The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-07-23


had never noticed the flowers In Toms
button-hole.
And to this determination did she adj
here. Nell was astonished to find so much
firmncss in that gentle spirit; but so weak
and trembling was she that Nell in alarm
undrcssed and laid her In the bed rs one
would do with child. Still before she
laid her sorrcwing head upon the pillow
she made Nell promise that she would
not write.
The months rolled on-slowly TO poor
Maggie, who hid her secret so well that
none guessed Il i; slowly to other sad
hearts, but quickly TO happy lovers and
bright souls. Another summer bloomcd,
and the earth again brought forth her
beauties. To Maggie every opening flow
or gave fresh pang, though each pang
was n hidden one. Her character dovel-
oped more and more her secret sorrow
added to her pure and delicate nature tho
very things 1t needed.
1t was lovely afternoon in June. Nell
was In the parlor, half doing over some
fine stitching. when n step on the piazza
reused her, and the next moment plump
little Doctor Blythe trotted in. He drop
ped into an easy chair and said, with a
sigh of satisfaction, pheasant room this"
Nell continued to stitch and almost
doze; the Doctor meditated, and did 1t
with his eyes fixed on the open window |;
his gaze absently fell on the corner of the
piazza, but after moment his look bright
cned, and showed that he noticed the spot.
An amused twinkle beamed in his eye,
and in an instant more hc chuckled. Nell
looked up inquiringly, glanced at tho
chucklcr, and then out Of the window.
The Doctor explained
"I was thinking of joke of mine.'
"what was ftp" asked Nell, in rather
drowsy tone.
The Doctor, in an animated voice, re-
lated the little story of his standing ON tho
piazza one night the previous summer,
when Ned Stone put bouquet In his bug
gy, and how hc (fhe Doctor) forthwith
changed the flower boquet for one of
grasses.
Nell listened with Indifference. Maggie
had never mentioned what she did with
the bouquet, and Nell took It for granted
that she kept 1t.
The Doctor continued: "Tho whole
thing was u good joke-thosc flowers went
through so many hands (; I wonder new
or told you of 1t, but had some busy cases
about that time, and II went out of my
mind. / don't know where Ned Stone got
the flowers; but stole them from him,
took them home, and Jim Masters stole
the middle out"
Nell pricked up her ears. THE mid
dlcw said she.
"Ycs," replied tho Doctor; she told me
of Il aftcrwari; said the middle came out
was made mp separate from the rest.
He took of the middle and gave It to Tom
Harding to stick in his coat-so you sec
Ned Stone had the flowers, one; j, f,co;
Jim, three; Tom, .tour-iour pairs OF
hands they passed through" added the
Doctor, triumphantly.
Nell sat brcathless, but she kept her
eyes down and stitched on while saying.
"Wlat kind Of flowers were
they, DoctorP"
"Let me sec," said the Doctor, reflcc-
lively, "Tca-roscs?-no; lilies of the val
ley?-no. have Il! Moss-roscs! i re-
Jim said there was moss round
the roses and moss round the stems, for 1t
seems there was some moss wrapped
around the stems. thought II good
idca,"
Nell made no reply; she understood that
in some way Fred had seen Tom with the
unlucky flowers in his coat, and had taken
II for granted that Maggie had given them.
Alter moment she said, In u sprightly
tone, doctor do you like walllcs?" You
may bc sure that tho Doctor did. "And
peach marmalade?" continued Nell. The
Doctors eyes twinklcd-hc had weak
ness for peach marmalade. and Nell knew
It; he cast speaking glance upon her.
"Don't I2" he murmured. (Aunt Peggy's
marmalade was known far and wide.)
"Then stay to tea, and You shall have
both" said the bcguiling Nell.
Tho Doctor settled himself still more
comfortably in his chair, and said hc
would. Nell went or to give directions,
and In q few minutes returned. She seat
ed herself near the Doctor and commenced
n desultory conversation, that after time
worked round to Fred Bailcy-how pleas
ant he was, anu so forth.
..IIavo you ever written to him, Doc
tor?" asked Nell.
"No." replied he; "nevcr thought oft
and don't know his direction either. You
know he wrote once to old Mrs. johnson
where he boaricd-the old soul was very
fond of him-to tell her that he had mr.
rived; but he gave no direction"
.You ought to WRITE" said Nell; "hc'd
be delighted to hear. I know and you
could direct the letter to the care of his
uncle in New York, who would send Il to
him."