Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-09-10
A WAYSIDE FLOWER.

They were walking down 'Love Lane
in a gay, chattcring procession girls
with laurel wrcathcd hats, young men
bearing shawls and baskets, a matron or
two; last Of all Stephen Fulton, child
on either side Of him, and in his arms
little Nanny Forsythe half asleep.
Wherever Stephen went children fol
lowed, led by attraction irresistible as
that which draws iron filings to the mag
net. Grown people could not understand
this attraction, but the little ones never
mistook about it. Sleepy as she was,
Nanny's small hand kept patting his
shoulder as they went along, and her
voice cooed words of drowsy endearment
which made Stephen smile, gloomy as he
felt that day. Each cheerful reply to
the children's questions cost an effort
but he spoke cheerily all the same, and
tried to keep his eyes from wandering
forward to where Captain Hallett walked
by the side OF Mitly Graves, with his
handsome head very near hers, and his
voice murmuring low sentences inaudible
TO the rest of the party. Many glances
were sent back at this couple from those
in advance, for Neal Halett was the
novelty of the moment, hero and a
stranger; and the girls, who were only
too well-disposed to pull caps for him,
thought it "quite too badn Of Milly to
absorb his attentions as she had done all
day.
But, after all, what could Milly, what
could any girl, do, when an all-eonquer-
ing captain takes up his position at her
side in early morning and never leaves it
until late afternoon2 1t is not IN girl ma
ture to resist such tribute, and Stcphanie
De Witt, in front, was partly justified IN
calling it "a desperate filtration. al
though ! fear tho noaat with which ~.
spoke was due rather to amour lrolFt
than outraged morals. But on iIilly's
side it was not all Irritation. For all her
merry, saucy ways, she was sensitive,
crednlous creature, just the woman to
give "gold for 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 sexes2 Cap
tain Hallett's fine eyes said more than his
tongue; his martial mustache seemed to
give point and value to mere nothings.
He carried 1.-the little cane with which
he emphasized his sentences; now cut
ting the air, now beheading mullen, in
a way which Mlly thought fascinating.
And then Love Lane was such a pretty
spot, the very place to be eloquent in.
Its winding turns were hedged with
fragrant growths- woodbine, brier, sweet
fern and bay. Overhead the trees met
and clasped in shady arches. Here and
there pink honoysuokio glinted in the
network of green, or train of simmer
ing clemats. The pure primrose light
of a cloudless sunset silted down through
the canopy Of boughs; a 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 wild wood pink,
poised at tip of cluster of vivid leaves,
1t was like an enchanted queen, MIlly
thought.
GLOW beautiful!" she cried; but even
as the words left her lips the restless cane
flew through the air. flicked the rose
from it stem, and sent it into the dusty
road, little whirlwind of broken leaves
accompanying its fall.
"Whata pity2n she said, invountarily.
"It's only wild rose, you know, " sur
prised.
''But don't you like wild roses"
"Oh, yes; but there are so many Of
item that it is hardly worth while to
waste sentiment on single one, " ana
the captain showed his fine teeth IN
smile that was the least bit cruel.
Milly sighed and cast regretiui zoos
behind. Her gentle nature felt tor tho
fair dsspoi.ed thing. But, after all
there were plenty of wild roses, as cap
tain Hallett said, and presently she lor-
got her sympathy and its cause. Ano'iioi
turning in the lane brought them TO 'n9
village outskirts, and TO Squire Alien ;
gate, where the rest Of the party "eie
waiting. There were good-byes 10 saS'
divisions TO make. Mrs. Allen was IN
tent on securing to each person ms q
her own basket Kitty FELTON, was couii'-
ing teaspoons, stephanie hunting ior
missing plate. In the midst OF these =.
searches Stephen came up with 'n0
children. He looked weary and pu'
Nanny into her mothers arms win ~
air of relief, disregarding the afo"s'
protest which she uttered. :,
"What lovely rose, Stephen saiu
some of the girls. ''Whtre dia you nA'
itgn
I'm the road,n replied Stephen.
"somebody had switched It Oh y
stem and left it to die, SO To picked J"