Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-07-11
Little Pats Wedding.

Fred. There's good bit of ground to
get over, you know, with such cattle as
are obtainable here y
"All right! let's tot up-who is go
inga"
''Oh, the two beauties, of course, the
King girls-there are and-and-n
"Will Shelley go2"
Don't know; most likely he will
and Dick?"
"Of course, shall go-you can count
me in every time" piped a shrill, boyish
treble from the recess of a dark curtained
window. "And | say, Pat ought to 60
It's shame Pat Holford can't goi"
Well, why can't she go2 She's well
come to a seat, I'm sure She's a nice
little thing. She's got awful eyes.
They're like-like prayers; like poems.
They're like Wordsworth's Lucy Why
is she not going2" said young Frank
Lawless, chiefest OF this self-elected
committee of ways and numbers
Oh, gentle donkey don't you know
Pat is the white slave here2 Aunt King
Agnes and Anne, of course, accept invi-
tations to ride to the famous Cowslip
Lane. So our dear Tina, our poor rela-
ton and white slave Pat, stays at
home to administer salts of vinegar and
dabs of air from jeweled peacock FAM
"Hahl the poor little thing, she's ire
mendous nice, and am sorry FOR her.
with that old-yes, Ned, I'll go round to
the stables; and here comes Shelley. l
say, Shelley, will you go with us?"
Where tor How different the voice
calm, clear, deep, harmonious. A tall
young man, bronzed, broad shouldered,
with quantities of wavy dark hair lying
heavily across his forehead, and clear
grey eyes, regarding the person who adj
dressed him quietly, came out on the
balcony, and sitting down in the shadiest
corner, opened the book he brought with
him.
ITO Cowslip Lane; we're all going over
to view the place, and decide whether
much talked-of improvements made In it
by the new master are what they ought
to be. / say, he ought to be some rela-
ton of yours, Shelley; he's got your name.
Come on and scrape an acquaintance with
him; there's nothing like having plenty
of good rich relations to fall back on,
said Mr.. Frank Lawless, with much hap
piness.
K
You'll be party without me-"
''All right; you can stay home and
help little Miss Patience fan that old
oh, here comes Miss Agnes and the car
riage not round; y and the young fellow
bolted down the steps, whistling line
that came into his head just then, from
John Gilpin:
"He little dreamed when he set out
OF running such rig"
Allston Shelley sat quite silent in the
sweet duskiness of the flower filled bal
cony, and watched the carriages roll
away with its gay load of excursionists.
The smiles of those happy faces rained
a brightness all about him. Laughter,
jest and snatches of sweet song foated
back to him. Some one-was it Mamie
Kingg-tossed flower knot up to him.
He looked the scarlet bit of geranium
flower and white lilac carelessly in his
hand, but his.smile was not quite pleas
ant, and then in a moment more-what
was he thinking of to do 1.-THE cast the
pretty love-offering down, and crushed it
on the floor beneath his foot
. You are not my darling's geranium
flower, he muttered, looking scornfully
at the innocent petals lying, poor blood
stains, there in the sun
After that he waited, and waiting
sometimes has its reward The bees
rumbled aimlessly from flower to flower
of the many there, the shadows fell
longer and longer, little dapples of sun
shine caught the young mans hair and
laughed on it, lowering it with ''patines
of bright gold"
Presently he heard light footsteps
coming downstairs across the hall; a
1.-THE figure flew out on the balcony; a
long sigh, a sob, a golden head went
down on folded arms; a heap of blue
muslin was crushed on the floor.
Il hate her. Oh, how / hate heri'
sighed that sobbing voice. sill never
forgive her-neveri" Allston drew back
further into the shadows of vine and
drapery, not knowing whether this
grieved young creature knew of his pres
Cnce there. He sat quite still
Sobbing breath grew lighter, tears
ceased to rain, the stormy signs grew
still; out of blue, tear-drenched eyes a
rainbow s.sprang; the violet bloomed
again, and the rose blushed with open
Petals; the sweet curved lips made
dimpling pits for smiles to grow In.
DO you think I am very wicked7'
was the sudden question that broke the
stiffness. and made Allston Shelley look
quickly up. But Mss Patience Holford
did not look at him, her forehead was
bent IN the balcony-rail. Am wicked