The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-06-09
THE WATER LILY.


burn" the "loveliest of the plain,''
" Where smiling spring it's earliest visit paid,
And parting summers lingering blooms delayed"
And on this bright summers morning
on which our story opens it appeared
more lovely than ever, with the rich
foliage swaying beneath the clear blue
sky, the broad green meadows, and the
grazing cattle, while the gurgle of a
brooklet mingled its music with the
caroling of birds. ~ >
Haf-hidden amid shady clump of
trees young artist sat painting at
small, light easel, and the faint outlines
of distant hills. and scattered hamlets
we're already standing out from the can
vas in front of him.
He Wis apparently but little over
thirty years of age, and his face looked
grave and stern for ione SO young, and
bore unaccountable traces of some long
hidden sorrow.
He had for some time been sitting alb
sorbed in his work, almost unconscious
of anything around him save the fair
sketch of landscape he was SO faithfully
delineating.
The brooklet ran by him-not twenty
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
one of Sidney Cooper's most perfect
pictures of cattle.
Ernest DarrelPs attention was, how
ever, suddenly arrested by new object,
and one which to 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 water lilies, and In her
hand she held bask ket containing a
number of the pure white flowers. His
eyes fell upon her face, lifted wistfully
to his own, and then something like a
| smile broke over the little ones mouth
as she said, half shyly:
ssDo come and reach me this beauty,
if you please"
Ernest Darrell was hardly sure at first
whether it was really himself she was
addressing; but no sooner was he aware
of the fact than he laid down his palette
and brushes and came forward to hel
assistance.
"A water-lily, is it?" he asked, glanc.
ing at her basket.
eyes, such beauty, but 80 far out o.
my reach," she repeated, and then stood
eagerly watching Ernest, who stretching
himself full length upon the bank sue
ceeded with his long arm in graspine
the coveted flower.
The child's delight was unbounded
the sight of which amply rewarded hin
for his trouble; but the unusual beaut,
of her face and the air of childlike grac,
which accompanied her every movemen
completely won Ernest's heart, and h,
was determined not to let her run ava,
just yet. 4.... ..z--.-
.sYou must give me kiss as paymen
for it." he said, with smile, ightl,
passing his hand over her golden heat
from which her hat had fallen. Sh
started back, with a vivid blush.
ooh, no, indeed; I am great dea
tvo old to kiss you," she exclaimed
"Why, am seven, and quite younl
lady,"
"Are you, really? Then I am sure
beg your pardon" said Ernest, hardl
able to repress laugh. 'tBut at an,
rate you will tell me your name?" h
added. .
"Oh, yes; my name is Lillian, but
am nearly always called Lily" replle'
the little girl, with an air of consequence
'Iilian-nothing else?" asked Ernest
'tNo; only that she answered.
Surnames are generally superhuou
with children.
"Then, I presume, the fact of you
} being lily yourself makes you fond
the flowers that bear your name" b
rejoined, smiling.
She laughed soft, silvery, happ
laugh, that fell like music upon tn
young artists ear.
s'Oh, I don't know; think I love a
flowers, but especially these" she salt
: glancing down at her basket. ''They al
: so large and pure and white, like th
white-robed angels in the stained glal
: windows at church. Mamma loves thel
. too, because she says when am not wit
l her they remind her of me.
l 'You are mammals pet, then and pt
pas, too, I suspect, for the matter
. . that" replied Ernest, his interrupte
= occupation totally forgotten in the ne
n pleasure he felt in conversing with Il
q child
= = 81 haven't papa" she said, droppir
Q her voice; she died, oh, long before
can remember, but I never ask abo
him, because it always makes mann
cry. Would you tell me the tim
" please ?"
o Ernest glanced at his watch. "Nea1
a l o'clock, " he told her.
a s'Then must bid you goodbye" s.
u said, "or I shall be late home" Al
20 setting down her basket she bethoug
10 herself of the hat, which she proceed
Of to adjust on the top of her gold
to curls.
at s'Do you come here every day ?" 8
g. asked of Ernest.
IN 'I shall be here every day for Lit
j. while, he answered her.
id "Then I hope Twill see you agair
le she said artlessly. 'tAnd thank you
OF very much for getting me the wal
re lily"
4. For a moment her little eungloved ha
:, | rastad ON his own her Inns Ilarted in