Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-09-15
DAFFODIL'S HUSBAND.


towers of st. Georges twin-steepled
church, the soft June twilight was set
Ting, like an impalpable veil of liquid
amethyst, over all the little apartments,
and Daffodil Grey stood at the window,
carelessly toying with the geranium
leaves. that gave out a sweet, pungent
fragrance to the touch of her fingers,
and Misunderstanding!
1t was Just six months, this day, that
she was married-siX months since she
had left the old farm In Chester county,
and came to the great city to live.
you'll be desperately homesick!'
Aunt Jocasta had said, with a solemn
shake of the head.
mot with john! she had responded
radiantly,
Just fancy" groaned Aunt Jocasta,
exchanging all these fields and hills
for city Fat!'
every one lives in flats nowadays" "
Daffodl had retorted; ''and John says |
shall find things very convenient.
'Humph!" said Aunt Jocasta; 81
never was in love myself, but I've been
told that people who are, would believe
any yInluS. suppose OoIll 40 III" eAu
gospel to you now!'
'tOf course said Daffodil, laughing.
So she had married the young hero of
her hopes and dreams, and gone to the
great, crowded city TO live. And the
fiat had been Arcadia to her-that Is,
lust at first, when the honeymoon was
in its first glow, and all the world was
transfgured with the light that shines
through the halo of wedding ring.
But, of late, Mrs. Daffodil had not
been quite SO happy. She had been
crying, one night, when John came home
unexpectedly, and there was no time to
dash away the tears.
"My darling" he had cried aghast,
"what is the trouble?"
Nothing, John-nothing!" she had
answered. "Only-only it is SO long
since placed my feet on sod of green
grass. And was thinking that the old
orchard would be in blossom, just at
this time; and the meadow under the
sassafras tree would be all blue with
early violets.
"Dafodil, are you homesick?"
"No, John-indeed, no." she cried.
"Get on your things" said Grey.
"We1l 90 and walk in the park, and lis
ten to the robin at the bird fancier's,
and try to imagine ourselves back in the
rural districts again"
But Daffodil trying to smile as she
tied her pink bonnet-strings, did not
tell him OF the long visit she had from
old Mrs. Nudge, who declared that
"she had al'ys loved John Grey as if he
had been her own son." and had pro-
ceeded to edify his bride with circum-
stantial account of all the mischief he
had gotten into, all the love-tangles in
which he had been involved, all the
half-engagements into which he had
been drawn, until poor Daffodil felt as
if her John Grey and this gay Lothario
must be two quiet different beings.
'.And we all supposed, my dear, "
said Mrs. Nudge, comfortably taking
snuff, "that he was to marry Olive Dod-
worth, the actress, when he up and
brought you home. Dear, dear! what
firts men are! Amt they now, my
dear?"
"I-suppose So" said poor Dattodil,
intent upon the stitches of her strip Of
embroidery.
81 hope you'll come and see me
often, ;" said Mrs. Nudge, setting down
her tea-cup and taking up her big red
shawl.
81 shall be very happy, t said Daffo-
dill.
"And we'll have ever so many nice
confidential chats" said Mrs. Nudge.
'Yes," said Dafodil, family.
And after Mrs. Nudge had gone away
poor Daffodil sat and wondered what
made her SO wretched. She could hear
some one moving about overhead. Some
one had told her that a young artist had
just rented the top floor of the Fonta1ne
Flats.
She wondered vaguely what he was
like, and whether, he too, was a human
butterfly lighting on every flower and
constant to none.
She asked herself whether fat Mr..
Smith, who went out from the suite OF
apartments below every day with silk
umbrella under his arm, dyed mustaches
and a smoothly-shaven chin, had his
amiable weaknesses likewise.
81 almost WISH" said Daffodn tc
herself, "that I had remained unmar
ried. Nc I don't either! II dom
know what I do wish!
So, woman-ike, Daffodi had begun
But the pleasant twilight walk in thu
park. and the melodious whistle OF tn
robin at the bird fancier's, had cheereC
her ND again. for the time being.