The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-03-12

brace: Her grief was intense, aud
many were the condolences she re
ceived from sympathizlng trends
She continued to reside at her old
home with the housekeeper, who had
presided in that capacity sincc her
mothers death.
Among those who strove to win
her affection were some who nigh.
be denominated .'tast who evident
" thought it would be fine thing
to have the handling OF her money !;
others there were who were engag.
ed in business, and, while they ad-
mirdd her character, thought more
q the benefit lhsx miRh. reesivs
from her fortune. There vas On one; >
however, who worshipped her at a
distance. He was poor clerk,
whose salary barely supplied his own
wants and those OF his wido wed
mother. He has never expressed his
feelings openly to her. He regarded
her far above hi,n in the aocial scale,
and often lamented that she was not
as poor rs himself, tor then he would
have courage to lay his heart at her
shrine. His name was Walter Ben.
ssn. They had been acquainted for
a long time, and when they met, as
was often the case, Miss Thornby
treated him kindly. for she appreci-
ated his good qualities, and often rs-
marked to her friends that young
man who was so kind to his mother
could not help beng good husband.
This, however, was the extent OF
their acquaintance. lie had never
presumed TO call upon her. and, save
the language of the eyes, and the
tcll-tale expression OF the coantc.
nance, she had no opportunity to
suspect the state OF his feelings.
For year after fathers death,
Helvia confined herself almost ex
clnsively TO her home, seldom going
out, save to church or among tho
sick and suffering of the neighbor
hood, where, like an angel OF mercy,
she scattered blessings wherever she
went. At the end of that period.
ana sndd tsn fhe ssf aspsnEs to her hand
again gathered around her. For
more than three months she endured
their attentions, and then it occurred
to her that it wonld be best for her
TO know, without mistake or conjec-
ture, the true motives that influenced
their actions. She hit upon plan
that she imagined would test the
matter 10 her entire satisfaction. and
perhaps save her from keen dis
in subsequent lite. She
confidei her plans to no one save the
old lawyer who had transacted her
fathers business for him for many
years, and who approved of her mo.
lives and designs, and promised to
aid her all that was needtul for the
purpose of furthering thsm.
The circle in which she moved was
lstonished to sec the beautiful resi-.
ience 10 which tho Thornbys had 50
ong resided closed, and the rumor
gain ground that the Tho rnby estate
lad proved insolvent from claims
hat had come against it from an un-
source. TO place the mat.
er beyond all doubt, q daily paper
n few days contained to following
announcement:
I'VE are panied to learn that the
state Of the late Charles Thornby,
esq, has proved insolvent, q much
arger amount of claims having come
gainst it than can be llquidatei by
he property left. Mr.. Thornby's
aughter has relinquished all into the
ands OF the proper officers, and has
AIKEN her abode with q former nurse
4 her fathers family
Mrs. Benwood, the nurse, really
that her pet, as she called
ur heroine, had been unfortunate,
ave her q cordial reception to her
amble home. Helvia applied her.
elf to sewing, from her scanty earn.
ngs regularly paid her board. =
Those who professed SO ardently to
dmire her in the days Of her pros
'crily, deserted her, blessing their
tars that this calamity had come in
ime to prevent their being sufferers
II consequent Of it. One who haa
tor her hand with the most
earnest protestations OF undying at.
eclion, to whom she had deferred
IN answer. aitor the news Of her ca.
amity had been made public, and
'hc had taken her place among those
Sho earn their bread, sent her q note
u which the following is a copy -
MISS HELyIA TnoRsDy ;-Respeeted