Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-01
Galts xitD Sketftes.
fnE BEST OF II.

ssUEAR tHII.-W men are you coming
Cedar il in full feather. Picnics set In to-
morrow; strawberries just right; two
delightful widows: lots OF girls; and the
whole house crying for you. Come along
by return mail. ! meant to say the picnic
was day after tomorrow. l shall be at
the late train tomorrow.
Yours, a. usual. HARRY
Philip Norton laughed as he read this
letter. Il was 90 like Harry Clarke
HAL Headlong." his father used to call
him-the brightest. handsomest, gayest
fellow of his class at Yale. now a country
doctor at Cedar, town in the western
pant of New England. Having lost all
his property BY rash speculation, except
his wife's farm at Cedar, which her father
left her, the elder Mr.. Clarke went there
to live; and one of the local physicians
being near death with old age, Harry
thought il good place to begin what he
called his medicinal career" being a
young man who had no reverence for the
English language, bat made light of it.
and used it in his own way as another OUT
let for the overlooking fun of his nature.
Philip Norton had been his chum at
college, and his friend ever since. He
was Of graver nature, and had gone into
the ministry. With the gifts of keen
intellect, ready language, and good looks,
he found life easy enough, and his first
parish was in New York, where, in first
class boarding house. receiving large
salary. he did not seem so much a modern
apostle as very lucky man. But good
fortune could not spoil his earnest and
truthful character. He preached as sharp
ly TO his flock of sinners as if he had five
hundred q year instead of five thousand,
and did as much hard work among the
city outcasts as If he headed mission to
the Digger Indians, and lived in a shantv
instead of Madam Ralston's elaborate
establishment.
He had lust recovered from a severe
attack of typhoid fever, consequent on
some of these excursions into the dark
places Of the earth. when Harry's letter
came, and was glad enough to accept his
invitation. There were only three children
in the Clarke family besides Harry-twin
girls of twelve and younger boy-and
they all loved Philip as well as if they
were his brother and sisters instead of his
friends. There Is something in sudden
Journey of pleasure that is inspiriting.
and when Mr.. Norton left the train at
NtuhT lie IcIb SlTOngCI anu III Spllc
of the long days ride, than for many
weeks. and the next morning declared
himself quite ready tor the picuic, though
Mrs. Clarke, motherlv soul. always
devoted to her "other boy" scolded him
well for the idea. But being persistent
man, he went his way, and by 10 O'Clock
had joined gay party in the car they had
chartered for the day, and attached at Ce-
dar station to the train going to Patton, a
little village above whose quiet street
lowered Gray Mountain, their place of
destination. The day was "day in
june" fair as ever poet celebrated. There
were so pleasant people-pleasant tor a
picnic, that is-and Philip was put in
charge Of Mrs. Royd.
lone of the widows" Harry whispered
in his ear; very bright, agreeable wo-
man. with q pleasant face, dressed neatly
enough in brown holland and a black hat
"a costume adapted to the occasion. but
not becoming. She was evidently not
vain. A few seats before them sat beau
tiful young woman. daintily dressed.
though evidently she considered herself
in mourning; but the shower of soft, fair
curls that dropped from the back Of her
head, the sparkling ornaments of cut jet.
the rings on her little white hands of pearl
and diamond and onyx. all seemed out of
keeping with the Grape on her dress and
hat; and when that coquettishly looped
head-g gear was laid aside, a triangle OF
Grape, with the conventional widow s
ruche about it. pinned on with diamond
and onyx pins. looked q real absurdity,
and every woman in the car laughed at
Nan Boyd's attempt to assert her widow
hood for this was the other of the two
widows. Yet il she was little absurd.
who caredP When ones skin is tinted
with the warm glow of pink apple bios
SONS. with lips scarlet as fresh straw
berries. great clear blue eyes, delicate
features, teeth of pearl, and abundant
gilded-fax hair falling everywhere in long
loose curls, what does 1t matter what one
wearsP Nan Boyd would have been lovely
sin brown holland aud cheap black hat.
though her cousin and sister-in-law was
not.
Nobody had ever supposed the Reverend
Philip Norton was susceptible. He had
never given tenderer glance to any
lovely girl in his congregation than to
the old woman who swept the crossing
before his church; but he fell in love like
q school-boy. during the next six hours.
with Nan Boyd. Courtesy obliged him to
attend to the lady placed in his care, and
the obligation was not disagreeable.- She
was natural, intelligent, kindly, with an
artists eye for the wonderful scenery
about them. and moreover a generous wo-
man; for when Phillip asked her. as
carelessly as he could put question that
thrilled his lips, who the beauty before
them was. she answered quickly:
my cousin and sister in-law-another
Mrs. Boyd. Isn't she lovely? like to
look At her as l do at flower; she is SO
exquisite"
Mr.. Norton assented gravely. and turned
the conversation. His head whirled, his
eyes wandered he could not talk with any
sort OF fluency; he was bewitched by the
pretty widow. She, however. had her
own court to hold Butterflies never fiut-
tered more thickly abut the gay weed that
bears their name than the gentlemen of
the party about Nan Boyd; for, to tell the
truth. this lovely creature was native
coQuette. 1t was matter of course for
her to fiirt with every man who came near
her a. it is for rose to be fragrant; and
she had that charm, subtler than beauty.
which is potent without but irresistible
with it.
II v~s a nroverh in Cedar that No vouth