The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-05-28

4 1HA 1il'AA I'LL GiiH- III ~ WIZ fli
characterized by the utmost ease an,
majesty. Her physical graces Were in
t~nsiiied 10y the purity and sweetness 0
her mind. She was loved 10y every on'
who knew her. Two young men in th'
| Immediate vicinity loved her more than
all other: one was named Bell O
BlncErt House. two miles down tht
river; the other, named Flreming, al
M1.,sknowe, about eight miles further
down. Tradition has it that few year,
later the FIremings were burnt in theiI
Tower rather than surrender Themselves
to their cncmirs This incident Grigi
mated, part, at least, Of the name Of the
parish where this occurred, Kirk pat rick
FiocmiHy.
Ofthe two rivals for the heart Of Helen
Maxwell, Flrcning was victorious. His
gIll:Intry and noble hearing won the.
heart of Pair Helen in spite "f his
opponent Bell was favored by her
parents, however, who openly objected
to FIcrning'~ visits, causing these to be
less frequent and comparatively in Sc
crrt. I1,.ll SAW that lac was no longer
received by Helen as in former days;
her lustrous eye cleaned no more with
love for him. The music of her voice
was no longer his. lie knew that She
loved Adam Fleeming, who was oftener
in hrrc"mrany. HrnOding over his loss,
he determined to be revenged for the
insult and wrong he hal received at the
hand of FIecming. Several times he
sought an opportunity to take his life;
hc waylaid linn between MoSsknOwe
and Springfield; and though urged on by
desperation, he was afraid to meet lIis
antagonist in open fight. Then he would
wanderabout the woods near Springfield,
catching sight now and then Of Helen,
sometimes accompanied by his mortal
foe He learned from some of the srrv-
ants whom lac had bribcd for the pur-
pose. that tie two lovers sometimes met
in the twilight at this sequestered place
the ole: graveyard strange that lovers
should walk there Day after day he
concealed himself among the bushes on
the other side of the Kirtle, waiting like
lion for his prey. Still the lovers were
happy in each others worth, looking
forward to years of joy. We can almost
see them late in the afternoon of that
sad day. emerging from the wood beyond
the meadow Slowly they approach the
old graveyard, she leaning on his arm,
listening to the wnrbling of birds which
seem to join with them in their love.
The setting sun is shining full in their
fices; She stoops to pluck some wild
gDwans from the grass Now he Wills
pcrs in her ear some nceents OF manly
love, while she speaks the language Of
her heart, by her downcast eyes and
dropping head.
They have now reached the graveyard,
and are just passing through that clump
of trees, about to gaze into the river,
perhaps sit down on the bank, and
dream about the stream of life flowing
on and on She is :iill leaning OH his
arm; they hayc now REACHED til? place
where that old eros, 81 roughly carved,
and has stood since then; when
she, ever quick t. think Of evil, hears
some one Gmung thy bushes Oh the other
SIDE of the stTram. they look again,
and R-lt steps from his hiding place
with IL look uf wild determination, n
carbine ia his kamd, which is instantly
lrvrllcd at Fleeming. She throws her
self into Fl"eming's arms, thinking that
Bells lov" E.; .,"f w.Ii save her loyer,
hut il Is too lrl"; thr l;rtai trigger has
been draYm, 9uI shn receives in her
snowy hrsuiu the bullet intended for
another She dis in ihe embrao" of
Adam Flceming. Trnd"rly her lover
laid her down on the grass, while ,he
warm blood was still flowing from ler
heart; cro>s-i il!e stEealn Hi q stngle
bound, acaled tllr rugged hank heyondi
pursued hrr murderer AMI overlook
lia. \ desperate hattie cnsurd i'll
which l!,.ll wu> slalu nn tl.rspnt. Slowly
and sadly F!erming returned to TIA"
lonely clurchyard, where hr had left the
IiG"l'''s form 81 h,s lonely ii"l"n. lie
now lifted her, carried her ia lis arms
To the old ftmlly mau>inn, and told the
sad story of her de, th and his vengeance.
His grief was uncOntrOllabl.. At last
she was buried la the churchyard, and
this is her grave. Tl,ni I'D gross WHICH
you ,rr, was erected on the spot where
she fell An iron plate has at one time
been inserted, WHICH las long been io"t,
no doubt l;rni ing the Inscription of Fair
Hel,m's" sad death Propl, in the neigh
boIhood will not soon forget the touch
ing tradition which has been handed
down through 80 many genrrailons.
The wop worn young man was now in
a sad condition. The Bells sought for
vengeance; he flung away his sword,
that was now of nO more use to hin.
He left his native country, wandered
over the whole Continent of Europe
seeking for what lIr lad lost, and lost
never more To find H., sought in vain
10 hanisli from his mind the image Of
..Fair Helen" 2Ir whnm he loved 50
paSsionaiely in life, Ia" could never for
ct. la his sleep lle would seek to snothr
his diving bride, to stem the HOOD which
was gushing from her heart. Anon,
he would lay hrr t"ndcrly down, and
with muttered vengeance pursue her
murderer Then he would awake far,
far away from the place where all this
had transpired, with II heart so cold and
empty.
At last hp returned to hiS native land,
and hurrying back to KircOnnel, tray-
ersed all the scene of this narrative
again. Then with the widest sorrow,
he stretched himself upon his lovers
rraye-died and was buried 10y her side
soon shall We meet no more 10 part,
Ina climos af bliss he cried,
Then on his much luycd llclcns tomb,
lie laid him down aud died
There are two versions OF the old bal
lad entitled Fair Helen, and IA both
are good and comparatively unknown,
may be allowed to quote them here:
FIRST VERSION