American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-08-12
A WAY-SIDE FLOWER.

They were walking up "LOve Lane"
in a gay, chattering procession-girls
with laurel-wreathed hats, young men
bearing shawls and empty baskets, a
matron or two; last of all Stephen Fell
ton, q child on either side of him, and
in his arms little Nanny Forsythe half
asleep. Wherever Stephen went chill
dren followed, led by attraction irresisti-
BILE as that which draws iron filings to
the magnet. Grown people could not
understand this attraction, but the little
ones never mistook about it. Sleepy
rs she was, Nanny's small hand kept
patting his shoulder as they went along,
and her voice cooed words of drowsy
endearnent which made Stephen smile,
gloomy as hefelt that day. Each cheer
full reply to the children's questions cost
an effort; but he spoke cheerily all the
same, and tried to keep his eyes from
wandering forward to where Captain
Hallett walked by the side of Milly
Graves, with his handsome head very
near hers, and his voice murmuring
low sentences inaudible to the rest of
the party. Many glances were sent
back at this couple from those in adj
vance, for Ned Hallett was the novelty
of the moment, hero and a stranger;
and the girls, who were only too well
disposed to pull caps for him, thought
it 'squite too bad" Of Milly to absorb
his attention as she had done all day.
But, after all, what could Milly, what
could any girl, do, when an all-conquer-
ing captain takes up his position at her
side in early morning and never leaves
it till late afternoon? 1t is not in girl
nature to resist such tribute, and Ste
phanie De Witt, in front. was partly
justified in calling it ga desperate fir
tation," although 1 fear the pout with
which she spoke was due rather to
amour propre than outraged morals.
But on Milly's side it was not all fiirta-
ton. For all her merry, saucy ways,
she was sensitive, credulous creature,
just the woman to give "gold for dust, -
and stake her all in that unequal barter
SO common in this world of misunder-
stood values.
: Her fair cheeks were flushed and her
blue eyes full of shy excitement as they
walked along, talking about-dear me,
what do people talk about when they
are young and of different sexesp Cap
tain Hallett's fine eyes said more than
his tongue; his martial mustache SEEM
ed to give point and value to mere moth
ings. He carried 1.-the little cane,
with which he emphasized his sentences J;
now cutting the air, now beheading
a MULLEN, in a way which Milly thought
fascinating. And then Love Lane was
such pretty spot, the very place to be
eloquent in. Its winding turns were
hedged with fragrant growths, wood
bine, brier, sweet-fern, and bay. Over
head the trees met and clasped in shady
arches. Here and there pink honey
suckle glinted in the network of green,
or trail Of shimmering clematis. The
pure primrose light of cloudless sun
set sifted down through the canopy of
boughs, light breeze stirred, full of
delicious smells. 1t was like an even
ing in fairy-land.
Suddenly turning brought them to
fern-clad bank, against which, set in
q framework of tremulous verdure,
stood one rose, of perfect wildwood
pink, poised at tip of a cluster of vivid
leaves. 1t was like an enchanted queen,
Milly thought.
SHOW beautifully" she cried; but even
as the words left her lips the restless
cane flew through the air, fiicked the
rose from its stem, and sent it into the
dusty road, a little whirlwind of broken
leaves accompanying its fall.
"What a PITY" she said, involun-
tarily.
cts only wild rose, you know y
surprised.
"But don't you like wild roses?'
"Oh yes; but there are SO many of
them that it is hardly worth while to
waste sentiment on a single one," and
the Captain showed his fine teeth in a
smile which was the least bit cruel.
Milly sighed, and cast a regretful
look behind. Her gentle nature felt for
the fair despoiled thing. But, after all,
there i1ere plenty of wild roses, as Cap
tain Hallett had said, and presently she
forgot her sympathy and its cause.