The Van Buren press., 1876-10-31
MISCELLANY.
A Way-Side Flower.

They were walking up "Loye Lane =
in gay, chattering procession-girls
with laurei- wreathed hats, yoaa9 men
bearing shawls and empty baskets, a ma
tron or two last Of all Stephen FELTON,, a
child on either side Of him, and in his
arms little Nanny Forsythe half asleep
Wherever Stephen went children followed
led by attraction irresistible as that which
draws iroh filings to the magnet Grown
people could not understand this attrac
tion, but the litlle ones never mistOOk
about it. Sleepy as she was, Nanny S
small hand kept pattng his shoulder as
they wen, along, and her voice cooed
words ofdrowsy endearment which made
Stephen smile, gloomy as he felt that day
Each cheerful reply to the children =
questions cost an effort; but he spoke
checrily all the sane, and tried to keep
his eyes from wandering forward to where
Captain Hallett walked by the side OF
Mllly Graves, with his handsome head
very near hers, and his vuice murmuring
low sentences inaudlble 10 the rest of the
party. Many gla ces were sent back al
this couple from those in advance, tol
Ned Hallett was the novelty OF the mo.
ment, a hero and stranger; and tht
girls, who were only too well disposed To
pull caps for him, thought it quite too
bad +" Of Mlly to absorb his attention as
she had done all day.
But after all, what could Mllly, wha,
could any girl. do, when an all conquer
ing captain takes up his position at hei
side in early morning and never leaves il
| till late afternoon Ii is not in girl nature
to resist such tribute, and Stephanie De
Witt, in front, was partly justified in call
ing it "a desperats firtation," although
fear the pout with which she spoke was
due rather to amour propre than outra.
ged morals. But on Milly's side is was
not all Irritation. For all her merry,
saucy ways, she was p sensitive, credulous
creature, just the woman to give "gold
for dust" and stake her all in that un-
equal barter SO common in this world OF
misunderstood 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 sexes Captain
Halletts fine eyes said more than his
tongue his martial mustache seemed to
give point and value to mere nothings.
He carried a 1.-THE little cane, with which
he emphasized bis sentences now cutting
the air, now beheading a mullen, in way
which Milly thought fascinating And
then Love Lane was such pretty spot,
the very place to be-eloquent in. Its
winding turns we're hedged With fragrant
growths, woodbine, brier, sweet fe n, and
bay. Overhead the trees met and clasp
ed in shady arches Here and there a
pink honeysuckle glinted in the network
of green, or trail of shimmering clemat.
is. The pure primrose light ola cloud
less sunset silted down through the can
opy of boughs, light breeze stirred, full
of delicious smells. 1t was like an even
ing in fairy'land.
Suddenly turning brough. them to a
fern clad bank, against which, set in a
frame. W ork of tremulous verdnre, stood
one rose, Of perfect wild wood pink, pois
ed at tip of cluster of vivid leaves. 1t
was like an enchanted queen. Milly
thought
How beautiful T. she cried but even
as the words left her lips the restless
cane few through the air, hicked the rose
from it's stem, and sent it into the dusty
road, little whirlwind of broken leaves
accompanying its fall.
"What pity"' she said involuntari.
| ly.
"It's only Wild rose, you know" sur,