Daily Republican., 1883-11-24
ORIGINAL.
CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
BY RYE ROSsE.

The Day God in his frey chariot wa
quietly hiding behind the long range c
|purple hills that shut In the little vi
lage of Scrag Hollow, his last rays shin
Ing redly in the boles OF the rugged
forest trees and lighting up the wood
land path over which Nature ha'
spresd a carpet more brilliantly artist
than any ever produced from the mos
skillful Eastern looms. And Poll.
Trestleford, wrapped in her warm shaw
and nubia of scarlet, and balancing
basket lightly on her arm, looked like
some belated Red Riding Hsod, as sh
hurried homeward, with the buoyan
tread ofyouth, through the late Octo
ber wood.
Polly was no spoiled pet of society
pampered and INDUCED in every whim
but one Of tho hundred girls who earn
ell their daily bread in the big buttor
factory at tho lower end Of Scrag Hol
low.
To be sure there had been q tim,
when she had had no need TO work fo
her living, but that had been before th'
old squire, her father, had invested hi
spare thousands in visionary silvel
mines in New Mexico. 1t had SCENE:
just little hard at first to start forth
In the ranks of the laborer and to fint
her own sweet will must often be mad,
subservient to duty but Polly had {
brave spirit and plenty Of youthful
energy, and she considered honorable
work no disgrace.
Certainly the ten dollars she brought
home every Saturday night helped
wonderfully in promoting the comfort
Of the household.
30 Polly was contented and happy
and being bewitchingly pretty and
saucy the masculine portion Of the
community graciously overlooked such
trities as a neatly darned rent in glove,
patch upon the toe of prettily
shaped nnmber two boot, and even a
dress occasionally "made over" and
unanimou usly voted her the belle OF all
their social gatherings.
On this particular evening Polly was In
a state of pleasurable excitement con-
cerning a masq uerade to be held at the
house Of friend and to which she was
invited. Thoughts of the delicious
dancing and the elegant supper, Of her
dress, and a dozen other things were
chasing one another through her head
when the sound of hasty footsteps be.
hind her, struck upon her ear and a
well known voice called " Polly,
Polly, wait !"
Polly looked carefully over her shoul-
der, as the owner Of the voice came
closer to her, and continued on her way.
"Oh,it's you," she remarked. "What
Is the IN after, you seem to be out OF
breath"
81 have been hurrying to overtake
you," replied the young man, settling
his hat more firmly on his we'll shaped
blonde head.
" l cannot imagine why you should
want to waste your breath In such all
endeayor, and to make your face re-
semble y piece Of scarlet flannel in co.
lor," said Miss Polly coldly. But
since you have, perhaps you will be
kind enough to tell me quickly what it
is you want, as am in somewhat Of a
hurry"
Polly was no respecter Of persons, and
Carisford Arlington, the son of the veal
thy mill.owner, haa to take his share In
snubbing as well an any other admir-.
or Of her's when she was disposed to be
captions
Polly, you are out Of humor," said
the young man, not deigning to notice
this unkind speech. 81 assure you
could not avoid Idancing with Miss
Lawton the other evening. They would
not let me off,"
"No, suppose not" said Polly, lof-
tlly, and making her nose trihe more
retrousei than nature intended it
" But hardly see how all this concerns
me. Have you said all you wish
II 80, will say good evening"
"If l didn't know you so we'll l
should certainly lose my temper" said
Arlington, half vexed, half amused.
Z" At what hour shall call for you
this evening 2"
"Call Tor me |" repeated Polly with
a blank stare. " What for, may !
ask 2"
"To attend the masquerade. an
swered the young man impatiently. 81
hope you are not going to be so obsti-
nate as to refuse to 60 with me-
certainly do not think ! shall
break my engagement with DR.. Moore
for you," said Polly, with a wicked
glsam at him from the purple wells of
light half hidden behind the interlac-
ing net work of her long lashes.
"Nor do wish you to, II such is the
case" returned Arlington proudly !;
u but certainly thought the matter
was understood between US two good
weeks ago"
"Dear me, did you ?" said Polly,
emitting her pretty brows in pretended
Why, l was not aware that
hat you ever asked me, until this even
Not In so many words, perhaps, II
you mean that" he replied, "but i
hought when you promised to wear
hose white chrysanthemums If III
brought them, SO that might recognize
,ou among the maskers, that"
ooh, that was all nonsense" inter
upted Polly, hurriedly, the blood
lyeing her cheeks a richer Grim
on; how could You possibly construe
nav luIO b pTOml~
Carisford Arlington looked at her
Iuite calmly for an instant" Yes," he,
aid slowly see have been mis-
AIKEN. A man is liable, however, to
make few mistakes in his life time
nd l think | shall doubtless profit by
nine. We have reached the edge Of the
wood, Isee. Permit me to assist you over
his fence, and AZ there is no longer any
urther excuse for inflicting my dis.
'greeabls presence upon you, will bid
on good evening"
He lifted his hat conrteously and
trode off In III opposite direction. |
Polly gazed after him, feeling Q little
emorseful but a good deal more indig.
Iant.
If he thinks he can play fast and
oose with Polly Trestleford, he's mis-.
AIKEN, that's ALL" she said to herself.
If he admires Miss Lawion, let him
evote his time and attention to her;
he will dou btless be better able to ap.
reciate them than l."
Still, it was the first time he had ever
oft her in cOldness, and the sensation,