Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-01

gent, klndiy, W1tn IN uIttsL y 'ye tei t''
wonderful scenery about them, ana more
over n generous woman; for when Philip
| asked her, ms carelessly as he could put n
question that thrilled his lips, who the
Beauty before them was, she answered,
NV cousin and sistcr-iR- R-law-anothcr
Mrs. Boyd. Isn't she lovclyp / like To
look at her rs do mt flower; she is so
exquisite"
Mr.. Norton assented gravcly. and turn
ed the conversation. His head whirlcd,
his eyes wandered; he could not talk
with any sort of ilucncy; he was be-
witchod by the pretty widow. She,
| however. had her own court to hold.
Butterflies never Guttered more thickly
| about the gay weed that bears their
name than the gentlemen Of the party
about Nan Boyd; for, to tell the truth,
this lovely creature was native CO.
quettc. II was ~ much matter of
course for her TO iiirt with every man
who came near her ~ il II for rose to bc
fragrant; and she had that charm. sub
tier than beauty. which is potent with
out but Irresistible with il.
1t was Il provcrb in Cedar that no
youth ever grew To manhood there who
had not adored Nan Boyd. Her cousin
| Anne was very different. She had come
made up her mind 10 select Will Boyd
as permanent victim from the crowd
about her, and she found her own fate
| in Wills twin-brother James. The
cousins. however, were not married at
the same time Anne could not leave
her father, for her mother had died Just
after her return from Cedar; but before
many months her father went too. and
there was very quiet wedding at her
lonely home, and brief journey back to
Cedar, where Nan, already six months
wife, was ready to welcome them.
Anne Boyd found too late that she had
| made mistake She could not be hap
| BY with her husband. He was ungra-
cious-harsh. indcc-dthough he had
! seemed Ia her only reserved and fastidi-
Gus; scll8h. pcnurious, Mt times i'll
| tempered. When he died. n year after
! their marriage. and from the curious
/ physical sympathy common with twins.
! VIII died too. neither of the widows
was heartbrokcn-Nan from pure leyity
of nature, Anne from no sense of loss.
hut rather Of relief. Since they both
lived at Cedar. there hnd been much
confusion of names between them, Anne
Boyds both but Wills widow was
always called Nan by hcr old friends
and bearing her gTundmothcr's full name
Anne alone. there was n way of escape
for those who were we'll Informed; the
others took their chance
As the lovely summer DAYS went on.
and Philip Norton was involved more
and more in the simple gnyctics of
Cedar, whose inhabitants cousolcd them
selves for their long cold winters with
plenty of outdoor life and enjoyment I'm
the brief summer months. he became
more and more bswitchpd with Nan
Boyd. Her beauty stood the test Of sun
and air. heat, fatigue and daily nbserva-
tion; IL was as genuine and rral as the
roscnte splcndor of the mountain laurel.
whose mink bells illustrated and iliumi.
mated every hill about the village. and
shonc with light like dawn through the
edges of the dark woods.
Then she WAS graceful. genial. kind:
always ready to get up or 10 join party
of pleasure; willing 10 sing IL singing
was wanted: To make wrraths for other
girls-wreath- she could not wear. for
the sake of that typical triangle: she
never seemed tired. dull. or addressed:
in short, Mr.. Nnrton believed her real
angel. and threw all the strength of his
honest, deep nature into his passion for
this lovely little creature. An unpraju-
diced obsCTyCr-of course n womnr-
might have deCricd the sharp thin voice.
the shallow laugh. the mare sclhshncss.
of this angel. and suspected that this gay
blossom would show no adequate iruit
when its petals fell hut Philip Norton
had M such slandcruus thought i'm his
heart. Such external charm was To- him
only the expression of inward beauty
Experience might have taught him bet
ter. but he was not just now nmcnable to
cxpericnce--he was in love. lie liked
Mrs. Anne Boyd much; n he became
better acquainted with her. her really
sweet and fine character had its effect on
him, and he enjoyed an hours Cunyersa-
tion with heT-whcn Nan was not at
hand-thornughly. She was one Of those
people who have that rare charm. deli
cate and mClndious voice. with wonder
ful command Of language and being
withal perccptiye. bighmindod aud Of
dcep feeling. she was q most fascinating
companion even 10 q man in love. Harry
Clarke. too. was devoted 10 Nan Boyd.
IL had been n childish lover of hers DIR
ing hi, youthful visits TO his grand
fathers farm at Cedar, and now the first
love seemed to have rc-nwakcncd. He
was ut her side everywhere. and il his
professional life had been anything bul
that of n beginner, his practice would
have suffered; n il was. his rivals suf-
fered instead. for either out Of the fimil-
iarity ofold friendship or the mere caprice
Of her disposition. Nan chose Ia parade
Harry rs her cavalier more and more
frequently.
Philip Norton was plunged In despair
| by this state Of things; he could not in
honor or decency come forward as n
rival to his best fri' nd in that friends
house his affection for Harry. his sense
of the proprietics, all forbade his ex-
pressing in any way his passion for this
enchantress. lie kept away from her
charmed circle as far rs possible; he
talked much to Mrs. Annie Boyd. be-
cause she was Mans cousin. II i well
| TO be near the rose if you are not rose
| yourself for there Is Mt least the neigh
| borhood of its bloom and perfume TO
attract adorcrs. Still. he plunged daily
| further and further into this gulf Of
bitter-sweet passion. till one moonlight
4 Il