West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-30
The Bunch of VioletS.

Loudly rang the bell at Mrs Evans door.
one morning, and Maud Evans. pecping
out, saw "A small boy standing ON the steps
whom she seemed TO recognize. Not wait
ing for Jane, the only servant i'm the estab-
lishment, Maud rsn gayly down stairs and
opened the door. .qhe boy smiled in re-
cognition, and handed her box.
Please, ma'am, ! was 20 give this TO
Miss Evans you're she, amt YOU ?"
YES. Mr. Howard, your employer,
sent you, | suppose ~
'les, Miss. lie said as how there WAS
no answer"
VERY well
Closing the door and running up to her
room she opened the box, and taking out an
elegant bouquet of flowers stood and looked
at them with tender look i'm the brown
eyes, as if she was thinking more of the
--giver than the gift.
$50 he has come back, ~ thought Maud
''and will be at the party tonight, since he
sent me these | wonder if he will repeat
what he was going 10 say when we were in
tcTupted ~
Whatever the unfinished sentence was il
must have been something sweet 10 Maud.
for she stood there turning the flowers
round and round in her hand, with happy
look in the bright eyes, till she heard her
mother call.
Maud Maud Where are you child 2
| wish you would come and help me with
this head-drcss | want il to wear to-
night
Mrs. Evans was widow. Her husband
had died five years before, leaving her with
one child, the Maud of my story. Pcople
had thought Mr. Evans wealthy man. but
Il was found after his death, when every
thing was settled that the widow would
have but very limited iucome She knew
1t would not go far in trying to keep up ap-
pearances and live in the manner i'm which
they had been accustomed. SO being a
sensible woman, she had removed with
Maud to small cottage that had been left
them ont of the wreck, taking with them
what was suitable of their furniture. and
one servant, faithful Jane, who had been
with them many years, and who declared
she would never leave them.
They had many kind friends who did not
leave at their change of fortune Judge
B. and his wife were attached friends,
the judge seRdng his carriage to take them
To and from places of amusement, when
they chose to attend, and the judges wife
kindly matroniZed Maud whenever her
mother was unable to 20.
The party OF which Maud had spoken
was to be at the judges house that evening.
They had been very gay that winter, i'm
NJ, parties and balls following in rapid
succession. Maud had been to several, and
had met Frank Howard, young lawyer.
He had sought her society on every occa-
sion, and was evidently IN love with the
little beauty
Ttla mol I1Fo~, H. ~
liant party at wealthy bankers Maud
had met Frank there, and they had strolled
into the conservatory together Standing
there beside some tropical plant he had been
telling her of, he felt such love for her
surging up in his heart that he felt he must
tell her-must know if his love was return
ed
'Maud ]" saidflc. She looked up quick
ly-looked up to encounter such look of
passionate love that her eyes sank beneath
1t. 'Maud, do you know -n
But the sentence was destined never 10
he finished, for into the conservatory
bounced young fop with tan-colorcd hair
and mustaChe. 'And he was 80 delighted
TO find Miss Evans Did she know the
band was playing the waltz she had pro
missed him ~
Young Howard glared as if he would like
To annihilate him ON the spot Maud, feel
ing IN no amlablc mood, could do nothing
5ut accept his prOhered arm.
After that there had been no opportunity
for the pair 10 speak together alone that
evening but as Maud stood with several
others, bidding their hostess goodnight
Frank had IN answer 20 some invitation cx-
tended him, answered that he would be un-
able 70 attend, as he should be Obliged 10
leave the city on business for "a week.
When Frank returned from his business
trip, he found invitations awaiting him 10
several meTy-makin0s, and among them
one for the party az Judge B-s tbat
evening Hc knew that Maud would be-
there and, being rather an impatient vouug
man, thought he would risk another inter
ruption, but would write and tell her OF his
love.
Seating himself at bis desk. be proceeded
10 inditc the momentOus cpistlc and. after
using about half quirc of paper, he at
length finished one. lie told her how dear
ly he loved her Of how sweet the hope
had been TO him that he might call her
wife, and asking her. if she could return
his love, 10 wear the bunch of violcts he
sent her in her hair that evening
81 shall watch for these flowers and
shall learn my fate from them IT they
are In your hair ] shall know you return my
love If nOt--then God forever bless and
make you happy darling, though I can
never call You mine l'
Taking a box from his desk, he placed
the letter and flowers IN it and tying Git
tightly, called the boy whose acquaintance
we have made ON Mrs Evans steps.
want you % take tins 20 Mrs Evans
ana inbuire for Miss Maud be sure You
give t 10 no one else. You know where 10
is, don't you T."