Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-04

A story of Warrington Life.


When I first knew Margret Sinclair she was
not quite sixteen; a petted child in a happy
home-one OF those children. advancing TO-
ward womanhOod, 70 whom the feelings con-
sfitute all OF life; alternating from smiles to
tears the smiles having much the better part
OF it, she danced her way along. The "Flre-
Fly" we called her In school, and IL is as the
FREELY love TO think OF her. There was
nothing particularly attractive about her at
first sight. She was small, she was dark, she
had Irregular features, but she had eyes that
II up her face and kindled a IRE in others
eyes that looked into unknown depths. and
then skinned the veriest surfaces; glittering
Ike any bead. TIL OF a sudden some feeling
came into them, ard the bead was the window
E OF soul. Yes, Margret Sinclair In those days
bad soul, though she knew as little OF 1t as
the rest Of us, and the possession, whether we
recognized 1t or not, made her In some sort
''uncanny." At times We could not under
stand her. and know she did not understand
herself. A fully developed heart and soul IN
an undeveloped girl OF sixteen does not nat
urally adjust Itself TO conven1tonallties. 1t
makes Its own path, and Margret Sinclair
girl comps mons, were cIriouSly peeping at
life through the experiences OF our elder
sisters, envyiDg, enjoying, or crittcsing. Mar
greet Sinclair met her fate. There came TO
Washington an officer of the navy whom we
called 1.-The Apollo" and Invested with every
glorious attribute. In reality he had many
noble qualities, and one oVerpowerIng Wee
He was already, at twenty-eight, the victim of
fntemperanee. ASyet his magnificent pHysi-
que told no tales, and Harry Rogers would
have been the lion OF that season il he could
have been caught and held How often have
heard ny sister ard her friends, the bellies OF
the hour, seriously and jOki0gly devtsing
plans to eGtrap him, to faSctnate him. to pique
him; but Harry Rogers evaded them all, with
smile that added TO bis desirableDeSs giving
US younger ones but poor opinion OF LHeir
resources. ~ e. would do SO and So and vet
when our time came we had prottad nothing
Each one commenced anew, and learned her
own lessen In her own way and for her own
self. Margret Sinclair was no exception, eX-
CeptiODal as she was In all else. With her
dt there was not an overrliing fate In ~ IL all
turned upon visit she made, quite acci1en-'
tally. to Caroline NaSten, daughter OF Com
modofc Masten, who lived some four miles
from town. The SInClalrs and Mastens were
intimate, and Caroline, though several years
older than Marg-et, was fond OF the FREELY
In the patr0niZlng way that became her
greater experience and knowledge OF the
world. Caroline MaSten was practical girl
with enough common sense on common mat
tiers: good gill. III being HSthetical tine
tured with what passes for Teligioh-nOt q
faith by any means, not even q sentiment, but
a routine that answered for both. she could
never be troubled with any doubts as to her
future Well-heing, here and hereafter, While
she went 10 church every Sunday morning,
AID behaved like LADY. The FREELY said
once, III the midst OF a tedious sermon, she
would Ike Ito get on the back OF the seat and
feYeIent.
NJ IS Caroline, however was our mo1el. and
teieVe the Fire + ly woIshipped her In some
blind way, TIL she found herself soaring miles
on, In weird OF sentiment aud passion that
Caroline Ma5ten could never apprehend
1t so CHANGED that Harry Rogers, who was
commodore MaStenS nephew, was spending a
few days In the county when Margret Sinclair
went out, but 10 one thought CT him as
danger ahead" Tor her she was "a Child"
going into the country for holiday, and as
child In her schoolgirl dress she drove out to
meet her fate. AT that time she was more
full OF life. had more enjoyment In IL. than
any person have ever seen. Size did as she
pleased. and said what she pleased Within the
OVID. TIE FREELY was her appropriate
name. She spanked in Just th,t titful way.
and again With just that steady glow she
laughed, she sang. she daEced-aboVe all she
C2nced. Dancing was kind or fntoxicati0n
with her, and never knew her hear a waltz
that she did not spin round. as If in obedience
10 some law OF rhythmic movement she could
lot resist. IL was the only expressive dane
Ing l ever saw, and yet could never tell in
what the expression consisted, but felt a dEf-
Terence could not see She knew her dane
ng vas power, and when she f0ated round
I'D tne Only large ballroom she had ever been
IL. GIt ssed In White, with the ''angel sleeves"
u eH worn; she did Lot look altogether like
'OIe OF U.s."
Thu K lt would take so long 20 tell, or perlaos
love to linger over that time OF my glrlh901
Naen, 1--WE were not all Fire Flies, We aspired
10 be. Margret Sinclair then Wanr ouf to
she was lot young lady. Harry Rogers did
lot as usual desert the field. He did rot think
her OF Sufficient importance at first, and after
Fard lie staid because ne found her pi1Iant
aha amusing. Caroline MasteL has often said
that When size accompanied MargtcC 10 her
fCtm LOT the talk" that all grls, Old and
5tuI ., WING up the day with. She obserGe! the
FlrC-tly was precccupied and when she asked
Der II Cousin Harry was not "5penI div
Maidstone, Marg!et replied IN a doubtful
qlesuonll way. Miss Caroline. could not
h f1iEE H1yu
conmon-sebse persons are apt 10 DO that
What they do Lot understand does not exist.
che tocE 10 notice or the absurdity OF the re-
Fly, but proceeded TO say TO Margret, as she
Old TO every one elso, that he was as bad as he
was handsome 81 don't beliere it, and
ht ttf rtHl' MaTgret Grief. Caroline lau ghed
ber un3ulattng little laugh at this misplaced
enthusiasm, AID before bidding good night in
dLjged teTself In some sage advice, good
eICugn OF It's Kind. bIt totally wide of me
marx. It would have teen wasted had X been
more applicable.
All wise persons vino scof at love at first
sight sb0ulu Lot lose tine and patience In IoI-
!oNIIg THIS story. They are warned they viii
Ind here no exhaustive analysis OF the GA 81 IN
or love; no struggles against IT, as we are an hi
is Becoming: 10 blindness to it. as is perhaps
more natural; DO moral 20 De deGuced from IT,
MdIgFtt sinclair knew. "a she gained all her
EEoWiedge. by flash, that she loved Harry
Rogers, ard she yielded TO 1t win the same Ia
recent ABANDON that she yielded to the music
OF The dance. Love took possession or her, aud
80 5lcilIi-N At- duQ iUfItu III IL. HAIRY
Rogers this had all the cnarm OF novelty Al
INST lie laughed at the child but before lat
lniee Gays visit vas ended he was as mafIy
as loonsnly, In love as she was. / have always
thought, In spite OF the difference In fhar
ages, that the Fire Fly hal the stronger IA.
lure OF The TWO, and that Harry Rogers. uJtelIy
uLaple 10 resist its power over him sought ps-
cape py F'ght. He was an honorable man and
sBeW h1mst II 10 De 10 fair match for ihat
yoUrg GIL. and, to his credit be 1t said. he did
itaVe ashthgton; but the moth might as we'll
Try 10 avoid the flame. he was away from the
ely Ten days, ard report said those DAYS ware
pasSeQ IN drunken deoauch. I only kn1W
mat he returned, haDdsomer than ever, and
with the fixed purpose Of winniDg Margrs It
Sill clair. -
His promises OF reform, that were Cos 81
truths III her ears. had no weight win her
parents, and for the first time the FREELY mot
opposition. It made her more ntful aid
cleaning than ever, except when in the nrp3-
eIce OF her lover. Then she was too hapo; 10
De gay. She lived and moved In him. m
sciOuS OF but the one fact that he was with her.
Her father tried TO extract promise that she
would not meet Harry Rogers. She only sail.
P6pa, could not keepit IL l made it, ana 70
ner Inother's expOstulations and entreaties S re
replied, plteously, Mamma, tell me how TO
happily. young women are so much better
No.