Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-03-05

There was also II string set across from
the elm by the lich gate to the house
OF old Gumm, the sexton, and real
bunting, pennons, union jacks, and so
| forth, hung from the string and fut-
tered gently in the summer breeze.
Chief decoration of all, however, was
the arch of eyergreens studded with
roses Just outside the red brick house
of the Darlings 1t bore the words,
"Joy be with thee" done in white
carnations.
Eva Darling was the bride. Her
mother had occupied the Retreat as
the red house with the high walls
around it was called-for about ten
years. She was a widow, and Eve was
her only child.
When first the Darlings came to
Tong the villagers did not half care
for the newcomers. Mrs. Darling kept
herself to herself deal too lalch for
their pride's comfort. But as Eva
grew from girl of ten to II girl of
fifteen, sixteen and seventeen there
was no standing against her charms.
There was n goyerness for her in those
days. Despite the laws of the Re
treat, however, on the subject of in
tercourse with the villages, the girl
went to and fro with basket, and in
short, play ed the part of ministering
angel extremely y well. Thus she won
the hearts of the simple but strongly
preiudicel people.
1t was only with the gentry of the
(,rnut III 4hn4 1
to associate. The Great House stood
mile from the church, across spa
clous reach of undulating parkland,
with pond and river in it, and some
remarkably fine trees. "Great House"
was just the phrase for it, There were
about fifty windows IN front for the
sun to stare at. 1t stretched like r
white buttress between the green of
the parkland and the dark wooded hill
behind it.
No one could say the Great House
was handsome place. Mrs. Darling
was not concerned with mere archi-
tectural beauties. From the first,
when she knew there We're two young
masculine Dantins in the family, re-
spectively three and four years older
than her daughter, this lady was re-
solved that one of them should marry
Eva. OF course the elder son was to
be preferred, but as the younger was
rich by Inheritance from the mother
it would not matter so very much
which made the girl Mrs Dantin.
They were young men of very OPP
posite character, the Dantins. 1t is
always the case when there are but
two in the family. Nature seems de-
termined that the type shall then be
varied as much as possible. Philip,
the elder, was studious and fond of
scientific pursuits. At Oxford he had
kept menagerie, like Frank Buck
5aha' lie was good-looking fellow,
out wore spectacles slow to be angered,
put "llh temper that when reused |
was capable OF dark deeds. He was
slow III other respects also. Thus for
while he was sorely distressed when
he heard that his brother Jack had
wooed and won Eva Darling ere he
had settled IN his own mind that be
himself was ripe for marriage with the
same girl. Anon he seemed to smother
the resentment he could hardly help
feeling, but it was mere seeming" .
his jealousy burned his heart.
As for Jack DGntin, he was the very
fellow to secure girl like Eva. He
cared nothing for insects and butter
flies, but everything for athletic pur
suits and pretty faces He was n
handsome lad, frank and generous
Tie hnaw cnrly in his eourtship that
h" hnd hnt 10 ask Eva to marry him
The girls dork eyes could not Keep