
tllnow the particulars ofthpse fewmonths
TIL me, ifyou please, all that happened
during your visit, and then you shall heal
her sorowiul story" said the doctor, anC
rising he walked to the window for few
m)ments--I think to conceal and calm hii
q itation. He returned, seated himself
o d mentioned me proceed
Gas told you before, Dora and were
schoolmates / accepted the invitation
often urged, to visit her, and there me-
Abner GFayson. knew Of him, well. She
would many times in our school days, .el
me how handsome, and talented he was
How kind TO her. l knew she loved him
long before she would admit it even to her.
3 f. When l would tell her so, she would
a gays answer, 4 love him as if he was my
brother, he has ever been as such to me,
nothing else, We have grown up together.
Our plantations join. Abner is such an
ardent admirer Of beauty; he could never
look on one so very plain looking as 1,
with any feelings other than simple friend
ship
~ had been with Dora about week;
when one afternoon | was sitting readingin
a deeply curtained window. ] was so alb
sorbed in my pook, that ! had no knowl-
edge of any one entering the room, until
my attention was attracted by the deep,
manly voice of Mr.. Grayson, wooing Dora
in sofa, loving tones.
my first idea was to let them know of
m ! presence. Then I thoughtit would be
b3tter for me to remain quiet than to inter-
rupt them, at that moment SO fraught with
fond hopes and bright anticipahons.
'Thus it was became listener to their
bJtrothal.
sDora still clung to the idea that he could
not love her, because she was not beautiful.
She said:
Abner, wait until you have seen my
cousin before you give your heart to me,
You will surely love her better than you
possibly can me. Remember how fond you
we're of her, years ago, in our childhood.
She is far mora beautiful now. Papa says
she is the fairest woman he has ever seen.
She is coming home to us. She is an
orphan now. Next month she will be
here.
Then he answered her:
You dear, shy little bird-do not try
TO fly away, and bid me seek mate Of
brighter plumage! Come nestle down be-
side me, love, and let me try to prove to
you how lovely you truly are, l admire
the beautiful, Dora, butt loue the good.
You are all and everything would have
you; nothing wanting. Iwould not change
one feature, one glance of yours, darling,
for the fairest woman on earth. know
your heart, how true and pure it is, and I
must WOO until win it. Whisper to me,
Dora, that you love me a little.
" You knot0 do love you, Abner. Who
else have had to love, since my child
hood, but papa and you! You have been
playmate, friend and brother
Excuse me, doctor, but then came forth
t'e selfish, exacting nature of man, in the
words:
Dora, do not talk of such love to me.
"tis not as this l would be loved. Iwould
have you I.-. .,-..
Love me not in fancy, love me not in fear;
But love me as If life doubled in thee when am
near"
Thus, or not at all, would he loved
Abner, she answered, if you will tell
me this again, after you have seen Lillian,
then / viii be to you all you wish. Your
happiness is dearer to me than my own
Then you will soon be truly my own.
Come, little one, look at yourself in this
mirror. Why truly, you are growing beau
tfui. Your eyesare beaming brightly; and
now your cheekslarelike blush roses2'
3, 7''He led her from the glass, and out on
the piazza; and escaped to my room.
Very devoted ho continued to be; and
Dora really looked 30 happy that her plain
tsce became quite pretty. 10
"The next month brought the beautiful
Lillian Frost.
LILLIAN Frost! How wonderful were her
name and nature adapted to each other!-
beautifully fair, and cruelty cold.
'Dora's fears proved true. Abner Lived |
Lillian and forsook her. never knew the |
result to Dora. I married in o short time,
and never heard from her again.
''Now, Doctor you must 90 on and tell |
me what | am SO anxious to know"
'Oh, curse himl but for him she might
have been mine. Pardon me, madam. |
never knew Of this. / suspected, but never
was certain, of an engagement.
Dora Austin was the only woman lever
loved, save my mother. was much older
than shelby twenty years. ] always fear
ed Abner Grayson was my favored rival.
returned from my travels, and found him
on the eve of marriage with Miss Frost. |
thought / had mistaken their friendship
Tor love. Iplaced my heart before Dora
Austin.
''In true womanly manner, she told
me that she had loved, and in all proba
nility her heart would never know another
owe.
She dismissed lher over, but secured
true, firm friend a1
About the tune Of the marriage, the
yellow fever was making sad havoc in our
section. Very few of the country folks
went 1earthe neighboring villages or towns.
Abner, so blindly happy and busy in pre-
paratlon for his approaching nupitals,
would go frequently into the town.
They were married, at Dora's home,
and Immediately started for. . North ern
tour
9"rwenty-four hours had only passed,
when the terrible news reached us that
Abner was i'll with the fever, and was in a
hospital about thirty miles from us.
In afew hours more, Lillian was back
again with Dora and, Mrs. Austin.
'She had fed and left him.
Then, for the only time in my life,
saw Dora Austin excited--almost madden
'You have fed--left him to suffer and,
perhaps, die with strangers. You, his wifel
Where are yourvows girls2 Strewn to the
winds. 6hamel shanel This is your lovel
your devotiohl Twill teach you woman's
friendship. ( api going TO him--to CON-
Tort nurse, and aave him, with God bless
slng. and return him TO the arms u his de-
voted wife ,,.4f,'.7
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