The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-09-10
SELECT STORY.
UNDER THE LILAOS.


lady slippers, four. o'clocks and ragged
robins grow side by side in picturesque
disorder ; where sweet migonette and
brilliant portulacca cover the ground
with fragrant carpet Of richness col
oring; where lilac bushes, with their
nodding plumes of white and purple
meet one at every turn, and where
morning glories, honeysuckles and
climbing roses run riot over every wall
and lattice and bough that can yield n
support for their wilderness of blossom
ing vines
And into this delicious, restful bit of
Eden comes Flora Coleman, as she
comes every day and seats herself under
one of the great lilac bushes. with some
dainty art work in her white hands
and the nodding, snowy tassels of the
lilac above her dark head making a
picture of her that is exquisite TO see.
Here, too, comes Lloyd Chester, the
landlady's handsome son and a a"gentle-
man farmer" dotiing his yellow straw
hat and bringing the merry tune he is
whisting TO sudden termination as a
bend in the path brings him face to
face with the beautiful city boarder.
"Ah, Captain Vermont" exclaims a
pretty girl who is idly lounging at the
parlor window, "just come and take a
glance at the interesting scene down
there at the bottom of the garden
Really, my dear sir, you will have to
lecture that lovely fiancee of yours,
unless you want her to break that poor
young fellows heart or-your own,
she adds, mischievously, with coquet.
tish glance from under her long lashes
"See it looks like a real lovers tryst
! out there under the lilacs, for I'm sure
they have a talk there every day. He
is so handsome, too, and-look, Capt
ain !, he has taken the seat beside her,
and she is smiling up into his face in
her most bewitching way
"Ah, yes" assents Captain Vernon
with an indifferent smile, as he saunt
ers languidly up to the window and
glances in the direction indicated
''they do seem to have found some in
teresting topic with which to while
away the dull hours-it would be 8
pity to spoil it with the lecture you
propose, Miss Reynolds. DO let Flora
amuse herself, if she can. He's q
confoundedly handsome young fellow
as you say, and not behind the rest OF
us in accomplishments, etc.-college
education, l understand. Quite natur
al the women should think him wei
worth the trouble of Lady Glare We're
de Vere's performance-eh ?"
And he turns from the windo tc
pick up her novel, which had fallen tc
the floor, with look so unconcerned
and nonchalanU on his dusky, hand
some face, that Miss Reynolds stares
at him in open-eyed amazement.
"But suppose it isn't CLARA We're
de We're affair."" she persists, determin
ed to arouse his fears. "Suppose il is
Romeo and Juliet instead! Their
what, Captain Vernon ?"
"Miss Coleman isn't likely to choose
farmer for her Romeo he returns
still with that cool, easy unconcern
'But if she should-ah, well l believe
in destiny, Miss Reynolds. You would
MT have me rant and tear my carefully
brushed raven curls like stage lover
at the mere idea of being supplanted
by rival, would you' Fact is,
couldn't think of doing it, even tc
oblige you, Miss Reynolds-couldn't
pom my honor"
"Captaian Vernon, there isn't one
spark of jealousy in your composition,
explodes the young lady, half in dis
gust, half in secret exultation, for, tC
tell the truth, there is not a woman il
the house who would not gladly wir
the handsome Captain if she could
"And the poet-or somebody-declares
that where there is no jealousy there
can be no love. Now there is youl
betrothed bride flirting desperately witt
one of the handsomest men imagine
able-if he is only farmer-and yor
| don't seem to care straw. | really
wonder if there is anything that coult
awaken jealousy in your breast?'
He gives an amused little laugh al
she utters the spicy retort--the low,
languid, Indifferent laugh habitua
with him-but look comes tor ;
moment into his beautiful vclvety darl
eyes that Miss Reynolds does not Sc,
"a look of repressed pain and passion
and bitter hopelessncss that has NJ
kinship whatever with that languidlN
careless laugh
He makes no reply in words, an(
after little pause the young lady pass
es to another topic.
Speaking of Romeo and Juliet,
she says, in tone of considerable in
terest, ''reminds me of the tableaux W,
are to have tonight. You know W.
are going to have tableaux, Captain
and | proposed that you and Flor
should appear in that particular one
but our hostess has set her heart upol
having her handsome son (she is i'm
mensely proud of him you know enac
the role of Romeo while his Julie,
is 10 be young lady whom we hav
not yet seen-a country girl, | think
who has just returned from school
Not pretty, Mrs. Chester says, bu
highly gifted. She thinks she wi
make perfect Juliet, and | am quit
curious to see her Aren't you, Gap
tain p
II have the most burning curiosity
| assure you--the most intense desir
I'm fact, I'm Just dying"
There !" exclaimed the pretty blond
starting up impatiently. "Dont sa
another word, Captain. You're jus
making fun of me. You don't care
bit more for that than yo
do for - for - well, for Flor
Colemans Irritation with Lloyd Chester
And now I'm going straight down in
to the garden to break up that interest
ing tete a tete-if you won't
And the pretty little witch is a
good as her word coming suddenl
upon the two talking there under tn
lilacs, and surprising blush on Flora
face and a strangely earnest, intens
light-the light of love, so Miss Rey
nolds instantly decides-in the youn
mans fine blue eyes.
Ruf avanin0 comaa nj loSt and ut;t'