Milford chronicle., 1885-05-15
A Girls Heart.

Annabel Ray was a perfect little mad
cap, Everybody declared that she had
no heart-and, possibly, she herself be-
heved it.
Her step was as light, her laugh as
merry, and her clear, dark-fringed gray
eyes as sparkling and full of mischief as
though no such thing as love existed to
play havoc with human hearts.
Until now. At last it did seem that
Cupid had called halt, and Miss An
mabel was suspected of having yielded
to his little godship's command.
Certain it was that the tell-tale blush
often rushed to her fair cheek at the
sound of Mark Thorne's voice or name,
and those fearless, Notwithstanding
gray eyes fell bashfully beneath his
glance. ~
Annabel was indulging a sweet little
hone of her own in connection with
some exquisite hot-house flowers which
diffused their rich fragrance from vase
standing on the little buhl table by her
side. Her eyes covertly turned to
them again and again as she sat talking
with a pale, pretty young girl who had
come to visit her-a delicate, sweet
faced creature named Slyvie, who looked
fragile. as contrasted with merry, bloom
ing Annabel, to whose care-free heart
she was as dear as any girlish chum
could be.
"How often your glance wanders to
those flowers, Annabel r. Sylvie ex-
claimed, suddenly breaking of, with an
amused smile, in the midst of girlish
.eIe cS,ee-Oy,-s a., were know hNVz-
incorrigible ssaiug. SshOuld certainly
believe there was some tender sentiment
connected with the donor.
"But they are so beautiful, explained
Annabel, with a light laugh, and a ris-
ing color which she managed to hide by
bending over to inhale their perfume. u
And in this slow-going town such taste
full and costly gifts are not an everyday
occurrence. But go on with your story,
Sylvie. You were saying that last sum.
mer was the happiest one you ever
knew; and, from the tender way II
which YOU spoke of the gentleman you
met so frequently, 1 am inclined tc
think he had something to do with your
happiness.
And Annabel smiled roguishly as she
thus turned the tables upon her gentle
little friend, diverting her attention from
the flowers which had, indeed, been
sent to her that morning with a tiny,
twisted note hidden in their perfumed
leaves:
'If I shall have the happiness Of see.
ing YOU wear my flowers tonight" i
said. ''then I shall dare to speak Of
what you must know is in my heart
Otherwise I shall know that my fate If
settled without words.
"Ever yours, M. T."
And Annabel-madcsp though she
was. and unused to all varieties of pl
posals-could not recall those lines with
out a conscious thrill, nor even glance
at the fateful flowers without the telltal'
blush crimsoning her pretty cheeks. NJ
wonder she did not care to have the sub
ieet pressed too closely.
"Well, Sylvie, do you dare say tina
nv guess was a wrong one r she ex
claimed, banteringly, as the girls del
cate face took on the color OF a brigh
scNo. Annabel, " was the low, hesitat
ing answer, after a moment OF abashe!
silence. 'sI may as well confess, as
never could keep a secret from you any
way, Well, then, it a0Gs his presence
his sympathizing companionship, tina
made life so much brighter to me. AN
Oh - clasping her small, Transparent
hands, and speaking very earnestly, ~
Thought should never see him again
/ should not care to live at ali +
''Then you are not sure OF meeting
him again-you are not engaged p aske'
Annabel gently, struck by the mournfu
accent in her friends low tone.
Sylvie shook her head sadly.
WNo" she replied. "He went ava,
without leaving any positive assurances
that we should meet again, though some
thing tells me that we will.
"The firt r Indignantly cried Annabel
who. whatever her own failings IN tina
direction, considered such weakness IN
man base and contemplate.
'sNo, no." corrected Sylvie, hastily