American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-06-07


Yes, and sometimes in our owl
fair land we do the same.
"One, l love ; two, you love; three
both love-" said Eva Lee to me
laughingly, as she handed me som,
beautiful Spanish pinks, three pink
on one stem. "They are exquisite.
eyes, they are, Eva, but shall
tell you true story about just sucl
a bunch of pinks as this 2"
eyes, do" she eagerly answered
I placed my work on the table, filled
vase for the pinks, and sitting by
the side of the young maiden, be
gan:
"Years ago, Eva, before your little
feet could tOtter around, your moth
er and / were dear friends, and YOU
father was stationed at the post with
us. Your father then was gay
young lieutenant, and fell in love
with your mother at our house. They
were married, and a charming home
was theirs. You came in the spring
time, and the happy hours l spent
by your cradle were many. Some
new officers joined our regiment then,
and one of them soon manifested
great interest in me. l laughed, l
firted, / danced with Charlie Nor
ris. He was Brevet Second Lieu
tenant, just from West Point, and he
at last offered himself to me: but
guess how, Eva. Why, with just
such group of pinks as you showed
me. He had searched every garden
for miles for a three bunch of pinks,
and at last had been successful. l
was standing on the piazza hum
ming a tune when he came to me
and said:
"Will you accept this emblematic-
ally ?"
"What! a Spanish pink Ger
tes," / answered.
"But do you understand me? l
mean, fguratively."
l saw he was agitated, and this ou-
ly made me the more determined not
to comprehend him.
"To be sure | understand you,"
jestingly replied. "One pink is
friendship; two pinks is half-friend-
ship; three pinks is civility. Thank
YOU"
"Not So" said Charlie Morris.
"One pink, L love you; two pinks,
worship you; three pinks, l offer
myself to you. Do you accept the
2"
"a mistake, Lieutenant Morris.
You are not versed in the floral die
l answered; but my eyes
fell before his reproachful glance, as
| said the heartless words.
The bunch of pinks fell from my
hand and he stamped them to frag
ments. Your father saw the action,
and guessed the cause, and l receiv-
ed q stern lecture that evening.
Your mother had been the Lieuten-
ants confdant, and she knew had
ed him on to hope for a different
answer.
He never renewed his offer, and l
heard he was devOting
MS attentions elsewhere. War was
declared and he called to bid me
goodbye. Although did not love
him, liked him as a friend, and l
really grieved for his going. He
,ame and spent the evening with
is. He was very attentive to my
mother and she always spoke favor
lbly of him. When he left he hand
I'd me bunch of three pinks again,
saying:
81 ask your answer only when l
'eturn with star on my shoulder"
colored, but gave him no reply.
He was brought home, Eva, and
. star glistened on his shoulder; but
Eva, he was where the warrior is at
'est, and where coquetry cannot dis
5urb him more. His last message
vas, "Get her a bunch of pinks; she
will understand"
"Eva, my darling, Capt. Carson
rave you those flowers. You know
what he hopes. Either refuse him
plainly or sanction his addresses.
Never have to grieve over past that
annot be recalled"
The sunny ewes were dimmed as