The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-01-09
DALToN,s SWEETHEART.


she leaned back against the old gnarled
tree, with daisy in her pretty hand
A sunbeam peeped through the bran
ches over their heads, and kissed little
golden curl, that had strayed from the
keeping of the picturesque rough hat
kissed the sweet brown eyes, making
them laugh and dance; kissed a merry
little mouth, and at last rested caress-
ingly on their fair daisy, the child OF
sunbeams.
81 wonder who you have named it,
Mr.. Dalton? Will you tell me after
ward ?"
'If the daisy is wise, and has the
number of petals WISH" he said with
q look which made Ethel Clifford drop
her eyes quickly, as one by one she
threw the showy petals into her lap,
whispering softly: Friendship, love,
indifference, hate"
One by one he picked up the little
tell-tale things, picked them up with
such lingering touch, and held them
in his firm hand; for was not the daisy
his-dear little type of whose name it
bore. Meanwhile, the sunbeam peeped
at him, and lighted noble, manly,
honest, earnest face, that only revealed
the chivalrous spirit, and concentration
Of thought and aim, that made Dalton
the man that he was.
ooh, Mr.. Dalton, / know You'll be
pleased, it's friendship" said Ethel,
with d frank smile.
A shadow passed over his face, and he
said, "But am not, Miss Ethelr'
''Not!" she cried, growing earnest,
"Oh, why not?' Don't you feel that
friendship means lifelong trusi?"
"Your words mako me feel deeply
that / am not satisfied with with the
flowers decree, for named the daisy
Ethel"
A deep sigh heaved from the sympa-
thetic heart through the quivering lips
"0h, Mr.. Dalton, / am 80 sorry"
"Why, Ethel?' he sadly asked.
Because-because 1 am so fond OF
you; 1 love SO much to be with you,
and I so long that we should be as the
daisy says-friends.
"But don't you feel deep down in your
heart, that even your beautiful picture
of friendship is cold !? Add to it the
flowing sunlight Of love, and you know
what give you and what I ask of
you III return"
But the answer was almost a sob, ooh,
Mr.. Dalton, am so sorryw
"Think of it prayerfully one little mo-
ment, dear heart. God grant you Do
know yourself?"
, The little head fell for moment on
the clasped hands. Then she raised her
true, brown eyes with a beseeching
/ glance, and simply, gently said: "0nly
friendship"
"The manly, brave face was turned
1 away, but Edward Dalton folded little
hand in one of his, while he whispered
God bless you, child. Good bye.
e Theto-days quickly turned into yes
terdays, and Ethel Clifford's life wai
happy-atogether happy
h She felt hat she had been true to hel
in own heart tht June morning when Ed
ward Dalton hid said good byel for sure
ly it was not I've that she had felt foi
Ii him, and not deer burning love that sh,
had dreamed Of i, woman's fancies, s,
III size put him away with sigh for hi
sorrow, and lived ol, her happy, bus,
little life. But, as theuonths rolled by
na a shadow fell on her Appy heart; sh
il, knew not what it meant and plunge,
IN deeper into the pleasuresand duties o
in her life, but the shadois grew int
rs cravings as shadows often do.
in One sunny June day, as shevas ram
in bling in the fields, she came uAxpect
/, edly to the spot where year befoA Ed
rs ward Dalton had told her the stcy q
his love, She had even avoided the "a
IN IN since then. She did not know why. u
there it was and SO she fingered. 81
looked down on the fresh, green gra
and started, but she only saw dai
es near an old gnarled tree, looking up
~s her with an innocent face. She stoop
. and picked it, anda tear shown it as
as put 1t in her breast. for il had sho'
will her that the shadow on her heart "
tha 'as love, the great craving was what s
or had put from her year ago.
A few nights after Ethel clifd
stood before the mirror, restlessly pl
ting the finishing touches to ravishi
toilette, smiling at her pretty self as
ist carelessly tucked bunch Of daisies
t..1a Ola Ioolrad down at then