The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-28

ers were brought to cover an attempt
to entrap me. She won't gain any
thing by it. If I am going to make
love to woman I don't want her to
take the initiative in this yIe." Thus
he soliloquizes with the usual base in.
gratitude of mankind when lie should
have felt 1iattered and delighted at
receiving such lines as he supposed,
from lovely woman.
Mrs. Clifford sat in her room writ
ing a letter, in happy Inconsistencies
of unjust thoughts towards her.
He had been treating her quito
pleasant all along, but he forthwith
changed his tactics. When some four
or five of the inmates gathered in his
room as they often did, now that he
was stronger, to cheer him up, he
passed Mrs. Clifford by with cool in
difference and directed his talk to Lu-
lu Raymond, girl who had been fish
ing for his attentions all along, having
performed good many kind offices
for him while he had been sick and
who was now i'll the seventh heaven of
delight to be preferred to Mrs. Cliff
ford, who noticed his changed manner,
and though she accounted it as one of
the freaks of an invalid, treated him
with a degree of GOODNESS equal to his
own. And he, watching her without
appearing to do so, could not detect
any signs of pique in her manner, and
thought that i'll spite of her forward
ness she was very attractive, but still
he could not get over the prejudice
which that premature piece of senti-
ment had raised.
The same day on his way home to
dinner Bert Rhodes stepped into
Marsh's moment to buy u Mercury,
and glancing around noticed the last
one of Myrtle's bouquets, which was
still fresh and lovely. He laid down
fifty cents for it and carried it home
to his sister.
81 have brought you breath from
the country, May" he said as he ell
tered her room where she was busy
copying and held the flowers over her
shoulder. May looked up and her
tired face frightened with a smile.
"You dear little beauties!'' she said as
tenderly US it they had been things of
life, taking them from his hand,
"How love you! How wish could
breathe the sweet air you have grown
in for little while?"
s'And you must breathe it, Sis"
Bert said pinching her pale cheek,
"you and / must find quiet, mex
pensive place i'll the country for a few
weeks. We need the change. We
must have it when my vacation
comes -
May placed the flowers in water
while he spoke. Let me have little
button hole bouquet" he said, "be-
fore we go down to dinner" May
pulled out rosebud and a bit of hell
otrope carefully. In doing 80 Myrtle's
slip of paper was disclosed.
"What is thls?' Burt said, unfold
ing it cdriously and reading aloud,
And what is so rare as day in June?
Then if ever, come perfect days.
Then Heaven tries if the earth be in time
And over it softly her warm ear lays.
He passed it to May. cts nice
quotation" she said ''and written in a
lady's hand. l wonder who put it in
here?" "a pretty hand toO," Bert
said as he took it again. "If hand
writing denotes character, that lady is
interesting" He put it away in his
pocket book and they went down to
dinner.
Somehow the slip of pink paper
seemed to haunt Bert. There seemed
to be sweet suggestions of the country
about it, and its sights and sounds
presented themselves tantalizingly to
his imagination. Then that delight
full idea of the poet written in such a
pretty hand had a charm for him. lie
was genial, noble fellow of twenty
five, heart whole, and the protector
and friend of his sister; the two being
alone in the world. He was a lawyer
and had hopes Of one day becoming
successful in his profession.
"Who makes up the bouquets you
have here?" he asked of Marsh when
he dropped in thenext day as he often
did.
"My sister, she's regular enthusi-
ast over flowers" Marsh returned.
"1 should think so for she arranges
them with exquisite taste. Do you
know any pleasant place ont your
way?" he knew Marsh lived out of
the city, 'whcre my sister and l could
rusticate few weeks?" he inquired.
eve don't want to go far from the
city, for I should want to come in
once a week at least"
"My mother takes a few summer
bcarders occasionally said the other.
perhaps you will like to go there,
our place is pleasant and you could
have plenty of good country fare"
And in few days the matter was
and the second week i'll July
Bert and his sister were duly Installed
in the little cottage, which, with its
surroundings, was perfect bower OF
beauty. Both were delighted with
Myrtle, who looked so sweet and love-
fafn II
dresses that Bert straightway COM
menced to fall in love with her. He
told Myrtle how he had bought the
bouquet and how it had been the
means Of bringing him out there, and
produced the slip of pink paper.
Myrtle took it and looked at it with a
face. but felt reassured when
she found it was not the love senti--
him she had sent two others.
May and Myrtle were great friends,
and Bert was their companion on all
of boat sails, drives and ram
blcs.
Before they went back to the city
Bert had won n slight confession OF
love from Myrtle.
should have brought me q lover"
Myrtle reflected after they had left,
"Bcrt says the little piece of paper
kept urging him on"
Meanwhile Mr.. Hathaway had gone
into the country also; by the last of
he was back, rs also were tho
other inmates of Mrs. Gould's board
ing house.
Ono evening he was surprised by q
call from Bert Rhodes, whom he had
not seen for six months. They were
old acquaintance.
'.Not married yet, Hathaway? Bert
said, after some preliminary talk:
"No, and not likely to be" said the
other, with a sardonic smile.
Cant be suited, eli? Now, Hatba-
way, if you could only come across
such darling as l found i'll the coun-
try this summer,
;l,< rol,