Year: 1859


Stephens, as gaily dressed young lady passed
by his office window, one balmy May morning
Very gracefully was the mantilia folded about
her pretty person, and very gracefully and dainti-
ly her light feet pressed the graveIed sidewalk /;
yet there was an air of haughtiness in the carri-
age of her head, and in the flash of her cold blue
eyes, which was not quite so pleasant to the
searching glance of the young lawyer


He had spoken truly Helen Fowler was an
elegant girl in face, FORM and mind, but as often
happens, that meagre word elegant described her
thoroughly. Underneath her mere elegance
there was nothing to be unfolded, fower-like by
the sunshine of friendship and love. Her edu-
cation was elegant-not varied nor profound. -
She could speak the French language excelently
she could dance enchantngly, and play graceful
ly all the fashionable music of the day. In man
ners she was faultless in conversation the quick
ness of her wit generally concealed the shallow
and her heart too yet she was an elegant girl,
and the only daughter of the richest man in the
fourishihg village of Weston.


She had scarcely turned the corner, when an
other young form appeared, and another light
footstep sounded beneath Harrys window. But
this figure, though dressed with neatness and
grace was not so gaily robed as that of the heir
ess who had preceded her, nor did she bear her.
self with such an air of conscious beauty. But
Just as she passed the window she looked up,


l., IL,
that his book fell from his grasp unheeded, and
he watched her retreating form, until she was
out OF sight.


+" Helen Fowler is certainly an elegant girl +"
he said, as he paced up and down his Office floor
"but Agnes Bryan is something more. Helen
is rich, proud and graceful; Agnes is poor in
worldly wealth, simple in manners, yet rich in
graces of the heart and intellect. Helen would
shine in the loftiest station to which / could ev
er attain, Agnes would be household angel to
the rich, or the poor man. At which shrine shall
bow-that of wealth or worth ?"


And leaving him to decide this momentous
question, we will inform the reader that Harry
Stephens had lately located himself at Weston );
and being now established liz business, anG able
to have home of his own, he was looking about
him in search of wife Two only of the village
girls had yet found favored place in his
thoughts-if the truth were told, great many
were ready to smile upon him. These two, He
len Fowler and Agnes Bryan, he had met several
times at the social gatherings of the village and
he admired both He called once at the house
of each, when he was charmed by the animation
of the other Both received him graciously, for
in the eyes of both he had found favor. Tho
one acknowledged this to herself boldly, the other
felt the admiration which she would not confess
Helen liked him because he belonged to an aris-
tocratic family, and possessing a pleasing and
polished manner Agnes, in listening to his elo-
quent and varied conversation, had discovered
that there was chord In his soul and in hers
which vibrated to one and the same harmony.


After both graceful forms had disappeared,
Harry suddenly remembered that he was invited
to social party that evening, where he would
undoubtedly meet the two who had lately occu-
pied so large space in his thoughts, for Helen
Fowler being the belle of the village, was always
invited, and he knew that Mrs. Temple, who
gave the party was warm friend of Agnes.


"I will choose tonight y said he, whether I
shall offer my suit at the feet of the beautiful
heiress, or at the heart Of the lowly but lovely
music teacher"


At night, if Harry Stephens had been gifted
with pair of magic spectacles, making brick
walls and closed blinds transparent he might
have seen Helen Fowler in her dressing room
standing irresolute amid profuson Of silk, laces
and jewelry. From one rich robe she turned t(
another saying softly to herself


~ wish | knew which are his favorite colors
thought he looked admiringly at this purpl,
satin the other evening, but the pale blue is be
coming. / must look as beautiful as | can to