The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-12-29

the ice hetween US, for we walked of
together for several squares. As
complained of a severe pain in my eyes
from the blow | had received, my CON-
panion said. L hope, Mr. Hume, you
will pardon my recent rude persistence
il my fancied engagement with our
fair acquaintance, and let US be GOOD
friends OUT OF sympathy for the denOue
ment. As We are here at my hotel, let
Us enter and drink to the good fortune
of DR.. De SIuItus."
II gladly accepted the invitation.
and we were engaged in a pleasant
Conversation when a loud noise was
heard in The street mingled with the
cry OF woman in dis ress
Suddenly starting TO cur feet, we
rushed forth TO render assistance. The
first object that met cur sight was Hell
en- Van Horn covered with mud. but
happily more frightened than hurt.
Dr. Siulius WAS also in a wretched
plight, but toe much eDgrossed, as
might be expected from such crea-
ture, with his own mishaps TO give the
least attention to bis associate in mis-
fortune, whom he left TO struggle to
her feet unaided, and to make her way
TO the sidewalk, where her recent Wis
itors met Eer. and where she hysteric-
ally explained how huge truck
against which De Stultus's csrriage
had been carelessly driven, had left
them stranded i'll the muddy street,
fortunately and marvelously, however,
without broken bones.
Churchill called a carriage and we
escorted the wrecked demoiseHe back
TO her residence, at the door of which
we congratulated her upon her lucky
escape, and bid her good night"
MY new friend then proposed that
we should at once drive to the opera,
where he hoped we might meet party
of his friends, to whom he would be
pleased TO introduce me, and in whose
society we would find surcease for our
dis appointments in regard to Miss Van
Horn. | assented. Cbuichili's friends
were met as he had promised, and
among them were two beautiful sisters,
SO attractive that they spec dily drove
all thoughts of q more handsome girl,
superficial and spoiled, like Helen Van
Horn, out OF the head of Churchill a.
well as my own. A charming evening
at the opera Tipened into serious at
tachn, mt of the part of Churchill and
myself for these sisters, which ended
in our marriage, AMI no one ever had
juster reason for saying.
There is n divinity thai shapes our ends,
r ugh hew them how We WILL
than have! And now you know why
did not marry Miss Van Horn, and
also how two men, for moment
about to be made enemies through the
reckless, uuscrupul3us coquetry Of an
Inferior, heartless woman, by happy
stroke of fortune became friends and
brothers.
AS ioI Helen Van Horn, she still
lives in single blessedness, and upon
the memory of her many conquests,
finding her chief qualification for some
years past i'll reeounting the various
eligible offers she had refused, includ-
ing always Churchill and myself
among her rejected suitors A heavy
speculation into which DIR. Stultus had
been beguiled about the time of Miss
Van Horns triple engagements for the
same evening, resulted so disastrously
for him that her doors were at once
rigidly closed upon that admirer, who
disappeared like a quenched meteor
from society. Meanwhile occurred :he
death of old Mr.. Van Horn, which, as
| have said, left the daughter no other
than mere physical beauty,
that had now become so ussee that it
ceased TO please manageable men,
and she was no longer able to make
thee engagements for one evening.
Hers has indeed been a life of lost