The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-06-24
PH1L1P HUNTTNaToN.s oHoICE.
BY ISABEL GRANT ROCKFORD.

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BY ISABEL GRANT ROCKFORD.
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 beds, herself the sweetest flower
of all.
She was plainly dressed, for she was
no fsvorite of fortune, this little country
girl bat she wore her pink muslin with
a royal grace that a duchess might have
envied.
A light, swift step upon the gravel
walk, and her city cousin, Maude De
Peyster, came close beside her, her
hands full of fragrant crimson roses.
Her hair was full of bewitching little
kinks and twists, aud her dress, of some
white gauay material, fOated like a
cloud around her as she walked.
What a demure little Puritan it ISL
she said, gently caressing Roses shin
ing bands of bronze-brOwn hair.
can fancy that 'somebodys' eyes would
admire more than ever if I should enact
the role of fairy godmother and change
this plain attire to silken robes. 1
should like to see a tiara of pearls
among these bonny brown braids. They
would become you marvellOusly well,
sweet Rose.
But Rose, who had no aspirations for
fashionable Efe-the life wherein her
gay cousin won her triumphs as a belle
only turned her brown eyes, frank
and fearless as q child's upon Maude's
face, and shook her head with demure
smile;
No pearls for ne, she said, gayly.
The only inheritance my father left
me was troublesome lawsuit, which it
has Impoverished the De Peysters to
prosecute, and it would be little short
of a miracle should it terminate favor
ably. 1 shall expect nothing, and,
therefore. no disappointment awaits
me-"
''What a contented little gooser' ex-
claimed Maude. "Do You know, if
were In your place I should worry over
that affair day and night. A quarter of
4 million is no small stake"
And putting her arm caressingly
round the 'litlle goose, who was the
one object on earth for whom the gay,
worldly belle felt particle of love or
faith, they strolled slowly down the
walk till a elump of shrubbery hid
them from view.
81 viii follow them," said Philip to
himself, as he threw away a stump of
his cigar, and snatehcd his hat from
the table.
1.-TWO of the loveliest girls In Chris
tendon " he murmuEed, as he de-
scended the stairs. And as he pro-
nounced the last word he became con-
scious of the mortifying fact that he
had been overheard.
Straight before him, not two feet
distant, her black eyes shining bead
like in the dusky twilight. stood
Keziah Gray, the household factotum
of the De Peygters.
Mourning with them IN their afflic-
tions, rejoicing in their prosperity,
chief priestess at ell 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 chung with faith as loyal as
eygr 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 q
gift from divinity. But which Is the
best worth brave hearts winning
Either would scorn a dishonorable act,
for are they not De Peysters But who
has always q pleasant word for the
servants and is 50 gentle that the very
dogs would give their life to her service?
An. il is only the old womsn who can
tell you that, young man Any one
can see the beauty Of a lovely face, but
only the needy and friendless know the
beauty of q generous and tender heart.
81 do believe the old creature is half
demented, said the young man to him
self as he ran down the steps. - What
the deuce can she mean Ih4t MRude
is the soul of truth and innocence, no
one could doubt; and I could swear
that Rose never felt an impulse that was
not tender and womanly.
All, how blest would my lot be with either,
We're the other dear oharmer away ]"
s'Where can they have gone, Won
Where, indeed2 In vain did be ex-
/ plore the winding path, which seemed
/ more intricate than the labyrinth that
/ led to the bower Of fair Rosamund.
| Thy we're not to be found, 50 Philip
/ retraced his steps, singing IN q dne
tenor voice as he went
'sIn the dark, in the deE.
Al nay soul goes OCT 70 You
but no voice answered the lovo-loEn
/ paint.
Down where the waters of the foam
| in1 river dashed and tumbled over the
rossks in q cataract Of siIveTy spray
stsolled Maude and Rose, deep in an
exchange Of giFiish condolences.
- And you could think of marrying
that old manf" said Rose, in innocent
wonder. g What q strange girl you are,
/ Maude r.
MOnly As q dernier resort. my dear,
replied Maude's cool, clear tones.
{" Old Guy Jeffords himself would not
be much OF a prize certainly, but he Il
a veritabls Midas. whose touch trans
forms everything into gold. Besides
she stopped with sudden fright ct {
figure which confronted them. An old,
bent woman, whose attenuated form
vs. but poorly protected BY her tori
and scanty raiment, held eut q tremb
ling hand. and, in = whining piteoul