Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-10-21
A wAYsIDE FLOWER.

They were walking down Glove Lam"
in gay, chattering procession girls Win
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
vent children followed led by attraction
irresistible as that which draws iron Ill
ings TO the magnet. Grown people could
not understand this attraction, but the
little ones never mistook about it. Sleepy
MS she was Nanny's small hand kept pat
ing his shoulder as they went along and
ner voice cooed words of drowsy endear-
meut which made Stephen smile, gloomy
as ne 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 Hallet walked by the side OF
Milly Graves, with his handsome head
very near hers and his voice mutterng
low sentences inaudibie to the rest OF the
party. Many glances were sent BACK TO
this couple from those in advance, tor
Neal Hallet was the novelty OF the mo
ment, hero and stranger, and the
girls, who were only too well-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 1t
until late afternoonl 1t il not in girl
nature TO resist such tribute, and Step
hanie De Witt in front was partly iusti-
fed in calling it a desperate Irritation
But on Milly's side 1T was not all tlrta-
ton. For all her merry saucy ways she
was n 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 dear me,
whom do people talk about when they
are young and of different sexes! Cap
tain Halletts fine eyes said more than
his tongue his martial mustaohe 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 a 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 glintod in
the network of green, or train of SHIN
mering clematis The pure primrose
light of cloudless sunset sifted down
through the canopy of boughs; light
breeze stirred full of delicious smells.
1t was like an evening in fairy land.
Suddenly turning brought them to a
fern clad bank, against which, set in
frame work of tremulous verdure, stood
one rose of perfect wildwood pink, poised
ut 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 flew through the air, licked
the rose from its stem and sent it into the
road a shower of broken leaves accom-
,anying its fall.
What a pity" she said, involuntari-
It's only wild rose, you know sur
pneod.
''But don't you like wild roses:" she
asked.
"Oh, 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 Il smile th2t was a bit
cruel.
Milly sighed and cast grateful look
behind. Her gentle nature felt for the
fair despoied thing.
But, after ALL there were plenty of wild
roses, RS Captain Hallett 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, whore the rest of the party
were waiting. There were good-by to
say, divisions to make. Mrs. Allen was
intent on securing to each person his or
her own basket, Kitty FELTON, was cosnt-
ing teaspoons, Stephanie hunting for a
missing plate.
In the midst of those 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 tho drowsy protest which she ut
tered
"What lovely rose, Stephen said
some of the girls. where did you get
ity"
in the road replied stephen. "Some
body had switched 1t Oft its stem and left
1t TO die, SO we picked il up"
Yes. ana Mr.. FELTON, said it was ,
shame to treat flowers so put in htu,
hoy
The captain listened impassively bu
Milly gave holf.paiued glance AT tn,
flower.
THAT was just like you, Stephen" sh,
said softly and stephen frightened fo
the first time time that day
II seemed to stephen looking back
that his love for Nlilly had begun when N
was a boy of b and she a baby in the Grad
le He could not recollect the tim
when he did not prefer her to all othe
girls. At school he was her knight hi
sled, his jack knife, his help always a
her service. stephen taught her TO skat,
TO row. Ii WAS he who brought her In
first maple sugar the first arbutus; n
who took her ON sleigh rides and wake
home with her from church and the vii
lage tea parties. Mjlly absorbed thes
services not uugratefully, but as a matte
of course She had bpeu used tn tho,