Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-09-28

with the berries, and she scarcely lei
her eyes wander from her basket.
She was fair to look upon, this orphan
niece OF the old New England farmer
Tall and slender, with gold-tinted
bronze hair, brown eyes, and sun. kissed
soft. smooth cheeks, with q peacher
down on them. Her eyelashes were
particularly long and curving. and she
had way of looking out from under
them that had great effect upon the
young men she met at "meetin and
singing school. Not that she tried to
fascinste them, but she could not help
doing 1t, any more than rose can help
smelling sweet. Hulda was not quite
seventeen. Her father had been a
teacher OF music; her mother q sister
Of Silas Hope. They both died young
and poor, 80 Hulda came to the Hope
homestead when she was shy girl OF
eleven, slender but not ungraceful, look
ing, with her wistful brown eyes. like a
young fawn. Her uncle welcomed her
with open arms, and his wife, though
childless herself, was q woman who had
heart big enough to have a place for
all the friendless little ones that came
in her way.
Hulds was happy-thoroughly happy
and content. The fresh air, new milk
and early hours soon built up her slight
form. Though she remained slim, she
filed out with the roundness OF beauty.
Her warm cheeks glowed with a sunset
flush, and her lips were like coral.
Hulda's dress was simple dark blue
print, and her head was covered by that
well-nigh obsolete form OF ugliness, a
sunbonnet. Still the waves of golden
hair showed on the smooth young brow,
and the blackberry gAtherer formed 4
pretty picture.
Not unobserved, either, for across the
brook, under the shade OF some droop-
ing willows, tall man in a gray shoot
ing dress lay watching her.
"WhAt 4 study for Evangeline !"
said he to himself "What a Mar
guerite?'
The man kept very still, and in all
probability Hulda would never have
been conscious of his presence II an
other party had not appeared on the
scene. The newcomer was a stout man
about forty years Of age, with long,
black beard, large, soft hat and brown
velvet coat.
"Hullo, Morley What luck2" he
exclaimed. The sound of his voice
startled the girl, but q healthy existence
had endowed her with strong nerves,
and her surprise was not alarm. She
gazed at the strangers with calm interest,
for they were unlike the men she saw
in her daily life.
Poor luck, Carltone. fear the
trout are too sensible TO take much
notice Of my unsophisticated efforts to
attract their attention"
Possibly so. Well, have whipped
the stream also with more skill than
success. Let us adjourn"
HuldA had returned to her berries,
but her cheeks were flushed and her
young heart throbbed, for she felt Nor
ley's eyes 6Ied on her face.
What pretty girl !" said Carltoue,
in an undertone.
Yes an unusual style OF beauty.
never saw anything more lovely than
the mixture Of tints on her face. No
common pink and white blonde beauty
but the ripe tones Of the old italian
masters"
The basket was full now, and the girl
was turning away, when Morley rose 10
his feet and addressed her gently and
respectfully.
"Can you tell me where can buy
some milk or cider-Anything cool 70
drink p
"Yes. II you go up TO the middle O!
the meadows you will find bridge. I'll
wait here for you, and that red house is
where my uncle lives. Aunty will awe
you some milk We haven't any cider. =
"Thank you"
She stood waiting for them, basket in
hand, while Morley gathered up his
fishing tackle and sought the bridge.
followed by his friend.
Hulda was shy, but she replied to the
questions addressed to her by Morley
with self-possession. He was surprised
to find how well-iniormed she was. She
had q passion for reading, and fortu.
nately had been able TO crafty Il, for
the library Of the old clergyman who
lived near the Hope homestead had
been placed as her disposal.
a. a