Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-03
LOVE AND FORTUNE.

LIZ Ia AN IL Il OlbI O1H-
Goodbye, Helen" said the young
man, with flush of anger on his hand
some face, as he turned from his uncle
towards the pale girl standing in the
window.
Goodbye, Frank" she said listless-
ly prof1ering him a slender white
hand.
He took the hand, and, bending
over, lightly touched her forehead
with his lips.
She raised her head to address him
with forced effort, and he was gone.
1.-The young fool thinks he can defy
mel said Mr.. John Duncan angrily,
but with love and pity rising to his
kindly grey eyes as he bent them upon
Helen.
The latter was n rich old mans
adopted daughter, and in her seemed
cenIcred all his happiness. She was
his idol, and he had planned to make
her his heiress, or that she should
share all he had of this worlds goods
with Frank Duncan, his nephew. But
this latter contingency was to be that
these young people should have his
fortune together only as man and
wife
Helen Morley had been an orphan
ever since she could remember. She
had endeared herself to old Mr.. Dun
can by her sweet unselfish life and her
devotion to him as her benefactor.
She and Frank had been thrown
much together, as matter of course,
and old Mr.. Duncan, as he looked at
his fayorite nephew's handsome AMI
mated face and then at Helen's sweet
oval picture, framed by her mass of
bright hair, when the two were to-
gether declared to himself that they
were made for each other, and that it
was plainly the work of Heaven that
they ould have been thrown accident
ally in each others way.
But he had just now serious misgiv-
ings neither or not Heaven had any
thing 10 do with such a young scape-
grace rs his nephew.
He had just received terrible
shock, and he was stirred by anger,
disappointment, and pity for his fair
Helen.
Then, too, he was placed in so deli
cate position that he hardly knew
what t. say to her.
He had now no assurance that
Frank had ever spoken word of love
to this girl.
t'But he can't defy me with impun-
ity," growled the irate uncle, as Helen
had not replied to his first remark
about the young gentleman in ques-
ton. Il will not leave him q cent. |
will make new will He shall be a
beggar for all he'll get from me-" con-
cluded John Duncan, stamping his
foot fercely.
"Oa, fatherT said Helen appealing
ly. What has he done to anger you
SOP"
'Done?" shouted the old man, fairly
eXasperated by this question, forgetting
for the moment that Helen did not
share his news, and therefore indig-
nant that she should not join with him
in condemning the young mans helm
Gus crime. ''Done?" he repeated in
rising tones of freshly-kindled anger.
''What hasn't he done? Upset all my
plans. Destroyed all my happiness.
Tells me he's in love with that French
girl, Elsie Courtois, and that his happi-
ness, his very life, depends upon his
marrying her. And he has the effront-
cry to ask my approval of such a
ridiculous step
The old man paused at sight of
Helen, who had sunk pale and trem-
bling upon sofa. Her delicate
fingers were interlac~d, and there
was 4 look of such unutterable pain in
her face that even Mr.. Duncan's anger
fled before it.
Then with a sudden thought his
anger rose again, and he demanded:
HAS the villain deceived YOU,
Helen? Tell me the truth. BY Heaven,
if he has, I'LL"
"Oh, no. no; lie has never spoken to
me of -of--f
There, there, my dear, only wish
ed to know meant it all for your
good" said Mr.. Duncan tenderly.
Helen fled to her chamber to think
and TO recover if possible, from the
sudden blow she had received.
There had been no spoken words of
love between them for the three years
that Frank had been a constant visitor
TO his uncle's and yet she had thought
she had believed-yes, she had hoped
that the first love of her pure young
heart had found safe resting-place,
and that it was reciprocated by him,
although as yet not proclaimed, for
some good and sufficient reason on his
part.
But it was all over now. Her eyes
were open to the Notifying truth.
She cried for pure shame at first, then
for disappointment. Her face was all
afiame as she thought of the possibility
of the knowledge on the part OF others
of her misplaced love. Then heI
cheeks and brow became deadly cold
as she realized that her young hopes
were all withered and dead
When Mr.. John Duncan saw that
the light had gone out from Helen's
eyes, his anger towards his nephew
knew no bounds. He knew that
Frank had gone from his presence with
a fixed determination to win the girl
Elsie Courtois, if possible, in spite OF
all opposition.
And he knew that he could not speak