The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1866-06-09
The spanish Pink.
Eastern lands they talk In flowers,

And tell In garland their Joys and hopes
Yes, and sometimes In our own
fair land we do the same.
zone, / love; two, YOU love
three, both love-" said Eva lee to
me, laughingly, as she handed me
some beautiful Spanish pinks, three
pinks on one stem. "rhcy are cx-
quisitc."
Eyes, they are, Eva, but shall !
tell you true story about just such
a bunch of pinks as this ?"
dyes, do,' she eagerly answered.
/ | placed my work on the table, filed
"a vase for the pinks, and sitting by
the side of the young maiden, began:
"Ycars ago, Eva, before your lit
tie feet could totter around, your
mother and were dear friends, and
4 your iather was stationed at the post
with us. Your father was then q
gay young lieutenant, and fell in love
with your mother at ourhouse. They
were married, and a charming home
was there's. You came in the spring
time, and the happy hours | spent by.
your cradle were many. Some n v
officers joined our regiment then, a
one of them soon manifested great in-
tcrest in me. / laughed, l firted,
! danced with Charlie Morris. He
was brevet second lieutenant, Just
a from West Point, and he at last of
fercd himself to me: but guess how,
Eva. Why with just such group
Of pinks as you showedme. He had
searched every garden for miles for a
threc-bunch Of pinks, and at last had
been successful. l was standing on
The piazza humming a tune when he
came 10 me and said:
"Will you accept this emblemati-
allyg
"whatl A Spanish pink! Certcs,"
! answered.
"But do you understand me? i
mean, 6gurativcly."
| saw he was agitated, and this
only made me the more determined
not to comprehend him.
"To be sure j understand YOU"
! jestingly replied. zone pink is
friendship; to pinks is half-friend-
ship; three pinksis civility. Thank
you."
"Not So" said Charlie Morris.
"0ne pink, / love you; two pinks, j
worship you; three pinks, offer
myself to you. Do you accept the
offerings
"A mistake, lieutenant Morris.
You are not versed in the floral die
tionary," / answered; but my eyes
fell before his rcproachful glance, as
said the hcartless 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 ] received
n stern lecture that evening. Your
mother had been the lieutenant's con-
iidant, and she knew i had led him
on to hope for q different answer.
He never renewed his offer, and |
ahcrward heard he was devoting his
attentions elsewhere. War was de-
clared and he called to bid me good
bye. Although | did not love him,
l liked him as friend, and / really
grieved for his going. He came and
spent the evening with US. He was
yery attentive TO my mother and she
always spoke favorably Of him.
When he left he handed pe a bunch
Of three pinks again, saying:
II ask your answer only when ]
return with star on my shoulder
colored, but gave him no reply
He was brought home, Eva, and |
star glistcned on his shoulder; but
Eva, he was where the warrior Is a
rest, and where coquetry cannot dis
turb him more. His last messag
was "Get her a bunch of pinks; sh
will understand"
Eva, my darling, Capt. Carscl
gave you those flowers. You knoy
what he hopes. Either refuse hin
plainly or sanction his addresses
Never have to grieve over a past tina
cannot be recalled.
The sunny eyes were dimmed q
she looked at me. and | know ful
wei that she will do what L righ.