North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-01-31

TOP tney all sat Gown to rest. One or the
party, a mischievous looking girl, after sur
veying the group before her, whispered
something to Jennie Cooper, who nodded
and laughed in reply. Laurence, who had
caught his own name, laughingly demand
ed that the whisper should be repe ated
aloud, and Jennie who never took thought
of her words, at once complied.
"She says that you and Alice, both be-
ing light, and Miss Holland and Mr.. Miller
just the reverse, are ms-mated, and lose
half your effectiveness for want of contrast.
And for my part, pursued Jennie half
shutting one eye, and gazing meditatively
at the objects of her structures, 81 think she
is quite right
Laurence laughed. Miss Holland glanc-
ed at hlm, but he did not once look her
way, "What pity" he SAID, lightly, "that
we can't regulate our likings to suit your
artistic eye, cousin Jennier'
Anna Hollands face for moment grew
dark, but the pallor instantly passed away
with the emotion, whatever it was, which
caused it. When they resumed their
march her cheek wore its usual brilliant
color. Edward Miller for his own req sons.
suffered the general party to go on so far
in advance that he lost sight of it, and turn
ed in the wrong direction When this fact
was discovered-Which was not until they
had proceeded some distance--thcy paused
upon rising ledge of rock to look for the
rest. Now there was a certain question
which Edward Miller had been longing to
ask, and had planned this very wandering
in order the better to ask it. So upon the
first opportunity, he spoke what was in his
heart, with tervor and sincerity to which
his companion listened, sorrowful and
ashamed. How little she seemed to her
self at that moment, in the light of truth
which revealed but to plainly her own mo-
tlves. She had won the love of a noble.
manly nature-not with deliberate inten-
ton, certainly, but, while her fascinations
were Turing on her victim, she had taken
neither thought nor care for the possible
No, she felt, with keen
sting of consciousness, that with her the
end had been everything the means moth
ing, But since, through her cupable care
lessness, this love was gained and could
not be rePressed by any of hers, what re-
turn could she make for it? Could She
marry one man conscious that her love be.
longed to another! If she had wronged
Miller, already, would not this be far
deeper wrong? She shrank from it. and
resolving to tell him everything, and cast
herself upon his generosity, she lifted her
head to speak, but as she did so the sight
which met her eyes drove from her mind
the purpose of moment before, to fill its
place with bitterness. Walking leisurelv
down the narrow path, talking with low tone
and lingering glance, and what seemed to
Anna's watchful gaze a most lover like as
pect, came Alice Walsh and Laurence
Denvers. That moment charged the cur
rent of Annals thoughts, and redoub!ed the
intensity Of the feelings she had lust con.
quered. Why should she show the faith
she could not find elsewhere ? Since Ed
ward Miller loved her truly, she had right
to accept the happiness he offered her
Reasoning, or rather blindly feeling, thus,
she gave him hasty answer-an answer
wherein she betrayed herself no less than
him.
Presently Alice lifting her eyes, became
aware of the presence of others near at
hand, and after moments hesitation the
new conner ascended the ledge.
"Do We interrupt a tete-a-fefe 2" asked
Alice, mlschievousl y, as she sat down.
Not unless it is your own,' replied An
na carelessly and somewhat scornfully.-
Alice colosed, for her shaft had rebounded
upon herself; but Laurence Denvers look
ed keen y from one to the other. His
quick perception instinctively felt that there
had been some change in the relations of
the two before him. Why he thought So,
he could scarcely have told, for Miller had
too much good taste to parade devotion,
and Anna wore her society mask. Still, an
indescribabIe something warned Laurence
of what had taken place Perhaps his
glance was more observant than another's
would have been; be that as it might, he
was moody and distrait all the way home,
and no very entertaining companion for
Miss Walsh.