Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-11

Make the best of it, " laconicaly answered
Philip
bad is the best of such a mistake, Phil
Are there no divorce courts, my friend and
pitcher?"
Philips face darkened Not for me- If
had married Hecate by mistake as Rachel
says, l would try and make the best of her
Any thing rather than divorce that is un-
christian and unmanly both"
Good for you, parson You haven't for
gotten your old trick of accepting the situa-
ton. Make the best of it, was the theme
of this distinguished gentleman's valedictory
address, my dears, on that glorious day when
he became the proud possessor of a sheep
skin, like the immortal Brian OLynn, only
the woolly side was out he pulled that over
the professors eyes, and thereby get all the
honors, while my honest worth went unre-
warded"
Here the gate swung open, just in time to
prevent further burst of Harry's eloquence,
and boy with n telegram came up to them
1t was for Philip. One of his most valued
friends and supporters in the church was dy-
ing, after a brief illness he must see Mr.
Norton. There was no delay possible, and in
the morning train very early Philip went,
leaving such adieu as he could for Harry to
deliver, and carrying with him triumphant
sense that neither honor nor honesty need
seal his lips now he could tell Nan Boyd the
love that possessed and consumed him. and
surely so stringent a passion must compel re-
turn.
But he found his friend in the very ago
MES Of death and in the atmosphere of grief
and pain that surrounded him, after the So
lemnity of death. in the care and helm of the
forlorn family, and the services of burial
more than "A week passed away before he
could write the inportant letter and when il
was once gone his courage failed. suspense
racked and tortured. he could not eat or sleep.
and on the fourth day he sat before the be.
ginning of his sermon totally unable TO get
further than the first sentence. waiting fever
ishy for the letter carrier to to bring him life
or death. But the message was merciful: a
sweeter letter. to his thought. was never writ
ten: modest reticent. vet with a tone of
deem feeling il promised To the heart far
more than it said TO the eve. and nut him in
to a state of grateful rapture that crept into
the DELAYED sermon. and made n sensation in
the parish when that precarious discourse
was at length finished and delivered. For n
few weeks freauent letters were exchanged
hut at the lady's reouest notbino was said Of
any fxed enpapement She wished She said
to know little better the man tn whom her
future life must he hound philip had heard
that Will Boyd had not been altogetLer de-
voted TO his wife. and appreeiated nj once the
sense and d,licacv M her reserved eynression
of feeling in tbc matter In September he
received brief mote follovinp a lonpsr let-
tor IN sa, that She and her c0usin had botb
been called to California To n sister-in. LAWS
hurried wedding Dr clarke was to 90 with
them os nm sscn1t and groonsmon to his old
friend DIR Fldridpe and Nan wished Mr.
Morton 10 know tLev we're poinp-wopld he
gone when The pote reached him in order TO
account for his own letters being unanswered
for their brief STAY in san Francisco would
not hermit the mails to he usef,il IN thcm II
seemed as if Fate sported will poor Pbilip
for not two days passed before he too receiv
ed a summons to travel directly the other
way his only living relative an aunt in Eu-
rope. WAS seized with severe illness. and tele-
graphed for him at once. He sailed by the
next steamer, and found Mrs. warne at the
point of death; but the pleasure of seeing her
nephew seemed to rouse her and waken her
vitality she grew little better week after
week. but was sent southwark as she recover
cd, and at last TO Egypt It was May before
Mr. Norton brought her back to New York
but by this time it had been agreed in the few
letters that had been received by him in his
constant transit from one place to another
that without any formal announcement Of en-
gagement, Nan should be ready to marry him
at once on his return. So having previously
telegraphed her, he arrived in Cedar the last
day OF May, late in the afternoon, and instead
Of going to Mr.. Clarke's, went to the little ho-
tel and as soon as might be betook himself to
Mrs. Boyd's house.
He stood moment after being shown into
the parlor, his heart wildly throbblng with
hope and agitation, when the door opened
and in walked Mrs. Anne Boyd. She glided
up to him with face so full of blushiug emo
ton, he thought she came to congratulate
him, and with the affection engaged people
have for all their relatives in prospect, lie
stopped and kissed her fresh sweet lips.
How did you know where to find me ?"
She said. blushinp. Il forgot to tell YOU in
my letter that had been living here the past
wear. When Nan was married she left me in
charge"
Married Nam" echoed the gentleman,
aghast.
"Oh. YOU must have missed the letter |
sent TO Nice telling Won all about il She
married an Enplishman. living now in Bos
ton. and they went abroad to see his friends"
The truth flashed on him like n stroke of
lightning. il was Anne with whom he had
corresponded Anne 10 whom he was en-
,,o,,.d Anna be ,yos evnectad 10 ,no-,-,,
Nan was lost IN him forever He turned verv
male and reached his hand toward the table
for sunnort Anne tboupbt he was faint
With fender haste She nusbed a chair toword
him gently nut him into il and noured a
few dTons of COLOGNE from n fosk on tbo IA.
HE on his bead The fresh delicate nerfnme
made hin, sbudder for years oftarward He
saw in one glance the position before him
one life nust he ruined his or hers The
moment that passed over him as he leaned
hack sick and faint conscious that Annie's
ewes were fixed on him anxiously. was long as
some nlacid Efetimes Thanks To a habit of
elf.control the dizzy wbirl of emotion was
conquered quickly. the color returned TO his
face. he said to himself that the life already
wasted could find no helm in destrovinp an
other Anne was innocent of anv intent IN
harm him. She was woman too both as n
man and n Christian minister IL was his dptv
70 nroteot and honor her He looked mn
nnickIv and smiled
"FIcnse me dear ~ he said boarselv 81
WAS very tired"
He toid the truth and no more. Had he
been conable Of deceit Anne's honest nature
would have detected II but of an untrltb he