Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-03
Gales arlo Sketfkts.
RE BEST OF IT.
CONTINUED from Yesterday


with hope and agitation, when the door
opened and in walked Mrs. Anne Boyd.
She glided up to him with face 50 full of
FLUSHING emotion, he thought she came to
congratulate him. and with the Astounding
affection engaged people have for all their
relatives in prospect. he stopped and kissed
her fresh sweet lips.
..How did YOU know where to find me ~
she said, blushing. Il forgot to tell you
in my letter that had been living here
the past year. When Nan was married
she left me in charge"
s.Married ,-Nanr' echoed the gentle
man aghast.
"Oh, you must have missed the letter ]
sent to Nice telling you all about it, She
married an Englishman, living now in
Boston, and they went abroad to see his
friends.''
The truth flashed on him like stroke
of lightning; it was Anne with whom he
had corresponded; Anne to whom he was
engaged; Anne he was expected to marry.
Nan was lost 10 him forever. He 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 few drops of cologne from flask
on the table on his head the fresh deli
cate perfume made him shudder for years
afterward. He saw in one glance the
position before him; one life must be
ruined. his or hers. The moment that
passed over him, as he leaned back. sick,
and faint, conscious that Anne's eyes were
fixed on him anxiously, was as long as
some placid lifetimes. Thanks to con-
slant habit of self-cOntrol, the dizzy whirl
OF emotion was conquered quickly: the
color returned to his face; he said to him.
self that the life already wasted could find
no help in destroying another. Anne was
innocent of any attempt to harm him; she
was woman too both as man and a
Christian minister it was his duty to pro-
tect and honor her. He looked up quickly
and smiled.
Excuse me, dear he said. hoarsely.
II was very tired"
He told the truth, and no more. Had
he been capable of deceit, Anne's honest
nature would have detected it; but OF an
untruth he was incapable; and now. as
he sat beside her, and his mind returned
to its own balance, he involuntarily began
To weigh the possible ameliorations of his
dreadful mistake. He could not marry
Nan now she was hopelessly beyond his
reach. One factor of the problem was
forever set aside, and that the greatest.
Then he recalled the letters that the had
received from Anne. what fine and lovely
traits of character they disclosed. Here
his head began to whirl again; for 1t
seemed impossible to separate the vision
of Nan he had built up on that very
foundation from the reality which belong
ed to Anne. Nan would have thought
his love-making cold indeed; but Anne
was shy and reticent herself. She could
feel, and feel deeply; but she could not
be demonstrative, and she dreaded
demonstration in others. 1t was quite in
accordance with her nature that, after
long, quiet evening of conversation. Mr..
Norton should part from her with one
grave kiss on her forehead. Nan would
have chung about his neck, and put her
peach face up to his for caresses. as a
flower seeks the sun He knew how it
would have been, and for one mad moment
s!ckened with thwarted passion; but Anne
never saw it. She trusted him implicitly.
and after her pure prayers fell asleep,
like a happy child. and dreamed of him
and her future home. But what a night
awaited him Sleep fled tar away. He
had in her presence been able to preserve
the situation but when he was alone, all
the past came back on him like an armed
man. Ii was a night never to be forgotten.
In the morning he went to Mr.. Clarke's,
and told them of his engagement. and
asked them to the quiet wedding next day.
They were all surprised and congratulated
him with such warmth and sincerity.
lavished such love and praise on Anne,
that he felt almost guilty in accepting the
pleasant words, conscious how little they
delighted him. Harry as soon as they
were alone, proceeded to enlarge on
Anne's charms.
ITO tell you the truth. old fellow. |
have been nightly smitten with that lady
myself but she has behaved like lay
nun the past year. couldn't understand
it. Somehow or other got it into my
head you were sweet on Nan. | even
went so far as to feel sorry tor you when
she married Dalrymple-what a waste of
the raw material and all the time you
were cutting me out with Anne. You
had not heard of that marriage till Anne
told you. II was nine days wonder
here he is fat. fifty, and rich as Cr9sus
that was his charm. Ducats, my lord.
ducats Nan loves a shining mark; she
inherits old Madam Harris tastes as well
AS her name. only the madam loved to
save, and Anne to spend"
Here it flashed across Philip that his
letters had all been mistakenly address,
ed. Nan was Anne Hart Boyd. and he
had thought the initial belonged to
Anne. From the very first those letters
had gone wrong and in his own dislike of
nicknames he had never used hers. but
called her Annie always tender soft
ening of the monosyllable that seemed to
express more than the cold stiff name
The day after. the wedding was celebrated.
Very quietly and simply Philip Norton
and Anne Boyd were made one. He could
not help owning that the soft folds of dark
rich silk. illuminated with fresh white
roses on her breast and in her hair. the
warm color on lip and cheek, the soft
colon on lip and cheek. the soft hazel eyes,
dark and clear as the brown waters of a
forest brook, and the expression of deep
emotion on her face. made her q very at
tractive bride; but even at the alter
glimpse of blue, bewildering eyes. float
ing gold-lit hair. incffable witchery and
sweetness, seemed TO dazzle his eyes and
construct his heart, but he repealed the