The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-07-20
Selerf Story.
ONE WOMAM'S LOVE.
BY ZENNIE STERLING

at was a most provoking thing thai
Willard May should have fallen in love
with pretty Helen Ward, for he was q
stranger whom nobody knew, coming tc
'cut out the village beaux, while she wa;
daughter of the richest man in the whole
country" So said the gossip, but truly
the courtship came about in a simple
way enough.
In a pretty parlor, the glowing sunset
streamed through open western win,
dows and fell upon girlish figure dress
ed in white, who was watching threat.
ening black cloud hanging low in the
sky.
Her mild face showed that she had so
far lived pleasant, tranquil life, without
much light or shadow, but there was a
certain iirmness about the dainty little
mouth, and an expression in the lustrous
hazel eyes, which told of much depth of
character
Presently, as she watched, the dark
cloud fell in rain drops, and just then
she saw two figures running toward the
house-One of them she recognized rs a
friend, who rs he entered the room. en-
claimed:
"Just in time TO escape Il wettingi'
"And Just in time, too, for 4 cup of
tea" said Aunt Mary, fastening to greet
him.
ALLOW me to introduce my friend,
Willard May, who has come to our vii
lage to rusticate," he said, pointing TO
the strange companion.
Thereupon, Miss Helen raised her eyes
up until she saw pair of grey ones be-
longing to the handsomest man she had
ever seen-one of those splendidly built
fellows, with grand, noble look, who
seemed to be made TO be petted and
spoiled by women, whether they deserve
it or not
That evening was the beginning of a
new and stirring life to Helen Ward
1 Il
love which she had lavished upon every
thing beautiful in earth or art, was now
fixed upan one Obiect-and that was
Willard May
1t was not long before he whispered
in her willing car the old-old story, and
she new that she was beloved, and when
this state Of affairs was revealed, with
many bushes, to Aunt Mary. she thought
it proper to hive it;Ie talk about IL
with tho ;;rang,. lover. a. nplen Ii lh-r
, then absent IL Europe. mad entrusted
his daughter 10 good Old aunties charge.
After many haws and hens, he told
her that he had been a little wild, but
had now "sowed all his wild oats, that he
was j;Ist now somewhat embarrassed
abont money matters"-but he did it in
such roundabout way, using such elo-
quent language, that the good old soul
hadn't the least idea Of his meaning, and
set him down on her list of saints.
She informed him that her dear girls
fortune was large and safe, but that Il
was her least portion, for her goodness
excelled everything.
Il do not undervalue money by any
means" he replied, "but | want Helen,
not her money" and in the innocence of
her heart, Aunt Mary would have be-
lieved anything that he chose TO tell her,
all because he looked 50 noble and hand
some.
They all three wrote to Mr. Ward, ask
ing his consent to the marriage; and, ali
ticipating a favorable answer, for he
could refuse his daughter nothing she
had set her heart upon, preparations
were begun for the wedding.
Willard brought his friend Brewster
from the city, introducing him as his in
tended groomsman.
That evening was delightful one to
Helen-she allowed herself the full en-
joyment of the rapturous feelings that
overfiowed her heart her eyes beamed
with fondness, and her lips breathed
cheerful words as she replied to his ar
dent protestations oflove, and pictured a
smiling, happy future.
Her lover and his friend left to go to
the village, promising to return soon.
Helen, being lonely, went out into the
IshrubbeIy to indulge in a moonlight
reverie, and her thoughts were such as
suited well the hour. At last, forgetting
there was such things as chills and colds,
she fell asleep, and went into dreamland
in earnest. Then she was awakened out
oft in an instant, by hearing u voice
which always had power to move her.
1t was the voice of Willard May who
said:
@Blame if you will, Brewster, / don't
love her, and never shall"
Helen could not str: she was wide
awake nc,r, but felt as if an icicle had
fallen suddenly upon her heart and
frozen it She listened intently-of
whom could he be speaking?
@And yet Miss Ward is truly an estim.
able young LADY, replied his friend.
Il do not deny it but, Brewster, you
know that there is but one woman on
the face of the earth for me, and that is
Dottie Halwood-but / can't have her,
for we are both, / may say, paupers."
"And with such feelings you intend to
marry an innocent, confiding girl? oh.
Willard, you are acting treacherously to
this woman
4 Don't preach, Brewster, what can /
ldo9 ] must have a rich wife, of course
l shall settle down in humdrum way,
and make Helen good husband enough;
she'll be content"
But when she discovers that you are
humbug and fraud, what them