The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-06-21
THE FLOWER OF THE FLOCK.

There are three girls in our family, Constance
Juliet and Ismay; and II Ia l. Juliet, who am writ
a e nays Great e" Se over
peoples fate. II had been as good looking as m!
youngest sister should now be Mrs. Lorraine, In
stead of a forlorn maiden gazing nopelessly towar,
solitary future But perhaps matters may Improve
| as time goes on; the wound IN my heart may heal
and my feelings become bunted Just now fee
very sore.
Constance is my senior by four years. She mar
ried, and very well, the year AFTER she came out
fifteen al the time, and little lsmay only twelve
and the next five years was the happlest period o.
my life. The Lorraines were our oldest and deares
ana a er heas w NV shsr ws
the squire OF the village where we lived Mr. LORRAINE
was the rector, and there were no other families o
think began to live my life when was sixteen
| 1t was October Guy Lorraine had left Rugby, ant
was going into residence at Cambridge. We younl
Fraulein's protection; but the holidays were at an
end now, and felt somewhat gloomy asi WANDERED
gin lessons tomorrow. 1t was too bad.
was rnedum-sized girl in those days, with Q
round face tremendous mop OF fair hair, blue eyes
and decidedly retro,,sse nose. remember that
October cleaning so distinctly That scarlet gcran
IN the @ Vas las.
everywhere, and stocks of listers made brave show
but feeling Of autumn and decay lowered In the
air, aud the leaves OH the trees were changing hue
| rapidly,
washttired in my usual white flannel frock some
was meyer uy aa an one q
AS / stood by the dial on the lawn white figure
lounRed in at the gate and made for me-. or course
tall, slight and dark, with cear-cut features and an
eagle nose I had always admired HIM immensely
evening felt painfully conscious Of looking fright,
| and began to straighten my crurhped frock and
push back my curly, towzled wig.
NJ like you ever 30 much better when you're I'M
tld ~ =, - go, ,,,,,,, mo -, o,,u,u,,
81 do six days out of seven; Sundays an excep'
| tlon."
Z" And always look 80 nice on Sunday"
"Nice You're perfect object. with your hair
In tail and your best frock on. II you only knew
what contrast you are to Ismay you'd leave your
pew and come and Sit with u.s."
Indeed wouldnt-I'd choose some one civil,
not you"
you know came home specially to see you?'
81 wondered what had made you leave the river 50
early, but am not surprised to hear that was the
"You conceited monkey! should enjoy boxing
your ears, but l haven't time. l want to talk
giggled outright. but he pulled my hand through
his arm. and we marched off In silence. After a
minutes pause opened my mouth to speak, but he
I'm. yoa know i'm going away tomorrow"
mo, i'm very glad. ! hope You will come back
improved. You require IMPROVEMENT"
"YOu tlresome creature!' He threw down my
hand. "Why won't you be scrlous?"
~ am serious: You're asking me stupid questions,
and I'm answering them seriously"
20, juliet, why don't you understand? Don't
You know I'm sorry to leave your
nodded. "of course you are"
"And you must know the reason why, Ju. I'm
fond of you.n
Eyes, know that too.''
"You're really past all endurance. Must explain
everything, just as If you were baby. I'm not
fond OF you In that way
Guy took me by the shoulders and shook me.
you know what mean perfectly well. I'm 60
Ing to marry you."
al must really tell mother that am provided for
exclaimed; "she was very glad when Connie
deal better. Actually, Guy, I'm engaged two Years
Guy was leaning against tree, looking very sulky
sim quite in earnest he grOwled. but II you're
only going to make fun OF me, I'll CO."
You are going, that is 70 say, you're going to-
morrow, but not Just this minute, Guy"
30, Juliet! and do you really love me?"
~ don't want to say yes AMI don't want to say
"But you won't go marrying any other fellow
where is no other fellow that know of. III
write and tell you II one turns up"
"And you're the sweetest girl In the world"
ri. Guy i I'm positively, growing vain; wish Frau
xviii you be in earnest, Julet7 know you'll
iaa , oi everything and you viii turn out sOOd-iOr-
There was pause and tried to look forward
into the future. / glanced at Guy. His dark eyes
touched. He looked SO sincere, and felt unworthy
OF the alteration expressed 80 plainly In his face
WAS perky. odous, and hated myself.
"Are Won sure you mean what you say2' asked,
"Yes,a ie said, simply, and knew he was speak,
"And IL you meet prettler and nicer girls than
am you won't like them better than met"
lyon are the prettiest and incest girl In the
81 don't want you TO say that; want you to
promise never to love any one better than me-"
~ shall never love any one half 30 we'll"
And SO the romance of my life began. When
was seventeen my father gave his consent to my
WIN a%y ana 81 20 be Y s rs
very smoothly. Guy took honors at Cambridge In
his third year. was eighteen then, and was taken
but made not the slightest sensation. ] was not
pretty. and, with one exception ! positively hated
scIous OF being quite the plainest in tic family.
Little lsmay grew more beautiful every day.
How she Is growing upp' i was Guy who
was crossing the stepping. stones TO come to US.
sat on the river bank, and Guy lounged at my feet.
Something In his voice made me glance down at
'5he Is the dover Of the flock. Every one says
80. Far prcttler than Connie
"Then you don't include yourself In the beauty
competition, Julet?" And he laughed.
=" never thought OF comparing myself with Con-
nile, and she Ia nothing at the side of Ismay."
"But you are far away the best OF the three, Ju.n
al feel annoyed at your remarks. wish people
wond never alIde TO my looks; and above al tina,
beauty by telling me that am amable, (Which isn't
traeo Or ,hat have the beauties OF the mlnd' or
Ismay came up and seated herself by Guy Two
more beautiful faces could not have been imaRned.
lin liz e,caI, ua,n anu siass,s he,s eluay pc,yu,,
hair and dark.gray lustfous eyes.
. 81 hope am not de IRON" she said calmy, set.
sounded somewhat cross, and am come 10 make
peace"
Guy looked up quickly, and then murmured some
thing about a the golden apple ~. .n,,.
Ismay, looking straight into his eyes "If had
been there think 1t would have been given 10
me-" ! was accustomed TO hear such remarks as
not seen much OF Isinay during the last twelve
months, and he stared with ast0nishment at the ai-
aS n sa cast aow @
only acting. Whatever Ismay was she was NOT shy.
tried to talk to Guy ~ did when We were alone.
Then used to chatter by the hour together, rlgma-
role he used to call TIA one-aded conversation on
every Imaginable topic which knew Interested aud
content to listen il silence. But fell somehow
constrained with that graceful, white figure. and
when looked al Guy he was looking at lsmay, and
mad apparently forgotten me. rose 10 my feet all
"Where Is Juliet going2" asked Ismay of Guy.
He raised his eyes languidly.
Are you tired OF the river7n
"ics," and turned TO 20. lie rose also.
"Arent you coming IsInayg'
"No, aud I'm vexed with you for leaving me. It's
nearly year since I've seen anything OF you, and
wanted 10 hear all your news, where you've been,
and what you've done, aud everything" She sat
noutlng on the bank aud he stood irrcsoutely beside
her.
: There's really no reason why you should dog my
fo0tsteps,"I said, magnanimously; "pray tell Ismay
everything worth telling; am going homie"
And home went, and all the day wondered what
those two were talking about, and mentally scolded
myself for an unreasonable feeling OF grief which
had stolen Into my heart on that summers day.
The came evening after dinner l went aud sat
alone upon the stone baluslrade overlooking the
tennis ground. was alone for what seemed TO me
very long time, The rosy afier-glow melted into
blue gray SKY; the moon launched her silver boat,
and here aud there star llckered In the heavens.
The coIncfake was busy In the hayneds, and the
lnll aullla Ia