The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-12-01
THE TWIN FLOWERS.
why Two Lovers Lived Life Of ssetngic
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some beautiful, roses; "they arc. newly
blown and fresh. Buy red rose for your
hair, missi" Here's one that will look de-
lightful, twined among those pretty locks"
"Not rose, my child" said tho young
lady, "there are thorns among them; but
I'll take this little flower, it looks so lively
and sweet o, lisa forget me.notw
"Pardon me, miss, replied the child,
"that flower is engaged"
ITO whomw
"To Master Charles Leland"
"Charles Gland indeed said the Ia
dy; "well, but hrro's another: what
beautiful pairG"
"They are twin howers-they arc both
for the gentleman" said the title girl.
20, fig for him !" said the young LADY,
but an arch smile played upon her cheek
Ms she said it, and something sparkled in
her dark eye that told tale her lips re-
fused to utter; while she ingeniously mar
ked both tho favorite flowers, and return
ed them to the basket; then chosing lit
tie bunch Of roses, she walked home, leav-
ing the fower-girl TO visit the rest Of her
customers.
Love is impatient; and Harriet counted
the tedious minutes as she sat at her win
dow and listened for the well-knoNn rap,
The clock struck nine, and yet Leland did
not appear: she thought he had been
neglectful of late, but then the flowers; he
knew they were favorites of hers, and she
thought to receive them both from his
hand; and TO hear him say y:-"Harrict
forget me not" would be sweet atone
ment for any little offences past. But once
the thought stole to her bosom-perhaps
they are destined for another She ban.
ished it with sigh, and it had scarcely
escaped her, erc Charles Leland entercd.-
She rose to receive him, and he gently
took her hand, Accept" said he, "my
humble offering, and forget me-
Harriet interrupted him rs he attempt
ed to place single flower in her bosom.
-"Where is tho other?" said she, as sho
playfally put back his hand.
A moments silence ensued: Charles ap-
peared embarrassed, and Harriet, recollect
ing herself, blushed deeply, and turned it
off; but the flower was not offered again,
and Charles had only said forget me!
This could not have been all he intcn-
ded to say, but mutual reserve rendered
the remainder of the evening cold, formal,
and insipid, and when Leland took his
leave, Harriet felt more than ever dissat-
isfcd. As it was not yet late in the even
ing, sho resolved to dissipato tho melan-
choly that this little interview, in spite of
all her efforts to laugh at it, loft on her
mind. by spending a few minutes at a
neighbours, whose three daughters were
her most intimate companions.
The youngest Of these ladies was gay
and interesting girl, and was the first TO
meet and welcome her young friend; but,
as she held out her hand, Harriet discover
ed little flower in it.; it was forget-me-
not. She examined tit was one Of Le-
lands; the mark she hid made upon it,
when she took it from the basket Of the
fowcr-girl, was there.-This was, at tho
moment, an unfortunate discovery. Sho
had heard that Charles frequently visited
the family, and that he even paid atten-
tion to Jane; but she had never before be-
lieved it; and now she shuddered at tho
idea Of admitting that for once rumcr told
the truth. "Whero did y u get this pretty
flower Jane 7" said she.
30, from beau, TO be sure" said Jane
archly, "don't you sec forget-mc not" and
as she took back the flower: al should
not like to tell you where l got il; I'll
wear it in my bosom though. Come
sing
"Ill dearly love tks pretty flower,
or his own sake " bids M
I'll wear II in my bosoms"---
"Hush, Jane" said Harriet interrupting
her; "my head aches and your singing
distracts me-"
"Ah it's your heart" said Jane, 'or
you would not look so dull"
"Well, il it is my heart" said Harriet, as
she turned to conceal her tears, ait does
not become friend to trifc with it,"
Sho intended to convey double mean
ing in this reply, but it was not taken;
and as soon as possible she returned home.
A sleepess night followed: Harriet felt
that she was injured, and tho moro she
thought aboutit, the moro she felt. She
had engaged her hand to Leland six
months before; aud tho time appointed
for their union was approaching fast; and
he acted thus al he wants to be freed
from his engagement" she said to herself,
'I will give him no troublc;' and she sat
down and wrote, requesting him to discon
tinue his visits. She wept over j. food
of tears, but she was rcsolutc, until she
had dispatched tho note to his residence.
Then she repented of il, and then again
reasoned herself into the belief that she
had acted right. She waited for the result,
not without many anxiously cherished
hopes, that he would call for an explana-
ton. But she only learned thai the note
was delivered into his hands, and about
month afterwards, he sailed for England.
This was an end Of the matter. Charles
went into business in Liverpool, but never
married and Harriet remained single, dc
voting her life to the care of her aged
mother, and ministering TO tho wa1ts Of
tho poor and distressed around he-.
About forty years after Leland left Phil
sdelphia, Harriet paid a visit to New York;
,nd dining in large company ono day,
W old gentleman, who, it seemed, was a
being called upon TO defend the
fraternity TO which lie belonged from the
.spersion Of some Of tho younger aud more