South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-06-16
LILY'S CHOICE.

SoHicliheSS OF grace, John liOilaWay
sat upon the meadow gate, looking off
into the distance. He was whistliug
softly, and yet he seemed to be in a
deep reverie, for his great, tender Dyes
had far-away expression i'm their
brown depths as he gazed out over the
suhlit meadows where the blood.re
clover and the golden buttercups
waved under the soit,caressing breeze.
! Suddenly an imperious voice broke
/ the silence.
'Mr. Holloway, please let me take
down the bars. Pm in q hurry and
came the shortest way
The young man started; he had
not heard her approach, and there be-
SIDE him stood the very object OF his
thoughts.
All, clover blooens and butter'cup.
paled were yonr charms now / A little
graceful figure in the daintest of,
cambria dresses, and underneath the
wide hat a sweet, girish face, with
yelvety, peach-tined cheeks and ewes
as blue as freshly gathered violets.-
Such was Lily Lawrence, the PROTEST
glrl-so the popular verdict ran-in
Ill the country round. A flush rose
to Johns suubrowned face rs he quick
ly rose and began to take down the
bars.
Out for walk, Miss Lily?'
Yes very briefly.
SO you arc fond OF quiet strols?'
am, too
Lily drew herself up and looked al
the presumptGous speaker.
Really, Mr. Hollaway, I don't see
what il is to YOU
! Then she stopped. She did not
mean 70 be rude, but truly, she thought
to herself, it was high time she shomld
show this young man that his openly.
! expressed admiration was exceeding.
~ distasteinl TO her. 1t had been 20.
ing ON for some time, and every one.
even Lily herself, had come 10 see
tant the sun rose and set for John
Uo'iaway where she was.
lie must he intensely stupid not 10
know how utterly indifferent | am 10
him she thought.
| But John was not stupid. He nm
dcratood the unfinished sentence, and
as sc drew back without another word
10 let her pass Lily saw that he did.
ana shame faced, compunctius look
stole into her eyes. For, from the
richest to the poorest, every one nc.
knowledged John ltollaway's noble,
ateriing character
Lily walked slowly along the road
half determined TO turn back and r..
pologize for her rudaness, until turn
brought her face to face with some
one whose handsome eyes met her
own with such a glad welcome that all
other thoughts were for the time dri-
ven completely away.
1t was Richard Blake, the most ad,
mired aud courtel young man in the
village.
'Ah, good afternoon. Miss Law.
renee was hoping would meet
you
And tho wavy black locks were
barred TO the breeze as Richard cour.
/ teous!y Fitted his hat and walked on
, beside her.
What contrast to John II1laway
And the contrast was great in many
other ways than Lily thought. But
the girl vas too young to read char
acter, and that Richard Blake was ve-
ry handsome and elegant none could
deny-a lover Of whom any one might
be Justly proud.
When Lily's home was reached.
and with another graceful bow Rich,
arr had left her. size did not go III.
rectly into tho house, but fingered u
willie among The flowers that flied
their little garden. Her thoughts
we're very busy. She knew that she
had behaved very uukindly to her old
friend, aud her memory went back to
the first time she bad met him. II
was at u picnic, AMI she had fallen
and spra!Hcd her ankle. She romem-
bcrcd how the great fellow, so much
stronger than his mates, had persisted
IN carrying her all the long distance
back TO her home. Since then he had
shown in hundred WAYS what she
WIS 10 Hiu, ana knowing hiB noble
nature, perhaps her heart would have
gone ont 10 him before this if
Richard Blake bad not come back
from college
Bnt nc hal. and Lily ranoied his
gay, debonair manners, and his en-.
tcrtalnlng conversation, anil ike ma.
ny another young girl had begun to
take for true, heart deep love that
liking which we all havo for things
pleasant 20 the sight.
Aud 80 she shook of her reproach.
tai feelings and went into tho house.
why, mother, dear, what is the
matter Crying, AID / enjoying
myself! To- me, what il it, dear9
Let me share your trouble
Mrs. Lawrence lifted a face. smil.
ing through her tears.