The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-11-26

so young, 30 fresh, so full of exuberant
vitality. Yet she was only q cottager's
daughter, apparently, for her dress,
though neat, was cheap. She glanced up
at him as she passed, with her great, elo-
quent eyes, half slyly, half mischiev-
ously.
Harold was fresh from Cambridge, and
at eighteen thought himself quite in an
other sphere, even in point Of age, from
the rustic Of thirteen. He was disposed
to be patronizing.
whats the hurry, little Saucy Eyes ?"
he said. "Stop and give fellow a
kiss"
my name isn't Saucy Eyes, and you
know it, Gentlemen" and she emphasized
the word, "when they speak to me, call
me Miss Kent"
| She had stopped to say this, and she
now walked on with head erect and the
air of a princess.
Whew!" whistled Harold, "but I've
made mess of it. No cottager's daugh-
ter has an accent like that. Who the
deuce can she be? A regular little spit
fire, though"
| He ventured to ask the landlord about
her, at the small inn where he lodged. He
had come to this picturesque, hilly region
on trout-6shing excursion, and knew no
one there.
ooh, that's the minister's daughter"
was the reply. "Had her arms full of
hawthorn, you say? Yes, there's plenty
of it about here; one of the few places
there is. We've miles of hedge. Miss
Kate was taking the bloom home to dec
crate the parlor. She's rare one for
flowers. You should see her decorate the
church at Christmas. All the young la
dies give way to her in that, though she
is but child as yet"
If she grows up as pretty as she is
now, she'll make many fellows heart
ache," said Harold philosophically, as he
helped himself to another trout and in
five minutes more, SO excellent was the
dinner, he had forgotten all about the
child.
Years passed. Harold had taken his
profession of his father, Hugh Carleton,
and his grandfather before him. Just be-
fore the summer vacation began he had
received a letter from home.
"We shall certainly expect you, DEAR"
his mother wrote, "this year, and will
take no excuses. 1t has been two years
since you were at home, remember. We
have had such an accession, too, to our
society. Our new rector is most excel
lent man, and has such charming daugh
ter, very pretty girl, and so bright, in
telligent and high bred"
Now Harold, who had gone the sum-
mer before to France and Germany, had
thought this year of going to Norway
had almost given his promise, in fact, but
at this appeal he wrote back that he would
come home and spend the whole vacation
at Inglewood," for that was the name
of Hugh Carleton's place.
"Dear mamma, it was so hard on her
last year," he said to himself.
The very day that Harold came home
the rector went away on four weeks
visit with his wife, and the last words he
said to his daughter, as he got into the
carriage, we're
Goodbye, Katie, and don't forget to
go up to Squire Carleton's and ask to have
the gardener to come and see the garden.
The Squire told me to send for him only
yesterday. With his aid we can manage
to keep the garden very nice"
81 suppose l might as we'll go at once,"
said Katie, when the carriage had disap-
peared. "Dear old papa, am sorry you
and ma have gone, but I'm going to have
lots of fun, with no one but old Mamie
to look after me-" And her eyes fairly
danced with the mischief of eighteen.
Harold Carleton himself was in the gar
den when Kate came in. He had arrived
unexpectedly the night before, a week
sooner than he had expected. He was
fond of little amateur gardening at
times, aud was just now bending over
moss rose bush, hoe in hand. His back
was toward Kate, and she, supposing
him to be the gardener, called out:
"Oh, Adam-that's your name, hear
please ask Mr.. Carleton if he can spare
you for few hours this afternoon. It's
DR.. Kent's, you know, at the rectory."
Harold glanced mischievously at the
pretty face half hidden by the lilacs,
which she had stopped to smell as she
was speaking. Here was chance for
some sport, Kate had never, probably,
seen the new gardener who had only
come two days before. Why could he not
personate the old man ? 1t was fortunate
for him that he had an old coat on, he
thonght.
So, calling Adam, he took the old man
into the plot, giving him crown for
hush money, and in the afternoon made
his appearance at the rectory, and knock
ing at the back door, asked for orders.
"Oh, Adam, is it you ?" cried Kate,
coming forward. "Let me show you
your work. I'll put on my garden hat
and be out in minute"
Harold presented a rather curious ap-
pearance as he followed Kate down the
long walk. His usual, elegant attire had
been exchanged for a jacket and trou-
sers of coarse jeans, and his dark curling
hair was covered by red wig, similar in
color to Adams fiery locks. He had as
sumed the same shutting gait, also.
Here is your work, ADAM" said
Kate " tie up the roses, and then weed
this bed Of hyacinths; train this wiste-
ria, and, if you have any more time, come
to me for further orders"
Harold bowed awkwardly, while mis-
chievous gleam shot from his brown eyes
as he proceeded to tie up the wayward
roses.
"This is getting interesting" he OBJ
served. 81 wonder what the next order
will be? By George, but Miss Kate
queens it we'll! What beauty she is I!
2Uh.xv how hot II IA 70 He wiped the