The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-01-22
BRING MYRTLE" "

DlVl lNO Iu 1u I1i
A number of letters were awaiting
Colonel Haldane, commandant of
Newly, on his return from parade.
lie was unmarried, rich and rather
MISUNDERSTANDING. 1t will there
fore surprise no one that he was accus-
toned to receive great many sweetly-
scented, delicately-monogrammed, pref
tily-worded letters from the various
members of the fair sex with whom he
was acquainted. Among the little
heap which lay before him was one
conspicuous for its careless handwrit-
ing and rough envelope. Oddly
enough, this was the one he selected
first for perusal. Scrawled on the lip
of the envelope were these words:
"B1ing Myrtle"
Colonel Haldane put up his gentle
manly eye glass, and held his head a
little on one side; he twisted his iron
gray moustache into a 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-read
that message he was perhaps unaware.
But it was useless. Bring Myrtle"
remained on the lip of the envelope, an
unsolved enigma.
Slowly he. opened the letter. 1t was
an invitation to afternoon tea at the
Whites-people he knew slightly, as
/ he knew so many in the heavily sarri
soned naval and military town close to
the barracks at Newly.
The letter was from Miss Florence
White, who wrote in her mother
name.
He called up vision of Florence
White Tall and stately, a girl with a
mass of golden brown hair, rolled off
her forehead; girl he had greatly ad-
mired, as one admires a serene and
lovely landscape; girl who made him
feel provokingly "fogyish." Othe'
young ladies ratified away at him, as il
he were a sub, asked him to play tennis
with them, and treated him like mere
youngster. But this young lady had
placed him, with due regard to his
complexion, in shadowy corner of the
drawing room on one or two occasions
when he had taken "tea" there, ant
had introduced him to some deep-tonet
matrons, as if in that direction lay his
natural bias, and now this stately
young lady sends him the joculal
postscript bidding him Bring Myrtle'
Colonel Haldane sat down in tn,
comfortable red velvet chair which
faced the parade-ground, and com
manded a fine view of the ever-com
panionable sea. The little ripping
waves had an expression of infan
smiles to-day, and the buoyant cloud!
were chasing one another like school
boys on a common. How innocen
and fair was the world of nature! II,
sat dreaming over his problem "Brins
Myrtle quite happily.
A knock with the knob of stick OF
the door breaks into his reflections, ant
Captain Hilton enters with his Gus
tomary off-parade familiarity.
"Well, old fellow, what's up? Sc;
and sentiment, eh? It's fatal to sit il
that attitude, looking at the sea
What's up, ask you?"
Colonel Haldane reused himself from
his reverie with an effort; he gentl,
tapped his left hand with the lette
which yet remained idly between hi
finger and thumb.
"JaneY' he said, addressing Captain
Hilton by his nickname. "Janel wha
on earth does it mean when You receiv
a message from a young lady 10 'Bri1at
Myrtle?" and he handed the cnvelop
to Captain Hilton.
Jane, who had rolling eye and
rollicking smile. took the envelop
daintily, and, after reading it. presse'
it to his heart, and said, with a stron,
brogue: "Why, man, it's proposal
What do the ladies wear on thei
festal brows, and twist about the low
ing satin of their bridal gowns bu
myrtle? Bring myrtle l tell you,
proposal "a bona fide proposal.
wish you every joy! She is swec
girl, if bold one
Without a word, Colonel Haldan
sprang, in melodramatic manner. d
the throat of Captain Hilton, and hel
him with grip of iron.
"How dare you speak of Miss Whit
like that? She is the most distinguish
ed girl of my acquaintance. Apologize!
Captain Hilton rolled his eye with
CHASTITY appeal on Colonel Haldan
when the latter as suddenly relaxed b
grasp and said;