The Van Buren press., 1871-02-21
MISCELLANY.
Pansy's Stratagem.

Pansy Lyle had hair like spun amber
and soft laughing eyes Of the deepest
blue that ever bewitched the heart OF
man. No man in his senses would think
Of defying those sunny orbs consequent
ly Harold We're must have been out of
his, or he would not have stood there so
coolly that summer morning, telling chat
young lady that he was going to marry
Annabel Lord instead of herself. 1t is
true there was no engagement; We're had
never committed himself in words, but
he had only barely come short Of that in
the expressivcnesss of his eloquent
glances, the depth Of his sighs, the sly
squeezes he had smuggled to Pansys
velvety fingers, under cover ofmoonlight
strolls and long talks in the shadow Of
the front porch.
We're had been very much in love with
Pansy, there was no doubt about that !;
he was yet, but he didn't quite know how
much. Poor We're was rather at the
mercy of a rich old uncle, Mr.. Perth,
whose prospective heir he was, and with
whose everlasting displeasure he was
threatened if he did not straightway mar
ry Miss Annabel Lord, who was tho pen
niless daughter of woman whom the
said Mr. Perth had loved when he was
young, and had missed marrying.
but had been so long in notify ns 'e,ie
principal parties concerned, that they
had nearly gone each another way before
they learned his wishes.
Annabel was h tender little blossom,
lovely as the first blueeyed violet of
spring, and just as incapable of doing
anything but what she was told. Besides
dear, good Uncle Perth" as she called
him, had been so kind to her, how could
she thwart any wish Of his heart?
Pansy Lyle felt as though she was
choking as she listened to Harold Vere's
cool announcement; but every fiber of
her little body thrilled with determine
ton not to give one sigh of surrender.
She dropped him dcmurc nod of grace.
full approval, and went into the usual
hypocrtical feminine raptures over the
prospective bride.
"Such darling, you know; and you
like your OWE way so well, Mr.. were
You couldn't have found woman who
would be more willing you should have
it,
Harold We're frowned. Annabe's waxy
nature was veyed question with him.
He liked to sec people have some mind
of their own, he had told his uncle only
that morning. Then he stood and
watched Pansy, while she went down up
on her knees again among the strawber
ries she had been picking when he joined
her Her little white fingers flashed in
and out among the green leaves without
a tremor in them, as she chatted on
about the charms Of his betrothcd, till
Harold We're fairly sickened under the in
Fiction, and came to the mortitying con.
clusion that Pansy was heart whole, af.
ter all, so far as he was concerned.
Good bye, Pansy," he uttered, in an
involuntary doleful tone, as he turned to
go.
Good bye, Mr.. Vere." quoth Pansy ;
=" going so soon? You must bring An
mabel over. i long to kiss her, the darl
ing. You and | have been such old
friends you know"
Friends, indeed !" snapped We're, as
he strobe away towards the front gate.
"IIallo" cried Pansy, as some one
bounced over the garden palings, upset
ting her Strawberries, and nearly knock
ing her over besides. "Oh, it's YOU, is
it. Mr.. Roger Glenn? Well, should
like to know where you came from p
Pansy affected to be very much alb.
sorbed in her over turned basket, while
she silly brushed two or three crystal
drops from her long eyelashes.
81 came through the orchard, and
I'm very sorry, Miss Pansy,' stammcred
luckless Roger, a atall, fine looking fel
low with silky brown moustache and u
long, brown curly beard,
"Humph! !" said Pansy allows An
mabel ~
"Oh, Miss Pansy, have you heard the
newsY They're going to make her mar
ry him-and love her so"'
Make, indced!' Pansy sneered, with
toss Of her yellow curls. 81 should
like to see anybody make me-"
But you're SO different, Of course.
Annabel is such timid little thing"
Little mocked Pansy. "She's
three inches taller than | am, and !
wouldn't he afraid Of my shadow if ]
were she. :"
~ know you wouldn't; everybody
knows that, but she is" Roger Glenn
sighed, with q most doletul air.
Well. what arc you going to do
about it p Pansy demanded, gravely re.
suming her strawberry picking.