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

he stopped and kissed her fresh. sweet
lips.
"How did you know where to find
mep" she said blushing. 81 forgot TO
tell you in my letter that / had been liv-'
ing here the past year. When Nan was
married she left me in charge
Married Mani" echoed the gentle
man, aghast.
"Oh, you must have missed the letter
I sent 10 Nice telling you all about IL.
She married an Englisman, living now
in Boston. and they went abroad TO bee
his friends
The truth flashed on him like stroke
of lightning: il was Anne with whom
he had corrcspondcd; Anne TO whom lac
was engaged; Anne he was expected To
marry. Nan was lost to him forever.
lie turned very pale, and reached his
hand toward the table for support. Anne
thought he was faint; with tender haste
she pushed chair toward him. gently
put him into it, and poured fcw drops
of cologne from flask on the table on
his head; the fresh, delicate perfume
made him shuddcr for years afterward.
lie saw In one glance the position before
him; one life must be ruined, his or
hers. The moment that passed over him,
rs ne leaned back, sick and faint. con
scious that Annir's eyes were fixed on
him anNiously, was long ~ some placid
lifctimcs. Thanks to a constant habit of
sclf-control, the dizzy whirl of emotion
was conquered quickly the color re-
turned Ia his face; he Said 10 himself
that the life already wasted could find
no help in destroying another. Annie
wasinnoccnt Of any intent 10 harm him /;
she was woman, too; both ~ "A man
and a Christian minister il was his duty
to protect and honor her. lie looked up
quickly and smiled.
Excuse me, dear he said, hoarscly.
" was very tired.
He told the truth and no more Had he
been capable of deceit, Anne, honest ma
ture would have detected IL; hut of an
untruth hc WAS incapable; and now. rs
he sat beside her, and his mind returned
Ia its own balance. lac inyoluniariiy Ia
gan Ia weigh the possible hmclioraiions
of his dreadful mistake. lie could not
marry Nan now she was hopclcssly be-
yond his reach. One factor Of the prob
lem was forever sct aside. and that the
greatest. Then hc recalled the letters
that hc had received from Anne. what
fine and lovely traits of character they
disclosed. Here his head began Ia whirl
again; for it seemed impossible Ia scpa-
rate the vision Of Nan b. had built up on
that very foundation from In" reality
which belonged Ia Anne. Nan would
have thought his lovc-making cold in
deed; but Anne was .hy and rciirpnt
herself She could feel. and feel deeply:
but she could not be dcmonstruiiyc and
she dreaded demonstration in others. II
was quite IN accordance with her nature
tliHi. after q long. quiet evening uf con
sH.4H..4Hf..ys NJ N..zf..s. l. a
her with ono grave kiss on her forehead.
Nan would have chung about lis neck.
and put her peach face up to hi- for ca
rc@-cs. ~ n flower serks the sun llc
knew how IL would have been, and Tor
one mad moment sickcncd with thwart-
81 passion; hut Annie never saw IL She
trusted him implicitly. and after her pure
prayers fell asleep. Ike q happy child
and dreamed Of him and her future
home. But what a night awaited him.
Sleep il'd tar away. iIc had In her pres
enco bccu able 10 preserve calmuosz 81
least. and resolved 20 accept the siiuA
tion but when hc wa- alone. nll the past
came hack on him like au armed man
II was a night never To- bc forgotten. In
the morning he went 90 Mr.. Clark's and
told them Of his engagement. and asked
them to the quiet wedding next day.
They were MI surprised. and congraiu-
lated him with such warmth and -inccri-
", layi-hcd such love and praise on
Anne. that hc felt almost guilty in AZ
ceptiug the pleasant words. conscious
how little they delighted him. Harry.
a. soon as they wcrr alone. urpceQdod 10
enlarge on Annc'- charms.
TO tell YOU the truth. old fellow.
have been nightly smiitnn with that
f.1s4 NIL. Hs,as Il. L
Jay nun the past year. ! couldn't under
stand It.. somehow or other got it into
my head Won were sweet on Nan.
even went So far A. tn fcol sorry for YOU
when she married pRlrymplo--w what a
waste of the raw material and al the
time YOU were cutting me out with Anne.
You had not heard of that marriage till
Anne told you. IL was nine DAYS
wonder here; b. j. fni. fifty. and rich as
trpsus: that was his charm. pucats.
my lord, durai,' Nan loves q shining
mark she inhorits old Madam Harts
tastes "a well as her name. only the
madam loved 90 save, and Anne to
spend
Here II flashed across Philip that his
letters had all been mistakenly address
CD Nan was ANN Hart Rnyd. and hc
hal thought the initial belonged to
Anne. From the very first those lrttcrs
had ronn wrong. md In hiE own dislike
of nicknames lac had never used hers.
but called her Annie always tender
sOftminguf the monosyllahle that seemed
to express more than the cold stifI name.
The day ancr. the wedding was cole
bratcd. Very quietly and simply Philip
Norton add Anne Boyd were made one.
lie could not help owning that tic soft
folds Of dark rich silk, illuminated with
fresh white roses on her breast and In
her hair. the warm color ON lin and
cheek. the soft hazel Owes. dark and clear
rs the brown water of a forest brook. and
the expression Of deep emotion ON her
face, made her very attractive bride:
but even ~ the altar n glimpse of blue.
bewildering eyes. floating gold-lit hair.
inctiabe wiicheTy and sweetness. seemed
to dazzle his eyes and construct his heart.
but he repellcd the dream stcrnly. and {,
fled
Had Anne been more selfish and Philip
less strong and sensible. here now was
s.tu al 4