Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-12-13

~aNA@ y 9Aefos - 1NNeAHS
him little
The gruff old lawyer had in a
sense taken Helen under his care
since Mr.. John Duncan's death, and
watched her welfare with a jealous
eye. So, when Frank presented HIM
self, he sail, brusqnely: you are cut
off without ashilling, young man, and
you deserve it,
Frank colored, but felt the justice
of the rebuke; but he ventured; 'And
Helen, Miss Morley2
'0h, she is provided with a moder-
ate annuity. Tee rest goes, ] be.
lieve, to some institution, ahem, said
the lawyer, choking a little at the fib.
Thank heavenl' said Frank, i'm
pulsively.
The old lawyer sprang to his feet in
a passion, and, facing the astonished
young fellow. shouted: You thank
heaven then that she ls a beggar, too,
do your
4 am glad that l may go to her and
comfort her, and be to her what l
once was, without suspicion that l
come from mercenary motives, said
Frank exultantly
'Ahem! That's all right young man.
But you must be aware that your past
conduct doesn't recommend you very
highly. l speak plainly, for Helen
Morley is my ward.
Frank WINGED under the lash, out
all che same he was resolved to bear it
in silence, and the scales had fall
en- from his eyes now, and he re-
membered trifing incidents in thier
lives, Helen's and his own, which lead
him to believe h. had thrown away a
pearl.
He would seek to recover it again,
and was glad that the impediment of
money did not bar the way.
He knew full we'll that his foolish
infatuation for the gay superficial
Elise, which he had mistaken for love,
would prove a formidable obstacle;
but with youth, repentance. persever-
ance and an earnest devotion to his
purpose, he hoped to win Helen's es-
TEEN first, and afterward, perhaps, her
love.
'Confound the young scamp, he's
got good points after all, growled
Somers.
And so Helen thought when the old
lawyer told her about it, and made
her understand how difficult it would
be to keep Crank long ignorant of the
provisions Of his uncle's will.
Three months are brief measure
of time as the ages roll onward, and
yet three short months are sometimes
so crowded with events bearing di-
rectly upon our lives that years, aye,
an age, are as nothing in comparison
Three months OF penitence, OF un-
obtrusive devotion to Helen, of evil
dent shame for his past conduct, and
an unmistakable determination to
atone for it if possible, on the part of
Frank Duncan, wvn' the callous old
lawyer to believe IN his sincerity.
And, better than all, it began to
tell upon the hard wall of reserve that
had grown up between Helen's un-
quenched love and her pride, till it
fairly crumbled away.
You forgive me at last, Helen; but
can never forgive myself for being
so stupidity blind and for having
caused you years Of pain besides, said
Frank tenderly.
Let the dead bury the dead, Frank
but let us who now again live, live
only in the present, and hope for
compensation for our past sorrows in
the FUTURE
And l thank Heaven, that l did
not have to try to WOO you as an heir
ess. l will work for you, and we will
be happy
Helen colored and was silent for a
moment. Steps were heard in the
hall. and Mr.. Somers was announced.
Cut off without farthing and yet
happy, apparently said the lawyer,
brusquely, taking out a legal docu-
ment and reading; And if Frank
Duncan forsakes his foolish object
and marrys my adopted daughter,
Helen Morley, within three years and
six months from the date of this tes-
lament, do bequeath to him half my
fortune
Better than you deserved, young
man.
Helen blushed as Frank caught her
in his arms.
Nervous Diseases.
There are more nervous than blood