The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-04-06

hope that Mr.. Ward will find my call
quite excusable," said the lady, who was
no other than Helen's chaperone.
"You are entirely welcome, madame.
CT owe you an explanation, and per-
haps / will have favor to ask of you.
~ shall be happy if l 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, bat he dared not OPP
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 Helen's marriage.
Her daughters entreaties to recall Ralph
TO change Mrs. Van Brunt's 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
of yellow fever ut 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.
Bus she smiled no longer, and was sab
ject to fits of melancholy and commissions,
against which nothing prevailed. a hun
bred physicians were consulted, hun
bred 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 broken heart.
On her death-bed she made me promise
to take care of poor Helen, and L have
kept my promise.
"Her mothers death produced no i'm
preston on Helen. ooh, yes she is
travelling Ike Ralph, she used to say
when her name was mentioned. Every
morning Mt s o'clock-the very hour at
which she had learned of her lovers fate
she was seized with a 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 l could not
love her more than L do. Oh ! Mr..
Ward, be good to u.s." concluded Mrs.
Gwynne, bursting into tears; " save my
child !"
81 am willing to do anything in nv
power, my dear madame; God knows
how willing L am, but what can dol"
"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"
81 will; but howe what have to do r
"You must act in everything as though
you were Ralph Gordon, and under nc
circumstances undeceive her-at least
until she has improved great deal-and
comply with all her wishes"
81 will do anything you like, Mrs.
Gwynne, and may our exertions be
crowned with success Now-excuse my
nquisitiveness-bu do l strongly re-
semble that cousin of hers?"
"very-only you look three or fom
year older"
Mrs. Gwynne, at Georges request,
then related her nephews story in its
fullest particulars, and shortly afterward
she left, wishing George, between smiles
and tears, all the blessings of heaven.