Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1868 — Selected Story. [ARTICLE]

Selected Story.

PKJtFFCT LOVE.

BY FRANCES HENSHAW BADEN.

•‘Ahl l*t me "<ill bm IwcUbe tb« air, \ Tb« Btwnl sir that’* brssthed by ttxee; And c on U units wings it bear lUn«M of Death. *tu life to aw." “Doctor MMining, tell mo of my dearest friend and fcchood-mnte, Dora Anitin*" I asked. “Ypn were her physician. adviser end confidant; nnij I feel Here from no one else conld I obtain ho full and true a statement of the iweufo which transpired aftAr I letVher ten year* ago.” “When din von Hee her last?” “The whiter of 185-. I was with her, at the time of her engagement to Abner Grayavn. 1 remained until nf|cr the apiva! oi her cor. sin from Europe,” I answered. “1 was absent then, 1 have often wished t' know the particulars of those few tnontlin. T.-ll me, if you please, all that happened ■lining yonr visit, and then yon shall hear her sorrowful story,said the doctor. and rising he walked to the window tor a tew momchte—l think to conceal and calm hie limitation. He returned, seated himself, uid mentioned me proceed. < •As 1 told yop before, Dora and I were schoolmates. I accepted the invitation ■ dll n urged. Io visit her. and there met Abmr Grnrsqm.knew pf. .b jm. well. Kite would many times in our school days, tell me Kiiwiiandsnine. and tulwuted lie was. How kina to her. 1 knew she loved him: 1 mg belore she would admit it even toliers If. When I would tbll her so. site would . a ways answer, -I love him as if he was my orotaer, he has ever been us such to mo, .nothing else. We have grown up together. Our ■'Bi'jt:dion= jpin. Abner is such an ardwif adnrirer of beauty ; he could pever I >oV on one wowry-plain looking as I, witli any feelings, other than si tuple friendship,’ “I, had be n with Dora about a week; when one afternoon I was sitting rending in a deeply curtained window. •! was so absnrbed in my übok’. that T had no knowledge of any one entering Hie ronin, until my attention wan attracted by the deep, manly’ voice of Mr. Grayson, wooing Dora in sos). loving tours. • My first ide* was to let them know of m ; presence. Then 1 thought it would be L ;ter for me to remain quiet than to internipt them, at that moment no fraught with fond hopes and bright artioirfationa. “Thus it was I became a i»woc-r ’.otheir bitrothah • Dora stillclung to the. id l a that hocould not love her, because she was not beautiful She Raid: . ‘Abner, wait until you have seen my cousin before yon give your heart to me. You will surely love her better than you possibly can me. Remember how fond you were of her, years ago, in our childhood. far morn heii.Ht.iftd now. Papa say* she is the fairest woman he has ever seen. She is coming home to us. She is an orphan-now. Jvevt rmrath cho Will be here.*

“Then he enFwered her: “ ‘Ton dear, shy little bird—do not try -to fly «way, -Mid bid a» seek a mate of brighter pinmage! Gome nestle down beside me, love, and let me try to prove to you how lovely yon truly nre. 1 admire the beautiful, Dora, but I tore the good. I’ou are all and everything f would have you; nothing wanting. Iwould notehauge one feature, one. glance of yours, darling, for the Tairest woman on earth. I know your heart, how true and pure it is, and I must woo until I win it. Whisper te_in&. Dora, that you love me a 1::tl« • z ‘Ton ).-noir Ido love you, Abner. Who else have I had to love, since my childhood, but papa and yon! Yon have been p'-innate, friend and brother.' ‘■Excuse me, doctor, butthen came forth t e selfish, exacting nature of man, in the w >rds: ■ •• ‘Dorn, do not taljr of such love to me! Tis not as this T would be loved. I would hive you -t/j v<w«pot hrfsncv. lovc me not in fear*. But love me a« if life in tao* when I ain near." • Thus, or not at all. would I he loved.’ “ ‘Abtier,' she answered, ‘if you will tell me this again, after yon have seen Lillian, then L will be to von all you wish. 'Ycqtr happiness is dearer to rue than my own.’ •• ‘Theu you will soon be truly my 'own. Come, little one. look at yourself in this nurror. Why, truly, y< >u arc growing bcaut.ful. Ybureyesare beaming brightly, and now your cheeks tirelike blush roses? "He led her from the glass, and out on ' the piazza; and 1 escaped to my room. "Very devoted he continued to be: and Dot* really looked so happy that her plain fute became quite pretty. “The next month brought the beautiful Lillian Frost. ! -Lillian Frost! How wonderful were her name and nature adapted to each otherf—beautifully fair, and cruelly cold. "Dora’s fears proved true. Abner 1 ved Lillian and forsook her. I never knew the resujt to Dora. JL. quarried in a time, and never heard from her again. "Now, Doctor, you must go on and tell me what I am bo anxious to know.” “Oh; curse him! but for him she might have beenmine. -Pardon me, madam. 1 never knew of thife. I suspected, but never was certain, of an engagement. “Dora Austin was the only woman lever loved, save ray mother. I Vas touch older than she—by twenty yeais. I alway&feured Abner Grayson’ vas toy favored nytil- I returned from my travels, and found him on the, eve of marriage with Miss Frost. 1 thought I had mistaken their friendship for love. I placed my heart before Dora Austin. “In a true womanly manner, she told me that she had loved, and in all prob* bitity her heart would never Jniow another ove. . .he dismissed lher over, blit secufcd a true, firm friend* “About the time of the marriage, the yellow, fevey .was making sad havoc in our section. , Very few of the country folks went neartbe neighboring villages ortowns. Abner, eo blindly happy and busy hi prepare tiop for his. approaching nupitals, would go frequently into the town. “They were married, at Dora's home, and fnmiftdtafrh- Warted for. a Northern tour. ••Twenty-four hours had only passed, when -the terrible news reached ns that Abaer was ill with the fever; and was in a hospitifl about'thirty miles from us. \ fin Ji fwt hours wore, -Dil liwi yas Ixick again with Dora snd Mm Austin. ' r , “She had fled and left him. “Then, for the only time in mv life. I MW’Ppra Austin excised—Almost maddened. rlfft liim to suffer and, perhap* dieVlfh stfimgers. "You, his wife! Where are yourvoya, girfe? . Strewn to the m’Mn. ■ Shame! iitanie!‘ This is your love! y.ffit devotion! J Will teach you’ woman's < lendshh). J am going to him—to cbmyialEßiHyn/tettl him, with God’s bless|ng, return him to tha arm* of his<le-

“Her father and wv nt! ptaadvd ugiiiuxt this; but it was of no uhc. 'She <Uh r. ipiiuyl. I tried every way to indneu her to givo up the idea, but in vain. I offerrA-tn goand iemnin with him. Hh> Would uol, even listen, but jivoi ceded to make all hi I know idle would die it ahe did not go. Her moth.vr died of hmrt-diH-OiUM).* Shv ikefiTertion from her. Mr. Austin liwffMW / well; go he yielded. I shall never th J look of borrow on the old guntill■i£:dij|/|a.'v whenshi- ii-turmsl ’ for a second fnirrace and, throwing her armaaioimd him, oar—l lone end tenderly ftl his eyed, mid rAiJ.. •; 'You de*i*» good father' It will not lie long before we inert again, and be happier

Hiaiutiow’’ ' “ 'Come with me.’ elm sai l to met. "Wr yet.-' soon with the suffering man. The attack had been violent from the first Ho was entirely out of hi* ntnd—knew no one. He would Hasp DOm s -band and calf bar darling Lilly, ini must that sho should fest and not worry about him; idle must take care of hei self and not mar her beauty. Thau again ho would say. ‘Send for flora,'and wonder why she did not come and help his poor wile. ‘■And so he continued to tftktj bar for his wifi-—lavish on her word" of love, and roproaches that Dor..|wonld not c ur.e to him. ’•My heart was wtnngWrribly to aochow thia mistake wns striking a death-blow to the da voted gfrl. Her strengh was fnat giving way. I knew well if she trttnekeikwith the fever in her nrcsi-ut exhausted state, it mnsl prove nearly fatal. “She insisted that I should write her ‘will’. You know, in hot own right, she immensely wealthy. Her grandfather loft her —his oulyhcir—bin all. :■ l,i woa d< ep|ly impressed with tho bclicfshe ilioulddie. , “ Dear friaud, if I live, all right Isl die, not setting to right my lionsehuld. it would be nil very wrong,' ahe said, whoa I tried tn chase tluae gloomy thoughts from her mind. .She left fifty thousand dollars to jAbner it first child, and asked to have him or her whicheverit mightbe—named for her. “Another large sum she left-for the provision of her skives, and giving them tiieir . freedom t k, . ’ ———— “The" remainder she left to erect and snpixirt on her estate an asylum or hospital, and to be under my control and direction. ‘■•You must visit this institution. We Miled.it. 'The Austin Hospital.' “She did Hot sigh her 'will' the day it » was written, but said: “ ‘ln three days I shall bo twenty-one. I don’t think I shall be ill before that time.’ “It washer t.irth-diiy. She was sitting bi«ide • Alio *>iok man. He was slaepiiH*. She turned to nie and whis,Kred low: “ ‘When he awakes, he will be better, and probably know us. Ho will Jive; unlc.ss a severe shock is given him. Do not let him know stie fled, it he asks lor iier, I will answer him.' "It was as she mid. !!<• opened his eyes; his nnnd ras in the gaze. In n scare, ly audible voice lie. nd “ ‘Dora! where is Lillv? Have I been ill' “ ‘Lillian i safe now. Sho wa in some danger at one time. Yon will s*c her soon. You have been very ill. Don’t talk any more now.' “Yon willace, my dear madam, how she told the truth in her answer —but iir worth, of comfort and deceive him.' Again he whispered: ‘Dear, good Dora! Heaven bless yon! Y<m have sufrered for me. Yon look ill.go lie down.’ He licld out his hand she clasped it and said. “ ‘Yes, Abner. I will now, that you ar<s better. Ido uol le. lv. ry well. I'm tired a little. This is my birtb-day. Abner. Give your sister a kiss,’ and bent over and pressed her lips to his. She gave him a look long and earn. it. as she did her father, but of deeper love, and left his side. - “Sbelnever saw him more. “She sent for me very soon after, and for two other friends—signed, and had her ‘will’ witnessed. Then she grew rapidly ill. “Constantly during her illness, she would cry. ‘Do not tell him she lied! Do not let him know it, pluane. ’ And then again: ‘Do not think it was being with him that made me ill. It is not the fever, doctor, it is my bend. Yon know mamma died so.’ "She became conscious before she passed away, and said to me: ' ‘My best friend. I have loved one better, bnt trusted none as do you. God -bless you! I will watch and pray for your coming to meet me above. Promise mo that I shall not be disappointed!’ “The last vo ds she whispered were: “'Do udt worry about me, Abuer! It is my heart, not your sickness—not the fever.’ 4

“Truly so jt was her heart’s devotion. “I have afterrttrought I might have won .her .as she.had h.ved. lam endeavoring, by God's mercy, to meet her again. Sometimes I grow weaty of waiting for the summons, I care not for life, I have lived amongst the most dreaded diseases, wooing death. At times I feel forgotten, neglected, and wonder why I can not go with the many that are called. Then lam comforted. I feel her near me, and saying: ‘You must stay yon have your father’s will to do—his work to carry out.’ • • ‘Visit the fatherless, and widows in Their affliction. Heal the sick. - Have pity for the poor. Be merciful after thy power. Freely ye have received, freely give.’ “1 know she watches over and waits for me, and I am happy. “ ‘Tell me. Doctor, of him? Didheknow his wife fled? ••Most assuredly he did. She in het adorable excuses, told h.m too truly of the devoted love of this noble woman, whose heart he had so trifled with. “They are not happy. They have not deserved to be. I know that thoughts of Dora are seldom, if ever absent from the mind of either. “Lillian is ever thinking of the absent one. who saved her husband, by her own sacrifice—and dying tried- to shield her, from his reproach. “Abner is constantly brooding over the young life cut short: of the fond, true heart, with whose last pulsation came a thought of peace for him. "They have no children. This is a' great disappointment to both. I think it is well. “I should bo sorry to see a miniature of Lillian, bearing the name of Dora Austin.’’ “Thp doctor finished, and tlteii I thought: “Truly, there are men, worthy of all a woman's devotion. Had I not one beside me then!” —A'. J\J><7 ; /er. Touching Instance of Childish Devotion.—Three children in New Brunswick got astray. One was about six yearsofagc, and others four and three, It was a wild region, and in wild weather, and at the edge of thy night. From signs, it seems that the six year’s old soon felt sure that there was no hope of being found, or finding themselves that mgl t and sol- took nu-asnres at once for the sale-keeping of its little, ones. Putting them in the most sheltered nook it conld find it then stripped Sway the most of its ovrii garments to piit on them, and net out to gather dry seaweed and brush to cover them up in and defend them. Quite, a quantity of this hrtd l>een gathered and piled about the babes into a sort of nest, where they Iny when the people found them, still alive, but the six yeabold matron and martyr lay out on the shore dead of the cold—Jay beside the last pile of brush-it hsubbeen able to gather, but was not to bring it Pirates os the Ohio. —The Cairo Times says, Job the Ohio recently along she Jndiau'a shore a cralt, Iras been pursuing its way, in which veritable deeds of literal darkness have been committed. The crew, three men and two women,, have been navigating an old canal boat, ami haver been in the habit of decoying men on board, robbing and then kilhng them, giving Their bodies to the fishes. On Monday the boat was captured by a party from Evansville; after! a desperate resistance, and much stolen' money and goods, as well as hundreds of bushels of stolen whpaLwere found,' The Indianians have thd credit of having squelched p real set of river pirates. —The wood-wofk of the nyw suspension bridge at Niagara Falls is eomnleicd, and are crossing. -