Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-07-28
HE WAIER LILY,

The little village Of ChelstOn, in the
county Of IIertford, might have been
termed with Goldsmith's Sweet Au-
burn" the "lOyeliest OF the plain"
Where smiling spring IT'S earliest visit
paid,
And parting summers lingering blooms
delayed"
IIalf-hidden amid u shady clump of
trees young artist sat painting at q
small, light easel, and the faint outlines
of distant hills and scattered hamlets
were already standing out from the
canvass In front og him.
lie was apparently but little over
thirty years of age. and his face looked
grave and stern for one so young, and
bore unaccOuntable traces of some long
hidden sorrow.
lie had for some time been sitting
absorbed in his work, almost uncon-
scious Of anything around him save the
fair sketch OF landscape he was so
faithfully delineating.
The brOoklet ran by him-nOt TWEEN
~ yards from where he was seated
and the dappled cows lay chewing their
cuds upon its banks, or quenching their
thirst in its crystal waters. reminding
ono of Sidney Cooper's most perfect
pictures of cattle.
Ernest Darrell's attention was. how.
ever, suddenly arrested by n new object,
and one which 10 his gaze was fairer
than any he had seen that morning. A
little girl scarcely seven years of age
was standing near the brOok-she had
been gathering wateT-lilies, and i'm her
hand she held u basket containing a
number of the pure white flowers. His
eyes fell upon her face. lifted wistfully
10 his own, and then something like q
smile broke over the little ones mouth
rs she said, half shyly:
"Do come and reach me this beauty
II you please.
Ernest Darrell was hardly sure al
first whether IL was really himself she
was addressing; but no sooner was HI
aware Of the fact than he laid dowI
his palette and brushes aud came for
ward TO her assistance.
"a water-lily. is itY" he asked, glanc
ing mt her basket.
"Yes. such beauty, but so far Out
of my reach" she repeated, and thel
stood eagarly watching Ernest, who
stretching himself full length upon tn
bank, succeeded with his long arm II
grasping the coveted flower.
The child's delight was unbounded
the sight of which amply repaid hin
for his trouble; but the unusual beaut,
of her face, and the air of child-lik
grace which accompanied her ever,
movement completely won Ernest
heart, and he was determined not Il
let her run away just yet.
"You must give me n kiss rs pay
ment for IL" he said with smile, light
ly passing his hand over her COLDER
head from which her hat had fallen
She started back with a vivid blush.
'Oh. no, indeed; am n great dea
too old to kiss you," she exclaimed
"Why, am seven, and quite a yount
lady"
"Are you, reallyY Then am sure
beg your PARDON" said Ernest, hardl,
able to rcprcss laugh. "But at an
rate you will tell me your nameT h
added.
Ht ~ - htg AlstlAlt u l4llltll, Out .
am nearly always called Lily" replie,
the little girl. with am air of conse
quence.
"Lilian-nothing clseY" asked FL
nest.
~No; only that" she answered.
sarnames are generally superfuOu
Then. i presume. the fact of YOU
being lily yourself makes YOU fond O
the lowers that bear your name" n
reioined smiling.
She laughed-a soft silyerv. ham
laugh. that fell like music upon M
young artists ear.
"Oh. I don't know; think I love a
flowers but especially these" she sale
glancing down at her basket sThe
are 10 large and pure and white. lik
The whito-robed angels In the stainef
glass windows at church. Mama love
them, Too, because she says when I Al
not with her they remind her OF me
You are mama's pet. then, and d