Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-02-24

on her account, which might thus have
been ayaid,4l. But had promised to
submit patiently, and worked with
out internisslon. thus leaving myself
as little time for thought as possible.
There were women, Of course. within
nv circle of acquaintance who were
neither old nor ugly, but they never
made the least impression on my heart.
What we're they when compared to
my dear Heien'
l.even Stunned society; not from
any fear OF their destinations. but be-
cause 1t involved expense, and my ob.
ject was economy.
And so the three years passed, and
at their end | found myself with fine
practice, splendid health, sum of
money laid away for rainy day, and
every wild habit OF my youth discard
ed.
1t is needless to say that when the
moment my time of probation had cx.
pired. fingered no longer.
Contiding my patients to brother
physician on whose skill ] relied, |
took passage for New York at once,
and arrived there upon glorious Oc-
tober day, with heart beating Wildly
with the emotions which we're natural
ly born of the near approach Of my re-
union with my dear Helen.
| only fingered in the city long
enough to hanish the traces OF travel
from my person, and then, dressed as
becomingly as | knew how-for who
ever forgot personal appearances on
such an occasional jumped upon a
train of cars which ran through the
town where had parted, three years
ago, from my darling.
The time of the journey was four
hours-it seemed almost an eternity to
me.
| could scarcely wait for the train to
slacken speed when the town was
reached.
| strained my eyes to catch sight of
the poplars that grew above her dwell
ing and rather ran than walked down
the wide street which led to the green
land on which Mr.. Harrington's man
sion stood, when scene met my eyes
that transfxed me to the ground in
horror.
The poplars stood green and tall as
ever, but beyond them rose one ruined
wall, with empty windows, and at its
foot heap of rubbish, charred and
blackened, and telling as | thought of
a recent confagration.
was too much overcome to move
for many moments, but at last | sum
moned courage to make inquiries with
throbbing heart.
l walked up to an old woman who
stood at an opposite door, and asked
her if she could tell me where to find
Mr.. Harrington.
She shook her head.
No. che said; nor no one in the
place. They went away in the night,
and we've never heard of em. Perhaps
you're friend of theirs?'
Yes, yes, l gssped, tell me all you
know
You see Mr.. Harrington failed two
years ago, said the woman, and that
crushed him down, and then the bank
broke where he had little left after
things were settled, and then some one
set his house on fire, and he was so
burnt that he lost his sight, and they
couldn't bear, | suppose, to live where
they'd lived so we'll, as they'd have to
live, and SO they went away secret like,
and halnt been seen since, nor heard
of. They did say she was married,
but that may be nonsense, and some
say they're in New York, but its all
guess work. Why, how pale you look!
You are relation, are your
But | could not answer her. |
leaned against the doorway, faint and
ill.
1t was to hear this at last that ! had
struggled with fate and denied my
heart glimpse of her loved for all
these wears.
The old woman was right. No one
knew more than she. | went to New
York and searched for her for months.
| advertised. but all in vain.
At last believing that had indeed
been forgotten, and the tale of her
marriage was true, ! settled down in
that city as a physician, determined at
least to be worthy of her and to live
the life which had lived for her sake.
And so two more years passed with
out glimpse OF her.
One Christmas Eve, the fifth year of
our parting, I sat alone in my office,
and could have wept with loneliness.
What was the wealth and fame |
now might confidently hope to win, if
her smiles did not bless me, if no wife
ever sat beside my hearth, and no
child called me father? I began to
wonder whether 1t might not be bet
ter for me to find some woman worthy
Of respect and admiration, and bestow
upon her what remains of a heart |
had to give, ere I grew cold and sell
fish in my loneliness. And as l
Thought thus, woman came rapping
at my door to beg me to come at once
to Al --- street, where an accident
had happened.
/ hurried on my overcoat and hat