North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-05-13

sne apprehended, would be OF service, and, as
In their intercourse she saw more of him, it
appeared still more important that she should
look pleasing in his eyes, diamond broach
was therefore added to her ornaments.
And when his character, his high attain
ments, his position and wealth were taken
INTO consideration, it might appear faudable
in her to strive for the distinction Of an alli-
ance with him and truly, her dreams had
never pictured form more manly, or face
OF such striking elOquence. She, also, pass
ed before him like a vision of beauty. There
was grace In her every movement, music in
her voice, and enchantment in her fantest
smile.
"She is lovclness ITSELF" said he almost
aloud. "My heart whispers that must see
more OF her"
They met often they danced sang and rode
| together.
IN = Oh !" thought she, as she recIned upon
a sofa, leaning her head upon her hand, st the
ideal OF the finest fancy would suffer in com
par;son with him"
The morrow was to be gala day. The
thought oft, of the long hours they might
spend together, filled her with sweet fancies
and she fell asleep. Her dreams were even
more enchanting than her waking musings.
Not only the morrow, bat long perspective,
of gala days opened before her, in which were
| heard the same deep tones that thrilled her
waking hours, and in which the flushing eve
and finely wrought features of Roland How
ard were interming led. It was a sweet
dream threaded with deep emotions. present
ing as her snowy bosom swelled in harmony
with hopes pulsations, an enchanting picture.
The morning came, and, as the forthcoming
picnis had been projected on the spur of the
moment, all was preparation. By the ar
rangement, Roland was to call with his car
rage for Kate and on he wings Of expecta-
ton he preceded his time full half hour
| She, more than usually precise, had not yet
| finished her toiet, and he was invited into
| The par, r, instead of which, however, he pre-
terred stepping INTO the garden, tn mixing,
| perhaps, that delicate white rosebud would
be an agreeable preface to a subject near his
| heart. Passing und an arch, overrun with
honey>uckIe, and turning an angle he came
| directly upon Clara, whom he had yer be-
fore seeu She held large bouquet before
her, admiring the flowers and inhalns their
fragrance. which prevented her from seeing
INN till the dewy roses brushed against his
cheek. SelEposSessed as Roland usually was
he was slightly embarrassed. and Ciara's cheek
became instantly the hue oE her Own roses
She would inevitably have appeared ridiculous
had not Roland's frank manner, combinded
with scaSonable word, set her at ease.
Truly novel Introduction to an agreea
ble lady" thought he as they conversed to-
gether " | was not aware" said he, turning
to her, " that Miss Hastings had visitor
Doubtless you arrived last evening, unless.
perhance, she withheld the information to
give Us all a sweet surprise"
81 am not transient visitor, but resi-
dent here"
"Then how is it possible that l never met
with you before ?"
"My own habits of retirement since the
death OF my parents have kept me entirely
excluded from society,"" was the reply.
He glanced repeatedly at her faultles fea
lures and natural grace, as he touched upon
other subjects, and listened to her ready re-
sponse. showing mind cultivated and intel
lectual. TIE thought arose in his mind that
Kate, to be insensible to the merits of such
a charming companion, must lack many of
the requisites of refined and sisterly affec-
ton; a." and surely" said he, &" she has never
once mentioned that such being existed"
Anxious to discover mere Of her mental quail
ties in the short time allotted 10 them he in
trudueed a variety Of subjects, all Of which
were entered into with delicacy and spirit by
Clara. He instantly recognized resem
blance between her and Kate. IF the latter
was beautiful, Clara had inherited beauty
from like source. Had coronet graced
her brow, and robes of state adorned her per-
sor, she would have stood a queen among
Queens but even then one might ask I" would
she be more beautiful than in her robes of
simple white ?
Roland extended an urgent invitation to
her to accompany them as Kate entered the
parlor, but she modesiy declined.
Kate was surprised to find her cousin |
composedly in conversation with one whom
she must have met by accident, and Roland
took the oppo rtunity to elicit more Of her |
history. The day was uncommonly beauti- |
fu the ride exhilerating, and nothing trans
pired to mar the harmony of the occasion.
Many times, in the course of the day, did the |
sweet angelic face Of Clara present itself TO
Roland's mental vision, and many times did |
he suggest motive for the apparent neglect
with which she was treated by her cousin.
He had thought himself in love with Kate.