The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-04-05

quite excusable," said the lady, who was
no other than Helen's chaperone.
You are entirely welcome, madame. !"
owe you an explanation, and per-
haps will have favor to ask of you !"
i shall be happy if I can be of any
service to you"
Thanks My name is Mrs. Gwynne,
and Helen is my niece. Helen had a
cousin, Ralph Gordon, with whom she
was brought up. They loved each other
from childhood. Helen's father was very
wealthy, and perhaps did not like very
much their marriage on account Of
Ralph's poverty, but he dared not op-
pose his daughters wish, and they were
betrothed, on condition that Ralph should
go abroad under the plea of completing
his education, and that the wedding
should not take place before four years
had elapsed. Mr.. Van Brunt died soon
after, but on his death-bed made his
wife promise that she would abide by
his decision respecting Helens marriage.
Her daughters entreaties to recall Ralph
and hasten the ceremony had no power
to change Mrs. Van Brunts determine
ton, and the two lovers had but the
meager relief of writing to each other.
Three years had elapsed, when one
morning we heard that Ralph had died
ofyellow fever at Rio Janeiro The news
was brought to Helen so suddenly that
she swooned and gave no sign Of life dur
ing the rest Of the day. We anticipated
terrible burst Of grief on her returning
to consciousness, but when she opened
her eyes she smiled something more
dreadful had happened! the blow had
impaired her reason She spoke OF Ralph
but very seldom, and then only alluded
to long journeys he had started on. She
seemed to have lost part of her memory
but outside of what referred to her cous-
in she was apparently the same as ever.
Buc she smiled no longer, and was sub
ject to fits Of melancholy and commissions,
against which nothing prevailed. A hun
dred physicians were consulted, a hun
dred different kinds of treatment tried,
but all were powerless. Mrs. Van
Brunt's grief was uncomfortable. She
blamed herself for her daughters mis-
fortune, and soon died of a broken heart.
On her death-bed she made me promise
to take care of poor Helen, and [ have
kept my promise.
"Her mothers death produced no i'm
preston on Helen. ooh, yes she is
travelling Like Ralph, she used to say
when her name was mentioned. Every
morning at s o'clock-the very hour at
which she had learned of her lovers fate
she was seized with sort of convul-
sion, and it is the doctors opinion that
she will eventually die in one of these
attacks. You may imagine my anxiety
Were she my own daughter could not
love her more than [ do Oh Mr..
Ward, be good to us" concluded Mrs.
Gwynne, bursting into tears; @ save my
child p
ct am willing to do anything in nv
power, my dear madame; God knows
how willing [ am, but what can I do?"
"Oh you can do much. Since Helen
has seen you she has had no commissions;
she is as lively and merry as she was at
the time Of her happiness. The doctor
says that if you will lend us your assist
ance she may yet recover"
" will; but how? what have ] to do p
g You must act in everything as though
you were Ralph Gordon, and under no
circumstances undeceive her-at least
until she has improved great deal-and
comply with all her wishes"
GO [ will do anything you like, Mrs.
Gwynne, and may our exertions be
crowned with success Now-excuse my
inquisitiyeness-but do I strongly re-
semble that cousin of hers ?"
"Very-only you look three or four
year older"
Mrs. Gwynne, at Georges request,
then related her nephew's story in it's
fullest particulars, and shortly afterward
she left, wishing George, between smiles
and tears, all the blessings of heaven.