The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-06-08
slflisrfnang.
Huntington's Choice.

Philip Huntington's Choice.
BYIsABEL GRANT-RocHFoRD
z An odor subtle and sweet foated up
from the garden where the pinks and
roses opened their leaves to the evening
air, and Philip Huntington, smoking his
evening cigar on the balcony, saw Rose
De Peyster walking among the flower
teds, herself the sweetest flower of all.
She was plainly dressed, for she was
|Hb favorite Of fortune, this little coun-
Ftfy girl; but she wore her pink muslin
with royal grace that q duchess mighN'
have enyied. go 8
A light, swift step upon The gravel
walk, and her city cousin, Maude De
Peyster, came close beside her, her
bands full Of fragrant crimson roses.-
Her hair was full of bewitching little
kinks and twists, and her dress, of some
white gauzy material, floated like a
cloud around her as she walked.
"What demure little Puritan it is"
she said,gently caressing Roses shining
bands of bronze brown hair. 81 can
fancy that somebody's eyes would ad-
mire more than ever if / should enact
the role of fairy godmother and change
this plain attire to silken robes [
should like to see tiara ofpearls among
these bonny brown braids. They would
become you marvellously well, sweet
Rosep
But Rose, who had no aspirations for
fashionable life-the life wherein her
gay cousin won her triumphs as belle
-only turned her brown eyes, frank
and fearless as child's, upon Maude's
face, and shook her head with demure
smile.
"No pearls for me-" she said, gayly.
"The only inheritance my father left me
was troublesome lawsuit, which it has
impoverished the De Peysters to prose
cute, and it would be little short of a
miracle should it terminate favorably.-
I shall expect nothing, and, therefore,
no disappointment awaits me-"
"What c6rtented little goose" ex-
claimed Maude. 'sDo you know, if /
were in your place l should worry over
that affair day and night. A quarter Of
million is no small stake"
| And, putting her arm caressingly
round the 'little goose" who was the
one object on earth for whom the gay,
worldly belle felt particle of love or
faith, they stroiled slowly down the
walk till clump of shrubbery hid them
from view.
II will follow them," said Philip to
himself, as he threw away the stump of
his cigar, and snatcaed his hat from the
table
1.-TWO of the loveliest girls in chris
tendomm he murmured, as he descen-
ded the stairs. And as he pronounced
the last word he became conscious of
the mortifying fact that he had been
overheard.
Straight before him, not two feet dis
tant, her black eyes shining bead-like in
the dusky twilight, stood Keziah Gray,
the household factotum Of the De Pey-
sters.
Mourning with them in their affiic-
tions, rejoicing in their prosperity, chief
priestess at all the births and deaths of
the family for the past fifty years, the
rising or falling fortunes of the house
were her one ambition, to which she
clung with faith as loyal as ever was
accorded to sovereignty itself.
She put out her hand and stopped
Philip midway on the long fight OF
oaken stairs.
"You say right, young man." she
whispered. "Both are lovely; one by
the divine right of nature, the other by
the exercise of that taste which is gift
from divinity. But which is the best
worth brave hearts winning? Either
would scorn dishonorable act, for are
they not De Peysters? But who has
always pleasant word for the servants
and rs so gentle that the very dogs
would give their life to her service p
All, it is only the old woman who can
tell you that, young man! Any one
can see the beauty of lovely face, but
only the needy and friendless know the
beauty of generous and tender heart. "
81 do believe the old creature is halt
demented," said the young man to him
self as he ran down the steps. "What
the deuce can she mean2 That Maude
is the soul of truth and innocence, no
one could doubt; and ! could swear that
Rose never felt an impulse that was
not tender and womanly.
"Ah, how blest would my lot be with either,
Were the other dear charmer awayw
! "Where can they have gone, won
der p
! Where, indeed2 In vain did he ex.
|plore the winding path, which seemed
more intricate sthan the labyrinth that
led to the bower of fair Rosamund.-
They were not to be found, SO Philip
retraced his steps, singing in fine tenor
voice es he went:
"In the dark, in the dew,
All my soul goes out to you"
But no voice answered the love-lorn
plant.
Down where the waters Of the foam.
ing river dashed and tumbled over the
rocks in q cataract of silvery spray
strolled Maude and Rose, deep in ar
exchange of girlish condolences.
Sand you could think of marrying
that old man ?" said Rose, in innocent
wonder. "What strange girl you are
Maudev'
. "Only as dernier resort, my dear,
| replied Maude's cool, clear tones. "Oll
Guy Jefords himself would not be
much Of prize certainly, but be is 8
Q veritable Midas, whose touch transforms
E everything into gold. Besides"
r She stopped with sudden fright at
!. figure which confronted them An old
;, bent woman, whose attenuated form wa
, but poorly protected by her torn ant
e scanty raiment, held out tremblin!
E hand, and, in whining, piteous tone
$ begged aim "for the love of heaven"
q at would be sorry pretence o
J. piety," laughed Maude, in good-humor
: ed scorn, "to bestow charity on such a.
t t)you Irecognize the professional whin
! (which proves youto be no stranger t.
+ the calling You have chosen poo
e place for your trade, good woman. Yol