Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-19
A LAUREL BLOSSOM.


Indeed. never thought so until lately"
answered the lady, rather grayely. &" 1t is a
Eyes" said young lady standing By. Itts
ashame- I'm sure We have all considered her
engaged, or as good as engaged, TO Hugh Shir-
ley-and now, only look at her! gentleman,
TOO. whom she has not known buta week.
- But rich, and 50 handsome, said another
young lady. =" City beau, too. Quite distinc-
hon in orr rustic community" she added,
Not worth Hugh Shirley, by half. A mere
fashionable eoNcOmb, dare say. l am sur
PTised that a girl 30 good and sensible as Mary
Morrison would act SO,'
Poor Mr.. Shirley. One may see how cut up
Hugh Shirley seated little apart from this
group OF Pic-nickeIs, and concealed by the in
conversation. He now rose and walked slowly
away, but first looked back u where Mary Nor
Tison was seated on a messy rock, smiling and
chatting with her new admirer-a Mr.. Weston,
''fTom the city,
How pretty and graceful she was a. with a
fGsh on her cheek, and an unwonted light in
meath the brim OF the jauRty little gypsy hat
which she wore. But the fl ush seemed feverish,
and the bright ewes restless and uneasy. Was
she a. happy and satisfied As she appeared?
He'd she really turned away from him to whom
she had almost plighted her love, and bestowed
IT upon this comparative stranger; this acquain-
Hugh shirley turned away with a sharp, bit
ter pang In his heart And then he compressed
step.
- will know at once" he muttered to him
SELF, Iesolutely.
When out Of sight Of the rest of the party, be
seated himself on a fallen tree-trunk, tore q
slip from a leaf, Of his pocket-book, aud wrote
In Q style perfectly characteristic OF himself
hARY-You know how love you. I must
now know. oncetOr all, whether you love me, or
prefer another. Whether you will, in a word,
promise 20 be mine-my wife. HCoH."
How 10 get this scrap of paper to her? He
knew OF no one by whom to send il; and now,
whenever be approached her, she was not only
sAy. and restrained towards him, but their
every look and motion became 30 conspicuousiy
the mark tor dozen pairs OF ewes, that IL would
Be impSe.ible to convey the paper, howsoever
~ Others And yet he could not wait; he mast
have an answer this very evening, for he had q
Plan In view depending upon IL His friend,
WORKMAN, would leave tomorrow for New
York, and thence, in few days, for California.
he had endeavored TO persuade Shirley to 40
Mary which had kept him back.
Hugh, holding In his hand. the slip OF paper
spon which 50 much depended, was startled By
heart thrilled as the next moment Mary MORT
son stood before him, accompanied by Mr.. Yves
ton and young lady.
"Oh, Mr. Shirley" exclaimed the latter.
hope We don't intrude or interrupt any poetic
Henzy: We are looking for flowers TO wear in
our hair at the dance tonight. or course you'll
taken all the vood-fowers to decorate the 'fes
tive hall" for We can scarcely fnd one. Won't
Miss Morrison had coLSed at the sight of
Hugh, and had then turnedabruptly toward her
escort.
"Oh.'' Hugh heard her eNclaim suddenly,
'there is a laurel-the first have seen. and my
favOrite flower See, high up on the summit of
that tree II could only get it!''
" 10 Is quite out OF reach, unfortunately" OBJ
served MIR. Weston, glancing up wistfully, Sand
tbe ground below 80 wet and IN arshy. And vet
would give anythinsto obtain it, since you
"Oh, never mind, / dare say it is out OF reach.
Yet it looks so pure and lovely, and would be 30
pretty TO wear IN ones hair Don't you think
=. In hair such as yours he replied, in low
voice, and with an admiring glance at the rich
clusters Of wayy dark hair which she wore swept
earelessly back from her forehead. 4" But any
flower would look well there; and most fortu-
sately here are some wild roses-quite as pretty
a. the laurel, think. Will these do?''
I" suppose so, for want of something better
she answered, laughing coquettishly. Come
we Niil not intrude longer upon Mr.: Shirley,
She happened to lie standing closer to him at
the moment than the others.
" Is that nv fault, MaTy?' he replied, in low
voice, TO her remark.
She turned upon him. her cheeks flushed, her
eyes flashing, though through half-tears.
a. at least. sir. do seek for others societv"
she s.ld warmly. " Perhaps you think that /
sbOud2'
Despite the Indignation, there wa. something
Of TeprOach in her look and tone which sent a
thrill Of hope to Hughs heart.
g Stay moment he said quietly, pereeiying
the attention OF the others directed toward them,
and You shall have your laurel.'
:" don't care foT IT. 1 won't Inconvenience
Bot Hugh Was already picking his wav over
the rnarshy ground, and the next moment was
halfway up the tail and slender laurel tree
which bent beneath his weight Reaching up
TO the tOPmO-t bOC,h, ke drew Il downward,
broke on the coveted laurei-blOssom, aud with
II descended As his iOst touched the ground an
idea occurred 70 him. lie took from his vest
pocket the slip OF paper ON which he had written
"A few moments previously, seized his pencil and
added these words IL YOU will answer yes,
Mary, give me this token: wear the laurel in
your hair ton night, and d0a't wear the roses
Then he carefully, though with trembling
fingers, separated the pure white, half-uniOlded
petals Of the laurei-blOsSOms, deposited the
folded paper within, closed over IL the petals
and placed IL in Marv's hand
=" Look within II, >" he said in too low a voice
20 be heard by the others, and this time needless
of their observation. LOOK within-it bears a
secret at its heart"
When Mary reached the old farmhouse close
BY, al which the picnic supper and dancing were
70 be held, she went up directly To a little dress
ing rOOm-one OF several appropriated ''to the
ladies'" Here she was pleased TO md herself
alone, the hrSt OF the returning wAlkiny-pArty
She bolted the door and threw herself upon a
couch. She looked excited, angry, grieved, de-
40 neglect me So" she said to herself, pas
sionately. To become Jealous, and doubt me,
and neglect me. a. he had done ever since Mr.
non. What could do bot pretend not 20 sareY
And the impotence OF this last INSULT L,ok
trfftn- AZ oars q seeTct OF as hedrff' Yes,
eourse-as IL had forgotten what We read to-
gether I'm that Book OF Flowers about my favorite
laurel The emblem with ambition-and be
pAid pain without, but with the drop OF poison
Al Its heart" That was what he meant, Just
nov. OF course In-olent!"
She threw the laurel blossom angrily from
her, and burst into tears. These apparently
salmed her, for, when she presently zrose, she
looked haf remorseful az the flower, lying bro
Ken and bruised on the aoOr. She took 4 up up,
looked az II sadly, until the tears cams into her
eye
Yet know he loves me after all. IL will, IL
mast come right In the end I will let him see
this evening that don't care for Mr. Weston I.
She pressed the flower esrefully amid some
tolds OF paper, and placed IL in her bosom.
wish had not broken II, 90 that he might
have seen me wear II this evening. Bat will
tell him, and sometime when are happier
will show him how carefully kept it,"
Hugh Shirley was standing al the door OF the
dAneing-room as she entered She wore in her
hair the cluster OF wild roses that had been
given her By Mr.. Weston, but there WAS no
laurel there. As she passed HIM their eyes for
He male hi. IA