The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-11-27
Love In the Olden Time.

Among the early settlers of Hopkin-
son, Il. l., were the Wells families;
many of them lived in the south part of
the town, near Ashaway, and the i'm
mediate neighborhood was known near
ly century ago as Wellstown. About
the year 1900 Thompson Wells lived
there; he was farmer, prudent, saw
ing man, strictly honest, and was
blessed with two pretty daughters, Lois
and Sally. These girls made Wellstown
an attractive place; they had admilers
many, aud one day stranger came to
town, a young man of splendid address,
Mr.. Beriah Wells. of Lenox, Mass. He
was invited to Wellstovn, and among
the first things which he did was to fall
greatly in love with Sally Wells, and
she fully reciprocated his affection.
When he left for his home it was Wells
town talk that Sally was engaged, and,
in fact. the dear girl encouraged the be-
lief. Wells, however, acted strangely.
He did not communicate with her or see
her during the whole year; so, in about
a twelvemonth, Sally was receiving Wis.,
its from young man from Woodstock,
Conn, who had just opened q school at
Westerly, MIR. Lindon Fuller, n gentle
man of fine scholarship, and he found
himself every Saturday at Wellstown,
spending two days each week with Miss
Sally, and greatly in love with her; the
result of a short courtship was an en-
gagement Of marriage, and the time an
nounced for she wedding, and necessary
preparations made. Right at this juno
ton Mr.. Beriah Wells, the first lover,
made his appearance at Wellstown. He
knew no.ling of the contemplated mar.
riage, and at once made known to Miss
Wells that he had not forgotten her,
aud had come expressly to renew the
engagement, and take her back to Mas.
sachusetts as his wife. Here was di-
lemma. The truth was, she loved him
best, and she told her father so at once,
and sought counsel and advice from
him. He talked with his friends and
neighbors, and it was finally agreed,
without her knowing their conclusions,
that the two lovers should be informed
how matters stood, and, in their pres
ence and other witnesses, Sally Wells
should say which one she loved best.
| Mr.. Fuller was sent for. 1t was ar.
ranged that Mr.. Sheffield Wells,a friend
and relative of the family, should ask
the question. So in the big front room
they met, and Sally was asked her
choice of the two men for her husband,
and she promptly replied that Beriah
| Wells was her choice. Mr.. Sheffield
softly repeated the question three times,
she each time giving the same answer.
Mr.. Fuller's appearance betrayed the
deep agitation under which lie was
laboring in hearing her decision, but
his bearing towards her, and all pres
ent, told we'll that Lindon Fuller was a
true gentleman. After short interval,
Beriah Wells stepped forward and
asked the attention of the company.
He stated that under all circumstances
he could not marry Miss Wells. He
admitted it to be his fault in not visit.
ing her, or communicating with her for
year he owned that he loved her
and had come to seek her hand in mar
riage. Yet, the fact of her marriage
with Mr.. Fuller having been announced
and preparations all made, he feared
that the marriage of himself and Miss
Wells would render their life unhappy,
and he could not enter into such 9
covenant. Here was dilemma number
two. Sslly's feelings may be better
Imagined than described. Mr.. Fuller
could not marry her now, for she had
publicly chosen another. SO they al
parted. Fuller at once dismissed his
school and went home to Woodstock
After fortnight's time Miss Wells
father, without advising her, sent one
of his neighbors to Connecticut, will
instructions to find Fuller and have
him come at once to Wellstown. Ii
two days the messenger returned ac
companied by him. Mr.. Wells spen
the afternoon with him, advised him t.
renew the engagement with his daugh
ter, fully believing it would be for thei
mutual happiness to be married, ant
speaking for himself and family, Ii,
would rejoice to see them SO. Tha
evening Lindon and Sally We're pledged
in marriage again. The next da,
Bariah Wells was sent for, and he ant
Lois stood up with them at the wed
ding. 1t passed off finely, Fuller ant
Wells treating each other in the kindes
manner. A few more weeks passed
and there was another wedding a
Wellstown; the same company wer
there. Beriah was bridegroom AM
Lois the bride. Lindon Fuller and th
charming Sally, his wife, stood up wit
them. "And, in fact" Beriah woul
often say afterward, Lois was alway
his choice" More than sixty year
have since passed away, and so hav
Fuller, Wells and their brides.-PrOv1
dencS Journal.