Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-01
THE BEST OF 1T.

CEDAR, June IS.
DEAR PHI-When are you coming?
Cedar is in full feather. Picnics set in
tomorrow strawberries Just right; two
delightful widows; lots of girls and the
whole house crying for you. Come
along by return mail. | meant to say
the picnic was day after tomorrow. |
shall be Mt the late train tomorrow.
Yours. "a usual. HARRY
Philip Norton laughed as he read this
letter. 1t was So like Harry Clarke
''Hal lIcadlong." his father used to call
him-the brightest, handsOmcst. gayest
fellow of his class ut Yale. now coun-
try doctor Mt Cedar. town in the west
crn part of New England. Having lost
all his property by rash speculation,
except his wifc's farm at Cedar, which
her father left her. the elder Mr.. Clarke
went there tn live. and one Of the local
physicians being near death with old
age, Harry thought Ii good place To be-
gin what he called his medicinal ca
reer.' being young man who had no
reverence for the English language. hut
made light of it. and used IL in his own
way rs another outlet for the overflow
ing fun of his nature.
Philip Norton had been his chum nj
college, and his friend ever since. AIe
was of gravcr nature. and had gons
the ministry. With the gifts Of Keen
intellect, ready language and good looks.
he found life easy enough, and his first
parish was in New York. where. in n
irst-class clearinghouse. he did not
seem so much modern apostle ~ a very
lucky man. But good fortune could not
spoil his earnest and truthful character.
He preached rs sharply to his flock Of
sinners rs ifhe had five hundred year
instead of five thousand, and did rs much
hard work among the city outcasts as if he
headed a mission TO the Digger Indians.
and lived in q shanty instead of Madam
Ralston's elaborate establishment.
He had just recovered from severe
attack Of typhoid fever. consequent on
some of these excursions into the dark
places Of the earth. when IIarry's letter
came, and was glad enough To accept his
invitation. There were only three
children in the Clarke family besides
HarTy--twin girls Of twelve and n
younger boy--and they all loved Philip
rs well as If they were his brother and
sisters instead Of his friends. There Is
something in a sudden Journey Of pleas
ure that is inspiriting, and when Mr..
Norton left the train at Cedar he felt
stronger and better, in spite Of the long
days ride, than FOR many weeks. and the
next morning declared himself quite
ready for the picnic, though Mrs Clarke.
motheTly soul. always devoted to her
"other boy" scolded him we'll for the
idea. But being persistent man. he
went his way. and by ten o'clock had
joined n gay party In the ear they had
chartered for the day and attached at
Cedar station to the train going to Pat
ton, n little village above whose quite
street lowered Gray Mountain. their
place of destination. Tie day was a
"day in June. fair rs ever poet cele-
brated. There were lifly pleasant people
pleasant for picnic. that is--and Philip
was put in charge Of a Mrs. Boyd.
"One Of the widows" Harry whisper
ed in his ear; n very bright. agreeable
woman. with n pleasant face. dressed
neatly enough In brown holland and n
black hat--a costume adapted to the oc-
casion. but not becoming. She was evil
IDENTIFY not vain. A few seats before them
sat a beautiful young woman, daintiy
dressed, though evidently she considered
herself in mourning: but the shower Of
soft. fair curls that dropped from the back
Of her head. the sparkling ornaments Of
cut jet, the rings on her little white hands
of pearl and diamond and ONYX, all
EtFHifn Ouh vi WIN Ait tfhIt UU
her dress and hat; and when that CO.
quettishly-looped head-gear was laid
aside, a triangle Of Grape. with the con-
ventional widows ruche about it, pinned
on with diamond and onyx pins, looked
real absurdity. and every woman in
the car laughed at Nan Boyd's attempt
to assert her widowhood; for this was
the other Of the two widows. Yet If she
was little absurd. who cared? When
ones skin is tinted with the warm glow
of pink apple blossoms, with lips scarlet
~ fresh Strawberries. great clear blue
eyes. delicate features. teeth Of pearl, and
abundant gilded-hax hair falling every
where In long loose curls, what does II
matter what one wears Nan Boyd
would have been lovely in brown hOl-
land and n cheap black hat. though her
cousin and sister-in-law was not
Nobody lIad ever supposed the Rev
erend Philip Norton was susceptible.
He bad never given tendcrer glano TO
any lovely girl in bis congregation than
The old woman who swept the cross
rR before his church: but he fell in
love like schoolboy during the next
six hours with Nan Boyd. Courtesy
obliged him to attend to the lady placed