Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-11
LITTLE MAID OF ARCADE.
A STORY.

hand. 81 don't believe he is coming at ALL" she
says, haifaloud, with little pout. .'Its very
tiresome of him. But I'll just go little way
down the hill"
Il glad voice comes up from under the dark
shadow OF the trees, calling her name. The
light in her eyes prevents her seeing who IT, is,
but she knows il is the man she came to meet.
She sits calmly down on the bank by the road
side and fans herself with a huge piece of
bracken. Love lends wings to the mans feet,
and he approaches at an amazing rate.
How good of you, Phyllis, to meet me-" he
exclaims. "Inever expected TO see you
She goes on with her tanning quite briskly.
at is dreadfulIy hot and dusty she remarks,
oy way of exaggerating her goodness. ignoring
his state OF heat and dustiness, the result of his
eagerness to reach her side
"Then il is ali the kinder of you'
"But only came because there was nothing
to do at home
His face falls. Haven't you a hand to give
me, Phyll he asks, quite humbly.
George, you know how hate shaking
hands. And. besides, it is too late now.
Shaking hands is the first thing you do when
You meet person. was wondering why you
didn't offer to do ii before"
Phyllis" he exclaims. desparingly, "why it
was you yourself who"
Indeed il was no such thingr' she cries, in
dignantly- ~ came to meet you all in this
dust, holding out her pretty foot. finely pow
dered all over. land sat here waiting for you
shake hands. If You are going to be cross,
unJusty, shall wish Yen were in London
again.
He knows of old how hopeless it is to argue
with his pretty, disdainlul cousin. ~ have
been in London whole week. he says, sadly.
ait seems as though had been months away
from you.
"Dear ne" she remarks, airily. Does it,
dom
ENJOY IT," the simple fellow says, chow can
be happy away from you? Surely, YOU can
see don't look overwhelmed with happiness?"
Now look al you" giving him the merest
''you do look dull and-tired. But you see me
smile You have been staring at me- for full
five minutes, and how often have told you
how very rude it is OF people to stare.'
He acknowledges the correction by guiltily
IF it' You are so tired almost kindly, "why
dent you sit down, pray?" He meekly accepts
at is very odd, she muses.. "that you should
miss me so MUCH. Now, when you're away
II know you don'tr' he cries, half rising.
stung beyond endurance. "Phyllis, don't you
80, yes she retorts, saucily; 81 love my
father and libby and sometimes-when you
He sits up and vainly tries to look into her
lovely grey eyes. Will you ever like me well
enough to marry me?" he says at last, tempting
his fate like many a man before him.
Marry! Springing to her feet. "Why will
you always tease, George? Haven't forbidden
you to say anything about such thing? and
you know when l said L would marry you, I
meant In years and years"
"You don't think of me- the unlucky lover
take pity on me. And remember if you will
cause so much misery some of it is sure to
return to yOu.'
There. now you have lost your temper again.
I declare. If this is the way you go counting,
what a husband You will maker
~ don't know what makes me love YOU so
much" he says, discOnsOlately, "you always
quarrel with me-. And why I'm unhappy away
from you, can't think, because you always
make me wretched when I'm with you
''Then don't come to me- gaily: keep away
told you before L didn't miss you
ont rnu Ein6 TO
LISP he entreats her. "All this last week have
comforted myself with the thought, perhaps
when / go back, and now-O, Phyllis, what
little p
''Only a minute ago told you 1 liked YOU
very much when you weren't cross, and if YOU
will promise not to say disagreeable things for
a whole week-you know you say week is
such a long time-I will try tO-toS'
ITO what ?" cries the incautious swain. the
light of hope making his dark, passionate face
look handsome.
ITO forgive You for those you have said" the
saucy maiden finishes, ungraciously, a minute
mis- face, which has grown so dark.
Phyllis. you are heartless. 1 shall never
know days 1 happiness qPpnS st tin yoq love or
looking at her turns to go.
II was going to walk with him." she
that skins by. The much-enduring man turns
eagerly. How completely she has him at her
mercy.
- But shan't now; oh. nor
He moOdily walks away again.
"Father wants you to come in this evening"
ton OF friendliness, bringing him again to a
standstill. land 1 want you, too" with the
kindest of looks from the lovely gray eyes 'You
haven't told me a word about London yet,
lightly over the stile into the field Gaming Sarh5s
over it TO call to him. "Be sure you come,
George; and don't bring that little black dog
on your shoulder With ringing laugh she
just as she reaches the next stile somebody
else reaches it from the other side. She looks
up and her eyes encounter evident admiration
in those of well-dressed handsome young
man. He draws back slightly and raises his
cap
And SO were you," she returns. partly to
gain time. She has no fancy for climbing
stiles with people looking on, especially, she
feels, rather than thinks, this handsome
stranger.
perhaps there is 10 need for me to do So
'Magpie and Stump?"
She ponders. Then she gives him directions
memory of Macaulay would scarcely avail to
hold them.
when she pauses, having landed him in imagi,
am afraid / cannot remember one Single
thing
She repeats them, as briefly as possible. He
protests his head is far too stupid to carry so
much. Will she not come a little way. very
little way, 10 show him till he can lind II for
himself His smile is SO winning and his tones
so honeyed, that:
what time is it," she asks, coming half
step nearer.
He unblushingly understates the hour by q
full quarter.
'If only 1t wasn't so awkward and hfgh.v
she murmurs, as a last faint protest, looking
askance al the stile which divides them.
I've can easily manage that he assures her
'See"' And in an instant he has helped her
over.
"You stranger here, sir?' she asks
shyly. for the enormity of her conduct In thus
walking in the lonely fields with a stranger
EudGc1-iy reveals itself TO her.
"Yes, am down for some fishing" Then
seeing she fnstinctively looks for fshng-rods
ne adds: AT have only Just comedy the last
Irain-and / have lost my way in q maze of
nelds- Have you no roads down here?"
. 'Oh, yes, sir. had just come from road
when met you at the stile."
"And where does il lead to-"
"0nly 10 my fathers farm-Elmsover Farm"
And is there any good fishing?''
"Ies. she says, there are three good trout
streams. But she is suddenly shy; this man
IS so far above her. He is young god TO her, as
fheseus was 10 Ariadne. A few minutes later
she stops.
II think you will find your way now" she
says, pointing down into the valley. ''See. That
white house is the inn"
~ ought 10 see you at least halfway home"
he says, lit will soon be getting dusk, and you
are alone"
''oh, no. promptly; 81 am quite used to
walk alone, and Ishall be quite safe" inwardIy
wishing he would insist on accom- anying her.
thank my pretty little guide for pleasant
walk, besides her kind guidance"
She slowly raised her eyes, and as she meets
nis admiring gaze, bushes deeply. All her