The Lincoln County herald., 1872-04-11


long and patiently to receive the recon.
pcnse voluntarily offered me. My pa.
ticnce is exhausted now, and I am going
to take what you are bound in honor to
give"
"But, Mr.. Markham" she exclaimed,
impotuously, II promised you kiss, and
| have given it to you. | did not tell
you what kind it would be, nor did you
ask me, and I shall think you very uu.
generous if. you do as you said"
"Minnie!' he cried, ard without another
word stopped and pressed his lips to hers.
With q quick, angry sob, she broke
away from him and ran up the stairs.
'Ths mean, hateful fellow n she ex.
claimed, as she threw herself into chair.
VI never will speak to him again-never
| will 60 and mako cousin Sue visit,
where shall not see or hear anything
about him" And the next morning
when she announced her intention of
going away, it excited no surprise, as she
was in the habit Of making her cousin
frequent aud lengthy visits.
And when MIR. Markham heard that
she was gone, he looked a good deal an
noysd and disappointed. "She is really
offended, then," he thought, "the provok.
ing little beauty! How shall | ever
pacify her Tor taking the liberty l did !"
And he revolved dozen schemes in his
head that he cast aside, one after the
other. Finally he concluded to write and
ask her forgiveness, and when Minnie re.
lakt ho Il ~ loo tal
so conscious, that her cousins suspicious
were aroused at once. IAN interesting
letter, l should judge" she said smiling
significantly.
Nothing Of very great importance, l
assure you," replied Minnie, with face
that beied her words.
Important enough, however to call to
up your brightest roses. l would give a
good deal to know who that letter is
from"
"But am not going to tell you !"
and she put the letter in her pocket, to
read again and again, the first time she
found herself alone. She did not answer
it, however, thinking that little painful
suspense would be proper punishment
for tho bold offender, but did not go home
for six weeks, although In thus remain
Ing she punished herself quite as severely
as she did the gentleman, which is gen
orally the case when one person tries
very hard to spitefully annoy another
Aud when she did 90 home she was com
pletoly dismayed to hear that Mr.. Mark.
ham had, in his turn, gone away to be
absent six mouths. 1t seemed like cen
tury to look forward to, and, in the mean
time, Miss Percy came to make her o
second visit. "What was it sent Mr..
Markham to Europe ?" she asked, one
day.
Business, suppose" was the lacouic
reply.
How did that affair of yours end,
Mimic? Did you give him the kiss p
"Yes-a sugar one"
81 knew you would get out of it in
some such way. Was hstsatisfed ?"
IL don't know how he could we'll help
himself" replied Minnie, ooloring des-
peratsly.
"He kissed you, didn't he? There, he
did l know he did, SO you needn't deny
it,"
"Well, yes, he did-the abominable
wretch and detest him, and never want
to see him again"
"He would have been tame enough if
he hadn't done It. told you ho was
not man to be trihod with"
"He wrote me worry apologize letter.
| have never answered it, however"
"Well, then, | think that you are very
uukind. Mr.. Markham did just what
you had every reason to suppose he would
do, and you ought to have accepted his
apology. There ore not many men like
him, Minnie, and I hope that you have
not driven him away from you"
"Driven him away, Sophie He has
never given me chance to drive him
away. | do not know that he even cares
for me. He never said so.
A few days after this. Minnie received
small package with foreign postmark,
aud spon opening it found IN exquisitely ,
colored picture Of q Camelia Japonica--
that was all.
From Henry Markham! exclaimed
Miss Percy. ut is just like him. Now,
what is tho language of the Camelia ?"
II havn't the slightest idea," replied
Minnie. ~ never cared for flowers. ex-
ospting to look ut, aud smell Of. | do
not know q stamen from q pistil."
"Wsll, it must mean something pain.
fully tender and sentimental, of course.
Where is your Floral Dictionary? p
"There is not such thing in thouse |"
"No Floral Dictionary What bar.
barism l wouldn't have believed it
possible. Minnie Harris, aged twenty,
with lovers whose namo is legion, and no
dictionary 10 interpret the sentiment Of
tho many floral offerings laid q, her feet.
Vow in this world have you existed SO
long without one p
because I never cared enough for any
OF those lovers you speak of to inquire
into tho meaning Of sheis Aorai offerings
But now let's put on our hats right of,
and 90 20 . store and buy the book you
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