Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-09-11
The Bunch OF VioletS

Loudly rang the bell at Mrs. Evan door,
one morning. and Maud Evans peeping
out. saw N small bov standing ON the steps
whom she seemed 10 recognize. Not wait
iag for Jane. the only servant in the eStab-
liShnlenl- Nand ran gaylv down stairs and
opened the door The boy smiled in re
caguifio1. and handed her box.
Please. ma am. | was 10 give this 10
Miss Evans you're she. ain't you I"
YES Mr. Howard, your employer,
sem yan- 1 suppose 2
--NeS Mss He said a. how there WAS
no answer
VERY well.
Closing the door and running up IN her
rrsoln she opened the box, and taking ont an
t-lerang b1nQue1 of flowers Slopd and looked
~ them with a tender look in the brown
eyes. n If she was thinking more of the
CivHr than the gift
80 he llas come hack. thought Maud,
and viii he M the party tonight, since he
sem me tlese. | wonder If he will repeat
Aha1 he Ua> going To say when we Were in
fer-grpied =
Whatever fhe unfinished sentence was il
mus have heen something sweet To Maud,
fgr she sood there turning the flowers
round and round in her hand. with happy
lock in the bright eyes till she heard her
ano1her call
--NauG Maud, Where are YOU child
] wish voU would come and help me with
inns headlines: | want ii To wear to
night.
Mrs Evsns waS widow. Her husband
kad died five wears before, leaving her with
one child the Maud Of my story. People
had thought Ar. Evans a wealthy man. but
4 Was found after his death. when every
thing wss settled that the widow would
have iut very limited iucOme- She knew
On wUnld naa &C far I'm trying 90 keep up APP
Fpearances and live I'm the manner i'm which
thev had been accustomed. 80 being a
sensible woman. she had removed with
Maud u small cottage that had been left
them CUT Of the wreck. taking with them
what was suitable Of their furniture, and
one servant. faithful Jane, who had been
with them many wears. ana who declared
she would never leave them.
They had many kind friends who did not
leave al their change of fortune Judge
B and his wife were attached friends
the Judge sesding his carriage TO take them
Il and from places of amusement, when
they chose to attend. and the judges wife
kindly matronized Maud whenever her
mother was unable to 90
The party 0f which Maud had spoken
was 10 he al the judges house that evening
They lad been very gay that winter, in
N parties and balls following in rapid
succession. Mand had been to several, and
had met Frank Howard, a young lawyer
He had sought her society on every occa-
SION. and was evidently IN love with the
little beauty
The week before there had been bril-
liant party ut a wealthy bankers. Maud
had mel 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-nust know if his love was return
ed.
a@AIaud u said he She looked up quick
ly-lOoked up TO encounter such a look of
passionate love that her e1es sank beneath
it. @FNaud. do YOU know"
But the sentence was destined never to
be finished. for into the conservatory
bounced Young fop with tan-cOlored hair
and mustache $tAnd he was so delighted
40 find Miss Evans Did she know the
band was playing the waltz she had pro-
missed hmm II"
Young Howard glared as il he would like
10 auuihilate him ON the spot. Maud, feel
ing il mo amlable mood. could do nothing
5H Accept Inns prOffered arm.
After that. there had been no opportunity
for the pair 10 speak together alone that
evening bu1 as Maud stood with several
others, bidding their hostess goodnight
Frank had i'm answer TO some invitation eX-
tended him. answered that he would he un-
alle 10 attend. as he should he Obliged to
leave the city ON business for a week.
When Frank returned from his business
trip, NE found invitations awaiting him to
several merTy-nlakings, and among them
one for the party al Judge B-'s that
evening. He knew that Maud would be
there. and, being rather an impatient young
man thought he would risk another inter
ruution. but would write and tell her of his
Bove
Seating himself at bis desk. he proceeded
to indite the momentous eDistle, and, after
rising about half quire of paper, he at
length finished one He told her how dear
W b. loved her; 0f how sweet the hope
had been - him thai he might call her
wife, and asking her, If she could return
~ hove. 10 wear the bunch of viOlets he
ser1 her in her hair that evening
4 sinai watch for these flowers. and
siEail learn my fate from them. If they
are III Eour hair ] shall know you return my
laEe- it n0i-fhen God forever bless and
make Won happy, darling, though | can
never cali vDu mine
Taking box from his desk, he placed
tlse lerier and flowers i'm IL. and, tying ait
rlclativ, called the boy whose acquaintance
1--WE have made on Mrs. Evans steps.
Il want vou TO take tins to Mrs. Evans
ard fnbuire fer Mss Maud; be sure you
E-ire n to mo one else. You know where it
=, aOnt you T.