Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-11
ng the country will not be 80 deplorably duh

name.
says, looking down from the hedge, "a he throws
blackberrieS into the basket she holds thinking
at the same time how exquisitely lovely is her
upturned face.
MY name is Phyllis"
sit is very pretty name. q sweet name, and
it suits you to perfection"
she asks, chiefly TO cover her confusion.
You are not to call me 'sir.''
"Why not SIRE"
"There you are again. in pretended anger.
my name is Arthur Chesney, and, in future,
child, mind you call me by it. 1t is absurd for
"Yes,, sir" She makes him little courtesy
in mock humility.
How very sweet aud piquante she is, ne
purely esthetic point of view; but-how pleas
antly he can while away his holiday
Chesney?' she asks, presently. She is fast re-
gaining the use of her glib little tongue.
Yes. Don't look as though could fish,
used to fiatter myself 1 was an angler born.
But you aren't fishing," with small at
tempt at her old pretty, contemptuous man.
Suppose I found something better to do?"
he says, bending to see her under the sun bon
net
She timidly averts her eyes, while the GRIM
son dyes her cheeks. Poor, ignorant child! how
should she know how little the tender tone and
But 1 am going to begin business to-mor-
row, he continues, selfishly enjoying her pretty
f6nf kir;s n ann going to fish in the b, rock
Phyllis, am not always idle; and You must
not curl up your lip so disdainfully, because
can work, assure your pretending to be Of
Indeed, didn't, Mr. Cheney" she protests.
but you die, he returns, appearing deeply
lieve you would be SO unkind."
81 wasn't the simple child maintains
Yes am really hurt" he continues; ''you
looked as though you thought me an idle, good
forgetting fellow. Come now, confess"
"Perhaps, then, you thought me the best and
handsomest man you ever SAW" This is too
near the truth. She losses her dainty head con-
temptuously.
Indeed l never thought about you at allr'
she declares, which is q lie on the face of 1t,
Miss Phyllis, and you know it, and he knows it.
NAY, that is the unkindest cut of all. Not
once, really?'
"Oh, yes.' carelessly, "once When got home
watch must ben'
did yourmother scold You, then? Poor child!
all through your kindness to me-"
II have no mother; and,' proudly, mo one
ever scOlds me-"
Now; will put you to the test. If you really
morrow and honor lonely fisherman with
"The basket. is filling very slowly" she re-
Hang the basket!' Mr.. Chesney exclaims;
will you Gomez
great severity, that have nothing to do but
please myself?'
"Oh, you acknowledge it would please
~ really do think, Mr.. Chesney," with a saucy
little NOD, that you are quite as fond of having
compliments on paid to you as of paying them to
This is such home thrust that he says has
tily Il really shall think 1 say if YOU won't
come"
George did ask me If would like to get some
water lilies from the mill pond" she says
Then come and gather water lilies, like q
sensible child"
sd perhaps she says, and stops 81 will ask
NO, no: he says at once, looking on this pro-
Posai with much disfavor; "don't ask George.
can get them for YOU"
iii see, she answers wisely.
81 knew she would Gomez he says to himself
next next morning, by the brookside, "what sweet
She comes slowly across the field in the bril-.
liant sunshine, with her eyes carelessly fixed
on the horizon. When she is within six yards
of him she apparently first becomes aware of
his presence, and gives a little start. as who
should say, ~ never thought to see you here"
1000. "Good morning, Mr.: Chesney,"' politely.
ing her little bare hand Wpge pp o sn 6e tao to
shake hands, as George does.
amy fish, Mr.. Chesney9" she asks with inter-
est.
" .Maa s beauty i1t!' just as you came"
know whether shall be able to land it. But If
you want to see it.
He leads her to the water side, bids her look
face smiling up from the dimpling water.
,a "0h, MI; CLesney"e drawing back; "that's too
Indeed am! said I'd caught a beauty.
you've looked in the brookr' O'A' ~ Ao"
severely; "and you can't say I'm fatS' as though,
defying contradiction, at the same time look
Ing i anxiously in his face. Suppose he should
fat-Oh!
Heaven forbidr' with a shudder. 81 have a
you are Just right; you are perfection.' ''
so George says" coyly, addressing her re-
George" he cries, "who is this George? You
are always talking of George. am Jealous of
George: What right has he to say you are per-
II am going to marry him." she remarks, Sc
renely, land this is his FARM lifting little
pebbles into the water with the toe of her shoe.
Then there must be an end to this pleasant
fooling, and then an insane desire to supplant
the luckless George in the affections of this
lovely little ignoramus seizes him, and grows,
DO you like him?" he asks
Yes" calmly. "Oh, yes, like him when he
and suppose he adores your" moodily.
HE would kill himself to please me-" she
SAYS says, quite as calmly, "and I'm sure I can't
phyllis" he suddenly says, but not so tr
rel relevant as 1t seems, do you know how
fought for that sweet, little innocent face of
yours Do you know, say, that you are per-
Il ought to know It," demurely, George says
ii so often"
He utters anaughty word. "Don't talk to
me OF George he cries, II hate him.
viii you begin to fish," she inquiries with
feigned Scorn. II see you haven't even un-
packed your rods!' at the same time seating
herself comfortably on the trunk of an old fallen
tree.
"Have you ever been to London, Mr.. Ches-
ney? she asks, presently. London is almost
more than heaven to her.
Half the year." lazily, 81 spent there"
She looks on him. If possible with more ad-
she wonders secretly, bitterly, to herself "Does
he love any lovely London lady?r
See, here is a beauty!' he cries, triumphantly,
landing a fine trout.
"Ah do show it me.'
He brings 1T. "Isn't it stunningn
what lovely little red spots Oh" with q
little start, sit is alive. Poor thing"
Mr.. Trout gives a desperate leap and lands in
her lap. With pretty little scream she picks it
up daintily, puts 1t into the water, and it swims
ungratefully away.
.Oh, Phyllis, how could your" he exclaims,
with true fishermans disappointment .syou
have lost my best fish,
Il was so sorry for it," she confesses, az am
sure 1t didn't like being caught"
"Oh, they like 1t well enough" carelessly
do wish you had spared my best trout It was
pound and half, I'll swear"
Il did spare it," she retorts saucily "that ia
Just what did do. But smell my hands,"
lie takes little brown hand in each Of his
own, and then, obeying q foolish impulse. he
tmprints a kiss on each
Before he has time or inclination to release
tnen, ne perceives horror growing in her
eyes that no action of his could warrant, while
the rich color dies away in her checks
Following direction Of nr~