Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-02
Gales and Sketfbfs.
rHE BEST OF IT.
Continued from Yesterday.

honor or decency come forward as rival
to his best friend in that friends house
his affection for Harry, his sense of the
proprieties, all forbade his expressing in
any way his passion for this enchantress.
He kept away from her charmed circle as
tar as possible; he talked much to Mrs.
Anne BOYD, because she vas Mans cousin.
1t is we'll to be near the rose if you are not
rose yourself, for there is at least the
neiehberhood of its bloom and perfume to
attract adorers. Still, he plunged daily
inrther and further into this gulf of bitter
sweet passion, till one moonlight night his
mind was set at rest concerning Harry.
They sat on the steps OF the south door.
tired with long days drive TO Bashbish
and back, and the two little girls were
were hanging about them. anxious to hear
some report OF the days enjoyment, for TO
them picnic of grown people was an un-
attained paradise. There had been much
whispering between Ruth and Rachel for
few moments; but at last Ruth took
courage, and looking up shyly at her
brothers face, spoke out: HAL dear. are
you going to be married."
Il hope So ma am at some period Of
my existence. he answered. gravely.
.sOh, don't mean that. Are you go
ing 10, pretty soon ?"
Not this week. Miss Inquisitor.
Hal, you're an awful tease-there :"
burst in Rachel. out of patience.
MY dear girls, in the words oil the Ia
mented Artemus, why is this thus? What
has got into your small heads in that va
cant place nature intended for brains?'
why, Jack said Tom Green told him
You were certain sure going to be married
right away to Mrs. Nan Boyd"
''Nol much calculated Harry.
"Oh. Hal, that's slangr'
.Well, what if it is? Slang is the
language OF the coming man; slang is
universal word painting; slang-but
wander from the subject. Listen, listen,
ladies gay. and l will point moral and
adorn u tale for your infant minds. | fell
in love over head and ears and the top of
my tallest hair with Nan Boyd when
was twelve wears old and she was ten.
I spent my little all in candy and peanuts
tor her sweet sake; ! wrote Der a val
entlne, and made her string of birds
eggs three feet long--a rosary of despair
to the gentle birds | robbed; paid for a
tin-type of her sweet with my last copper
and iackknife that loved like brother
but she refused me after all, though
enplored her to elope with me in the
milk wagon. So, as the Yorkshire man
said. only tother end first, .'She wouldn't
have he, dye see9 for why now he won't
have she y The moral OF all which is.
Rachel. don't snub Tom Green too much
now. lest he should turn and rend you by
by"
II hate Tom Green" retorted Rachel.
Harry laughed. But Philip Norton
could not speak he fairly trembled with
relief OF mind almost painful in its
intensity. Harry did not notice his silence
and Ruth went on:
But should think you would want to
marry her, Harry. She is awful pretty"
"Oh. loot, awful pretty, and YOU talk
to me about slang! My dear, your glass
house will become fragmcntary in about
five minutes if you 90 on
Don't you like her, Harry" asked
Rachel. always direct.
"Yes, miss. like her, but don't want
to marry her."
Don't people ever marry people when
they don't want to ?'' said Ruth.
Perhaps they do, ma am, but | don't
consider that am people. BY Jove! I'd
rather spin ropes out of sea Island than tie
myself up that way. Ask the minister
here if he don't agree with me-"
Philip reused himself from his dream
at the appeal, but the question had to be
repeated.
I'D rather do anything else, Miss
Ruth
but what if you'd got married by
mistake, Just as those people did in the
newspapers, for fun-but really they
were married-what would you do?' ask
ed Rachel persistently.
MAKE the best of it." laconically an
swered Philip.
bad is the best of such mistake,
Phil. Are there no divorce courts. my
friend and pitcher?'
Philips face darkened. Not for me.
IT | had married Iiecate by mistake as
Rachel SAYS. would try and make the
best of her. Any thing rather than divorce !;
that is unchristian and unmany both"
Good for you, parson! You haven't
forgotten your old trick of accepting the
position. Make the best of it, was the
theme OF this distinguished gentleman's
valedictory address, my dears, on that
glorious day when he became the proud
pessessor of Il sheep skin, like the immor-
tai Brian o, Lynn. only the woody side was
out he pulled that over the professor 5
eyes, and thereby got all the honors.
while my modest worth went umeward-
ed"
Here the gate swung open. just in
time to prevent further burst of Harry
eloquence, aud a boy with a telegram
came up to them. 1t was for Philip.
One of his most valued friends and sup
porters in the church was dying. after a
brief illness; he must see Mr.. Norton.
There was no delay possible, and in the
morning train very early Philip went.
leaving such adieux as he could for Harry
to deliver. and carrying with him a tri-
umphant sense that neither honor nor hon
estv need seal his lips now; he could tell
Nan Boyd the love that possessed him.
and surely so stringen; passion must
compel return.
But he found his friend in the very
agonies of death; and in the atmosphere
OF grief and pain that surrounded him.
after the solemnity OF death. in the care
and help of the torlorn family, and the
services of burial more than week
passed away before he could write the
important letter. and when it was once
gone his courage failed. suspense racked
and tortured him. he could not eat or