Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-03
BRING MYRTLE"
4 STORY.

number of letters were awaiting Col. Hal.
dane Commandant OF the Newly. on his return
from Parade. He was unmarried rich and
rather MISUNDERSTANDING. 1t will therefore
surprise 10 one that he was accustomed to re-
ceive great many sweetly-scenteG. delicately.
monoerafned. prettlly-worked letters from the
various members of the fair sex with whom he
was acquainted. Amongst the little heap (which
Law before him was one conspicuous for its care
less handwriting and rough envelope. Oddly
enough. this was the one he selected first for
perusal. Serawied on tue lip of the envelope
were these words: Bring Myrtle"
Col Haidane put up his ''..entlemauly eye
glass" and held his head little on one side; he
| twisted his iron fray mu3tache into yet more
poignant expression as he inspected those
curious words Bring Myrtle" Who was
Myrtle? What was Myrtle? How many times
he read and re-resd that message he was per-
| haps unaware. But it was useless. Bring
Myrtle" remained on the lip of the envelope, an
unsOlved enigma.
Slowly ne opened the letter IT was annvta-
ton to afternoon tea at the Whtes-peopie lie
knew si-htly.as he knew SO many in the heavily
garrisOned naval and military town close to the
barracks at Newly.
The letter was from Miss Florence White, who
wrote in her mothers name.
lie called up vision of Florence White. Tall
and stately, a girl with mass of golden brown
hair. rolled of her forehead: o girl he had
greatly admired as one admires a serene and
lovely landscape; girl who made him feel pro-
yokingly ''fogieish" Otte, young ladies ratified
away at him. as ii he were sub. asked him to
play tennis with them, and treated him like
mere y0uHgster. But this young lady had
| placed him. with due regard to his complexion.
in shadOwy corner of the drawng-rOOm on
| one or two occasions when he had taken tea"
there. ana had introduced him to some deep
toned natrons. rs If in that direction lay his
natural bias; and now this stately young lady
] sends him a jocuar postscript bidding him
! Bring Myrtle.'
/ Col. Eadane sat down in the comfortable aed
velvet chair which fuced the PIrade-grOund,
and commanded a fine view of the ever-coupan-
! iCnable sea. The little ripping waves had an
expression OF infant smiles to-day and the buoy
ant clouds were chasing one another like school,
boys on a common. How innocent and fair
was the world of nature. He sat dreaming over
his problem Bring Myrtle" quite happily.
knock with the knob of a stick on the door
! breaks into his reflections. and Captain Hilton
enters with his customary Ofparade familiarity.
Well. old Fellow. what's up? Sea and senti-
ment. OH? It's fatal to sit in that attitude look
in@ IT the sea. What's up. | ask yOu!"
Col. Hadane reused himself from his reverie
with an effort; he gently tapped his left hand
with the letter which yet remained idly between
his finger and thumb.
"JGne,' he said addressing Capt Hilton by
| his nickname: Jane, what on earth does 1t
t
lady to Bring Ny1tLes'" and he handed the en-
velOpe TO Capt. Hilton.
Jane. who had 4 rolling eye and rolllckirc
smile, took the envelope daintiy and after reatl-
Ing it. pressed it to his heart, and said, with
strong brogue: "Nhy man. it's O PROPOSAL,
What do the ladies wear on their festal brows
and twist In the flowing satin of the bridal
GOWNS but myrtle: Bring myrtle tell you
it's proposals. bona fde proposal wish
you every joy She is sweet girl. if q bold
one"
without word. Col Haldane spranc. in a
melodramic manner at the throat of Capt Hill
| ton. and held him with a grip of iron.
How dare you speak OF Miss White like
that: She is the most distinguished girl of my
acquaintance. Apologize"
Captain Hilton rolled bis eve with a CHASTITY
appeal on Col, Haldane, when the latter as sud-
denly relaxed his grasp and said
Forgive me. Hilton, but really I-I-obiect
to such an unseemly idea"
II beg your pardon Colonel" said Captain
Hilton. stjff1y: 81 object equally to being
throttled. Allow me to wish you good morn
ing"
''5top, my friend" said Colonel Haldsne. con-
| fusedly: Il don't know what Is the matter
with me- I'm half asleep. l think. Sea and
sentiment. as YOU said just now. Come nv
| friend Do tell NE what earth Miss White
means"
Means ? something green" said Hilton,
yiclCusly; but whether sprouting in tub
}
done up in glass case alter the artificial
mode know not. l wish you good morning.
Colonel"
And with that he retreated to the mess-room.
"Blossoming shrub" murmured Colonel Hal
dane BLESS his Hibernian wit Eurekai
Now have it - And with that he sat down at
his writing table and Denned the following let
ter:
"An Myosotis, 10, Avenue Victor Emmanuel
IA Mention. Alpes Maritimes.
"Send the finest Towering myrtle you possess
| to the following address Miss Florence White
The Grange. POrterdown, Sussex. The myrtle
must arrive on the afternoon of September the
18th. one week from this date"
Then Colonel Haldane rang the bell hastily
and told his man to post the letter. This done
he placed the note from Miss Florence White in
the pocket of his fr0gged coat and then pro-
ceeded to read the rest of his correspondence
The afternoon of the 18th duly arrived and
with strange palpitation at his heart "a sensa-
ton which ought to have aroused his suspicious
as to the exact state of his susceptibllites) Col
Haldane drove up in his little hooded Carriage,
with the tiger jumping up and down behind, to
the gates OF the Grange.
Here comes the pig in the poke" said Fe-
licity White, younger daughter, who was
given TO using her brains in off-hand criticism
''lf man will drive carriage with hood
hat is one to call him but mig in a poke. you
know He is fidgeting at the gate most awfully,
Florence; DO come and look"
II like that hooded carriage" said Florence
lie style cest Fhomme meme" And then she
turned with ready grace to meet Col Hadane
who had just entered the room.
Felicity and | were drawn to the window
by The mapnetical influence Of your charming
little carriage" she said. II so admire your
| poke"
DO you:" said Col. Haldene. gratefully. SIT
is very kind OF you!" and then he looked stead
fastly at Florence, absolutely blushlng as he did
so.
Florence. catching the glance interrogatve
was arrested in her amiable intention of trans
porting him to the other end OF the long lone
drawing-room. and introducing him to Mrs.
Harrington, the rectors wife. This agitated
gentleman did look exactly in fit state to be
dlscoursed to about winter blanket clubs and
working mems clubs and friendly societies
It's all very fine to talk about leading an I'm.
| puzzled existence. like Jane Austen; but arlty
on earth did Col. Haldane look at her with this
unfathcmable glance from his undeniably fine
gray eyes? What did il mean? She fell away
/ from him, musing. and turned the outward
machinery of trite commonpaces on her greet
/ inG OF the numerous guests, who were rapidly
/ arriving.
| The Whites had lust started page who an
| swered to the ubiquitous name of Tommy"
| one OF those specimens much adapted by am
/ bilious matrons as an Improvement on parlor
maids; creature raw of the fields, with the
/ expression Of an animated turCip and brains to
/ match In the midst of buzz of voices inter-
! minglin2 with the frou-frou Of rich dresses,
/ Tommy suddenly darted into the room and made
straight for Miss Florence White, carrying in