The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1875-07-29
PHILIP HUNTINGToN's CHOICE.
BY ISABEL GRANT-RoCHFoBD.

BY ISABEL GRANT-RoCHFoRD.
An odor subtle and sweet floated III
from the garden where the pink
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 nc
favorite of fortune, this little country
girl; but she wore her pink muslin with
a royal grace that duchess might have
envied.
A light, swift step upon the gravel
walk, and her city cousin, Maud De
Peyster, came close beside her, her hands
full of fragrant crimson roses. Her hair
was full of bewitching little kinks and
twists, and her dress, of some gauzy ma
terial, foated like cloud around her as
she walked.
"What demure little Puritan it is %
she said, gently caressing Roses sh;.:::ag
bands of bronze-brown hair. "I can
fancy that somebody's eyes would ad-
mire more than ever if l should enact
the role of fairy godmother and change
this plain attire to silken robes. | should
like to see a tiara of pearls among these
bonny brown braids. They would be-
come you marvelously well, my sweet
Rose"
But Rose who had no aspirations for a
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 Maud's face,
aud shook her head with a demure
smile.
''NO pearls for me-" she said, gayly.
"The only inheritance my father left nae
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.
/ shall expect nothing, and therefore, no
disappointment awaits me-"
"What contented little gooser" ex-
claimed Maud. 'fDo you know, if l
were in your place, should worry over
that affair day and night. A quarter of
amillion is no small stake"
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
strolled slowly down the walk till a
clump of shrubbery hid them from
view.
Il believe / will follow them" said
Philip to himself, as he threw away the
stump of his cigar, and snatched his hat
from the table. 1.-TWO of the loveliest
girls in Christendom, he murmured, as
he descended the stairs.
As he pronounced the last word he be-
came conscious 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 Grey, the house
hold factotum of the De Peysters.
Mourning IN their Affections, rejoicing
in their prosperity, chief priestess at all
the births and deaths in the family for
the past fifty years, the rising or falling
fortunes of the house were her one am
bition, to which she clung with faith
as loyal as ever was accorded to sover-
eighty itself
She put out her hand and stopped
Philip midway on the long flight of
oaken stairs.
'You say right, Young maGS,n. 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 whichis the bettrr
worth brave hearts winning? Either
would scorn dishonorable act, for are
they not De Peysters? But who has al
ways pleasant word for the servants
and is so gentle that the very dogs would
give their life TO her service? All, it is
only the old woman 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
generous and tender heart"
II 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? That Maud
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 weuld my lot be with either.
Where the other dear charmer awayP
Where can they have gone, l wonder ?'i
Where, indeed? In vain did he ex-
plore the winding path, which seemed
more intricate than the labyrinth that
led to the bower of the fair Rosamond
They were not to be found, so Philip re
traced his steps, singing in a fine tenol
voice as he went,-