The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-11-13
CHOICE FICTION.
THE END OF A RIVALRY.

ne END oF "A RIVALRY.
spent two days of last week revisitng
| N, one of those pretty, thriving, pie
turesque towns which dot the magnifi-
cent and bold landscape of Western Penn
Sylvania, and which are miniature cities
in the energy, progressiveness. education
and cultivation of their inhabitants and
models of advanced municipal regula-
tons
During my residence there, my most
intimate friend and the one whose house
most frequented, was DR.. Thomas
Wood, who had moved to N from Phil
adelphia, upon. the death Of his wife, ten
years before, bringing with him his little
daughter Belle, who. at the time OF
which | write, had grown up to be the
acknowledged beauty of the town. The
house they occupied was an old fashion
ed brick mansion in the centre of the
town. which DR.. Wood had modernized
by the addition Of huge bow window.
which was always filled with geraniums.
myrt!es and roses, that, with couple of
small orange trees. were the admiration
of the neighborhood. Not that DR..
Wood had any horticultural tastes. on
the contrary. he was very severe on the
devotion of minds to such trifles as
flowers, fancy work music and dancing:
but then blue-eyed Belle Wood differed
with him, and plainly told him so, in the
sweetest, sauciest and most lovable man.
ner.
Upon the opposite side of the street
there had just been completed at the
time of which | speak. a row of houses
of an unusual imposing appearance, and
which were dignitied by the high-sound-
ing name of Maple Terrace" that be-
ing the kind of tree which was the most
conspicuous by its absence in the imme
date locality. They were all to let. al
though the last finishing touches had
been put on them in the way of paint
and paper, and they wanted nothing save
furniture and human beings to make
them assume civilized and respectable
appearance.
Calling one afternoon at the doctors
house, | saw evidence of life in the ter
race. and upon inquiry Of Belle ascer-
tanned that two of the houses had been
taken.
Papa is quite pleased" said she, ''for
you know that he looks upon those
twelve houses as twelve new patients"
But, said |, ''have You not read the
advertisement. healthy and airy situa-
ton, imposing neighborhood and only
one physician -
"Oh, yes smiled Belle, "but sick
ness. | am sorry to say, is very apt to
run about at some time or other, even in
airy situations.
Two days afterward another bill was
taken down, and in my strong interest in
the terrace, which | had seen grow up
under my own eyes, | Immediately called
to congratulate Belle.
'Oh, yes!' she exclaimed, with I'M
usual eagerness, land I think by fam
| lily that will prove valuable addition to
the neighborhood, for a very handsome
and distinguished looking young gentle
man drove up there this morning and
spent an hour looking over the house,
and suppose he has taken it.
1t was several days before saw her
again, and then she caught me by the
hand, drew me rapidly to the window,
and with a semi-tragic expression pointed
to the house over the way. looked,
and, to my astonishment, saw on the
shutters, painted in large gold letters,
. Edmund Rand. VI. D."
:" A rival, indeed" said |, promising
Montague and Capulet state of things"
$ But perhaps a Romeo and Juliet may
be found to terminate it.
Don't laugh" replied Belle, gravely:
papa is vexed and indignant. Imagine
two physicians in this locality. It's all
! the fault of that advertisement
"Some scheming young man has seen
it, and finding no hope of practice else
where has come here. | suppose he is as
poor as a rat
At this instant three wagons full of
new furniture stopped in front of DR..
Rand's door, and Belle absolutely turned
pale upon discovering that it was of the
most elegant and costly furniture.
'The wretch has got a young wife,
too"' she exclaimed, as a piano and harp
came to view, and then she added rising,
this will never do, they must be put
down at once, they are strangers in the
neighborhood; we are we'll known. |
have plan which l think will el1ectually
dispose of the interlopers. | will give
an evening reception and ball, and will
at once prepare list of people we can
invite
Laughing at the wicked ingenuity of
the plan by which the enemy was to be
crushed by the mere force of numbers of
her allies. assisted her in preparing the
list, which had already become a very
long one, when Miss Wood said, after
few moments Of deep reflection:
One name more must be added, they
must be invited"
"Who?' exclaimed l. in tone of
genuine surprise.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edmund Rand" re-
piled Belle, triumphantly, while | was
cpnarb loss fran,
The ball took place to the admiration
Of all E. 1t was splendid a,iair-in
fact, it was the greatest of the kind
which N had ever known. Mr.. and
Mrs. Rand came, and were received with
cold politeness by both father and daugh-
ter. The young man was good ooking
telligent and possessed of that kind of
manner which betokens familiarity with
refined and cultivated society. Miss
Rand, his sister, was charming girl of
twenty, who seemed rather amused at
the manner of DR.. Wood and his daugh-
ter, but said nothing. Young Rand's
only revenge for the GOODNESS manifested
by Miss Wood was by asking her to
dance, which was certainly vexatious,
for his tone was so pleasing and his man
feel pleaSed-when she wanted to be
irate, distant and stately.
They danced together several times to
the establishment of many friends of the