Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1869-02-17
The BEAUTYS CHOICE
BY ESTHER KENNETH.

! 0IO {" bIOAIc SSlIl ltbInGu TIOTeuce SdStlSiOn
1t was a romantic name, and she had TO
mantle Ssastory Her parents were dead
she was the heiress of their property, and
hada guardian. He had been in love with hel
mother, and was very jealous of the daugh-
ter's guardianship, treating her with arbi-
trary power, and teasing her quite as much
as pleasing her by his affection. Yet it was
quite exasperating to the young men to see
her lounging on his arm, and he hand
some bachelor of hardly forty. He board
ed at hotel she had Mrs. Hawley's pret-
tiest set OF rooms. They were furnished
| by herself, and most charmingly, in rose
| wood and blue damask. She had canaries,
and a paroquet, and King Charles SPAN
| iel, and a maid under her authority and It
was but short time after her arrival before
| every young man in the house was marked
| subservient to her.
She was very pretty. Her hair was of q
bright gold color, her cheeks rose-pink,
and her eyes always made me think of blue
larkspur, they were so deeply and glowing
ly blue. / have seen the sea show such a
color, but seldom anything else ; and they
did not change like the sea from blue to
gray and Tyrean purple they were always
that deep steady, unaItered blue. l have
seen her wear dresses and sacques of the
same shade
She was living romance heroine, and I
used to observe the little episodes she occa-
stoned in the house, with the expectation
that she would finally occasion some seri-
Gus rivalry or elopement, or break some
body's heart, and so give the material for
story. But for several months she pursued
the even tenor of her pretty way and
brought no one to grief, and began to
think no one was going to break his heart
for her, after all, and that the beauty of the
boarding house would not furnish me with
a story
There were four young men in the house.
Charley Childs, Fred Grove, Leonard Mar
tin and Dick Manchester-all bright, agree
able. marriageable-young men, and all all
mirers of Florence Castleton. Finally
there was another, but he was too plain
and bashful to be admitted TO the elegant
ranks of Miss Castletons galaxy of .beauy,
and no one thought of his being any ones
lover. His name was David Atwood He
was book-keeper, was plain in dress, and
evidently Strengthened in means. He had
one Of the smallest of Mrs. Hawley's side
rooms. spent all his days and most Of his
evenings in the office where he was employ
ed, never went to theatres or to the opera,
and possessed not the slightest style of
manner
Yet l noticed him from the first, as hay-
ing face Of great sense and kindness-a
face pleasant TO see, having so much seri-
ousness and strength with it's youth. Yet
it was very plain-the thin light hair falling
lankly about large pale forehead, the eye
brows being almost imperceptible the eyes
of a Hght-yellowish gray, the nose and
mouth large, and a characteristic blush
rising and paling continually. His smile
was sweet and pleasant he looked good
and many time have l turned from the
shallow brillancy of Fred. Grove and the
rattling gayety of Dick Manchester to OBJ
serve David Atwood, quietly reading, with
a sensation Of relief, that there was yet
some sound sense and real worth left in the
world.
The others laughed at him-he was so
f,,1 A.
ence Cnstleton often joined the laugh sill
verify yet no one offered. him any disre-
spect. Indeed, they all acknowledged him
to be ga good young man, but so homely
and awkward y
Florence Castleton had pretty voice for
singing, and used to play upon a guitar a
beautiful one iniaid with pearl which her
guardian had given Der. One evening af-
ter David Atwood had been at the house
about six weeks, she brought it down to
play. The young men gathered around to
sing with her Leonard Martin sang very
we'll and Charley Childs sang better.
While they were engaged in singing. David
Atwood came in.
Slipped into a corner and sat down in his
shy way, and was unnoticed until Dick
Manchester, who was restless for mischief,
called out
''Mr Atwood, won't you come and sing
with us p
Every one looked at Atwood. Iexpected
to see him blush and stammer, and mur-
mur an inaudible reply, but a new. express
sion had come upon his face since he had
entered the room,
'I do not sing" he said quietly.
''Nor play % asked Dick.
"Only upon the violin"
Florence was thumming her g1litar care
lessly.
"Wont Mr.. Atwood let us hear him play
upon his violin 2" asked Dick, glancing
J slyly at Martin, as if he was starting game
awaited Atwood's answer with a certain
degree of interest
Il have not used my violin since came
here. / will unpack it, if none of the