Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-06-29
HER PUNISHMENT.
BY FRANK c. PARKER.

| HIN Il UN1IJlkMGNI Is
BY FRANK c. PARKER.
1t was commencement day OF
c. College, and the city hall
was crowded. One by one the grad
yates had spoken and taken their
seats, and the evaledictorian now took
his place upon. the stage and faced
the vast multitude. Alric Strath-
more stood there as self-possessed
and graceful as though this trial OF
his college life had no terrors for
him. If he had any inward mis-
givings, or If his heart throbbed
more quickly, his undaunted eye
and proud lip did not show it. His
brilliant Grafton attracted the atten-
ton of the audience at once, and
held it until its close, when the
young orator took his seat amid
thunders of applause and a perfect
shower of bouquets.
Strathmore is highly favored" "
said one student to another.
"Yes; by mortals as well as by
the gods; l should like to possess a
mind such as his, and also that su-
purb cluster of lilies he has just ta-
ken in his hand" And careless
Ben Tracy leaned back in his seat
with sigh of assumed envy. - 3
The lilies spoken of were still in
Alric's hand. sss - sZ#A
"Who could have thrown these?"
he was saying to himself, as his eye
wandered over the crowded house.
just as he was about to place the
bouquet among the others, his eye
happened to fall upon a face in the
front row of seats very near the
stage. A pair of violet eyes met.
his, and, as the perfume of the lilies
fioated with those beautiful eyes.
allow foolish L am" he thought;
"surely,. a perfect stranger would
not favor me so much-and yet l
am convinced that these exquisite
lilies came from that lady. The Ia
dy. The lady with her is Ben Ira
cy's friend, Miss Vaux; Iwonder if
he knows the other"
Strathmore," said Ben Tracy, as
he took his friends arm after the
exercises were over, 81 want you to
go with me this evening to call on
some acquaintances of mine before
we leave for good. Will you be
ready for me-:
Certainly answered Alric.
After he had finished his toilet
that evening, Ben knocked impa-
tiently at Alric's door,. SlVyLti /
"Come, Strath, are you ready?
Come in, Ben, I'll not keep you
long - ~ 20 4
Ben entered and threw himself on
Alric's lounge. He watched his
friend at his toilet awhile, and then
as his mischieyous eyes, wandered,
he said:
"Well, if your friends could see
how you treat their floral offerings
don't think they would feel at all
fattered. None of these flowers
honored with fresh water but that
lone bunch of lilies! What are you
preserving that for:?' 81 ~A-
"Oh, l rather like the perfume
and so 1 just put them into WATER
answered Alric, ,industriously search
ing his wardrobe with his back to
Ben.
"Oh, is that all?' said the other
with comical nod. II suppose you
haven't the least idea who the giver
can be, Strath, eh." "-rT; I RI = |
"How should 1, Ben? 1 saw no
one throw them,' said Alric.
q have, then," said Ben, sleep
lily. efftv. roe.. |
"You have. tell me, then, can't
youY'
q saw Miss Buell., Annie Vaux's
cousin, hand them to little Guy
Vaux, and he threw them on the
stage"
"That's strange; Miss Vaux and
Miss Buell. are both unacquainted
me-" said Alric.
"It is very funny-very strange
indeed, now, since l come to think
of it, And Ben grinned again as
Alric turned toward the door.
The two friends were soon on their
way down town, and presently Ben
drew Alric towards a fine, brown
stone mansion.
"Here we are, Strath," he said.
Alric followed him up the steps
without a question. He was so
used to being dragged around
by his merry companion that he
never asked why or where. 4
"My friend, Mr.. Strathmore, Miss
Buell. and Miss Vaux."
Alric bowed, and once again the
perfume of the lilies seemed to float
in the air as he found those beauti-
ful violet eyes gazing earnestly into
his. iiiii.IH >..tH IA
The quartette of acquaintance
were soon engaged in rapid CONVEX
satlOn. AS the evening wore on Al
ric found himself alone with Miss
Buell., for Ben had wandered off in
to the music-rOom and was now
coaxing Annie Vaux to favor him
with some of her exquisite little
songs. Ada Buell. was 4 fine con-
versationalist, and Alric was charm
ed with her intelligence and wit.
The brilliancy of her conversation
was enhanced, Alric thought, by
the flashes of sarcasm that tinged |
it. He did not have such dread
of sarcastic women as most gentle
men profess to have; he rather ad
mired the quick, sharp strokes that
call forth acclamations even while
they sting. To be sure had he been
the subject of Miss Buelps witty re-
marks he might not have seen much
to admire; as it was he left the