Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
A WAYSIDE FLOWER.

laurel-wreathed hats, young men bearing
shawls and baskets, matrOn or two; last
of all Stephen Fulton, child on either
side of him and in his arms little Mamie
Forsythe half asleep. Wherever Stephen
went children followed, led by attraction
irresistible as that which draws iron fl
ings to the magnet Grown people could
not understand this attraction but the
little ones never mistook about it. Sleepy
as she was, Nanny's small hand kept pat
ling his shoulder as they went along and
ner voice cooed words of drowsy endear-
ment which made Stephen smile, gloomy
as he was that day.
Each cheerful reply to the children's
questions cost an effort; but he spoke
cheerfully all the same and tried to keep
his eyes from wandering forward to where
Captain HalIet walked by the side of
Milly Graves, with his handsome head
very near hers and his voice mutterjng
low sentences inaudibie to the rest of the
party. Many chances were sent back to
this couple from those in advance, for
Neal Hallet was the novelty of the mo-
ment, a hero and a stranger, and the
girls, who were only too well-d disposed to
pull caps for him, thought it ''quite too
bad" for Milly to absorb his attentions as
she had done all day.
But after all what could Mile, what
could any girl, do when an all conquer
ing captain takes up his position at her
side in early morning and never leaves it
until late afternoon? 1t is not in girl
nature to resist such tribute, and Step
hanie De Witt IN front was partly justi-
fed in calling it desperate filtration"
But ON Milly's side it was not all firta a.
ton. For all her merry saucy ways she
was a sensitive, credulOuS creature, just
the woman to give gold dust" and stake
her all in that unequal barter so common
in this world of misunderstood values.
Her fair cheeks were flushed and her
blue eyes full of shy excitement as they
walked along, talking about me,
whom do people talk about when they
are young and of different sexes? Cap
tain Hailett's fine eyes said more than
his tongue; his martial mustache seem
ed to give point and value to mere moth
ings. He carried little cane with which
he emphasized his sentences, now cut
ting the air, now beheading a mullen in
a way which Milly thought fascinating.
And then Love Lane was such pretty
spot; the very place to be eloquent in.
Its winding turns were hedged with frag
rant growths -woodbine, brier, and
sweet fern and bay. Overhead the trees
met and clasped in shady arches. Here
and there pink honeysuckle glinted in
the network of green, or train of SHIN
mering clematis. The pure primrose
light of a clOudless sunset sifted down
through the canopy of boughs; light
breeze stirred, full of delicious smells.
It was like an evening in fairy land.
Suddenly turning brought them to a
fern-clad bank, against which, set in a
frame work of tremulous verdure, stood
one rose of perfect wildwood pink, poised
at the tip of cluster of vivid leaves. 1t
was like an enchanted queen, Milly
bought.
How beautiful" she cried.
But even as the words left her lips the
restless cane few through the air, flicked
the rose from its stem and sent it into the
.rOad, a shower of broken leaves accom-
,anying its fall.
What pity!" she said, involuntari-
It's only wild rose, you know" sur
pr1sed.
''But don't you like wild roses?" she
asked.
ooh, yes; but there are so many Of
them that it is hardly worth while to
waste sentiment on single One," and he
showed his teeth in a smile thct was bit
cruel.
MiIly sighed and cast grateful look
behind. Her gentle nature felt for the
fair despoiled thing.
But, after all, there were plenty of wild
roses, as Captain HalIett said, and pres
emily she forgot her sympathy and its
cause.
Another turning in the lane brought
them to the village outskirts and to Squire
Aliens gate, where the rest of the party
were waiting. There were gOod-byes to
say, divisions to make. Mrs. Allen was
intent on securing to each person his or
her own basket, Kitty FELTON, was coEnt-
ing teaspoons, Stephanie hunting for a
missing plate.
In the midst of these researches Steph-
en- came up with the children. He look
ed weary, and put Nanny into her moth
er's arms with an air of relief, disregard
ing the drowsy protest which she ut
tered.
''What a lovely rose, Stephen said
some of the girls. ''Where did you get
it?"
in the road" replied Stephen. Some
body had switched it off its stem and left
it to die, so we picked it up"
eyes, and Mr.. FELTON, said it was a
shame to treat flowers So" put in a little
boy.
The captain listened impassively: but
Milly gave half-pained glance at the
flower.
"That was just like you, Stephen" she
said softly, and Stephen frightened fol-
the first time time that day.
1t seemed to Stephen looking back
that his love for Milly had begun when he
was boy of 5 and she a baby in the Grad
lie. He could not recollect the time
when he did not prefer her to all Other
girls. At school he was her knight, his
sled, his jack knife, his help always al
her service. Stephen taught her to skate
to row. 1t was he who brought her the
first maple sugar, the first arbutus; he
who took her on sleigh rides and walked
home with her from church and the vii
lage tea parties. Milly absorbed thest
services not ungratefully, but as matter
of course. She had been used to then
from her babyhood, and could almost a:
well dispense with sun or air out of he
life; but the sun and air, never being
withdrawn, are rarely noticed, or alluded
to.
Dear, good, old Stephen" she callet