Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-01
THE LILACS.


which hung over the wall that enclosed the patch
o! garden ground belonging TO the sutherland VII
Ia, where the Falklnos lived The trees we're old.
gnarled. crippled, broken and split, and no year
passed without Margaret Falkland saying. This
must be the last year of our nlacsi IL Is impossi-
bic that they can 90 on Towering In this way any
longer And yet when next year came, the trees
seemed more vigorous than ever and tossed their
plumed blossoms and flung their fragrance about
In sun more generous profusion.
They fourished TO the injury OF everything else
in the gardens for they overshadOwed the borders:
hut for the one week In which they In perfec-
ton IL was such perfection that there never could
be any question OF Topping on projecting branches.
They were coveted by all the nower-Ioving pas
sers-by Every nefarOus person In the neighbor-
hood mad his eye on them, and not unfrequently
his fingers. Tradesmens boys with barrows drew
them up on the pavement beneath the garden wall
TO form a basis OF operation, and Mr.. Brown
waited for his fish and Mr.. smith for his fowls
while his purveyor's Juvenile assistant stood on
the barrow which was conveying them, plucked
great handfuls Of nlacs for himself and friends,
tore down branches, and strewed the pavement
with ruined fragments Girls clambered on the
wall at four In the morning and eisurely culled
the choicest clusters Tor their market baskets
later on, and besides this, the Falkland household
might have supplied itself with t1rewOOd Tor weeks
by simply picking up the bits thrown as missiles
at the unhappy flowers by boys who never sue
ceeded In getting any OF them at all.
'It Is TOO badl" exclaimed pretty Miss Margaret
one afternoon. Il cant bear TO see those dear
nlacs broken 50. It's a shame to let them be ill.,
treated when they flower so splendidIy! will 20
and work In the garden, and then can protect
them"
she went into the garden and. OF course. soon
found plenty OF WORK 10 do, and when the rustlinZ
OF the bOughS warned her OF the presence OF an as
satlant. she went up 10 the spot and cried, Leave
those uacs alOnev' Sometimes bows Climbed on
the wall-it was tOlera0ly high Ope-but for the
most part they dropped back in great fright
some, perceivlng that they had only girl TO deal
with. oostinately remained where they were until
they had possessed themselves OF a handsome
sample OF the years blossom.
Al nrSt sne only tried TO impress them by her
angry demeanOr, and IL seemed TO her that that
was all she could do for II She went round 70 the
outside IN hope OF finding a policeman, the boys
had disappeared long before she got there Per-
anyhow, her demeanOr eyldently Jailed TO IMPRESS
and attacks became more aud more frequent.
Shock-heads OF hair with the sun shining through
II appeared above the wall, hands We're seen busiy
Milling themselves VITA flowers, and, say what she
might those hands went on filling themselves.
She heard mOcklng laughter and Joyous exclama-
tons over the booty. This goaded her TO further
effort, and she went into the house anG got her
umbrella long. slender one with heavy lapis-
lazui ball for a handle and laid 1t in
readiness by the side OF her gardening
basket. and hehceforth. when busy hands
appeared among leaves and flowers,
she gave them one or two semi-severe taps. The
effect was magical With oaffied snort the in
truder dropped In moment, and she could hear
the pdtter or swlItlyretreating feet. And now the
hlacs had some peace and she continued her labors
more she Was called on To repel attacks. She was
wedding out some thickly-CTowding marigOlds,
when LOT the third time after the lull, her ear
caught the grating OF bent or broken lilac bOughs
as they We're drawn against the wall. and, darting
To the spot she administered well-directed blow
at The iuItlVe fingers. IL was a much harder blow
than she intended, for she was in great hurry,
and, besides this, uncOnsciouSy 10 herself, she
was beginning 10 feel much pleasure In the ercacy
OF the treatment A cry OF surprise met her ears,
and a VOICE which did not sound like the voice OF a
lilac-stealer exclaimed: "YOu need not have done
hs4.E haiti rf.l-
branch which Is hanging down on this SIDE, be-
BY it."
And now. by standing on the stone edging OF the
border, Margaret Falkland could just the we'll
brushed crown OF a gentleman's hat.
She was dismayedi should she partially reveal
herself by apOlOg1zing? should she hold her peace
ana Try 10 bury this IN perpetual silence? Her In
ashamedi' she SAID; Il beg your pardon so much.
The boys break the lilacs, and won't 20 away for
speaklng-thats what made me do II. thought
She could see that he raised his hat, and heard
MIN say, Yes they destroy the trees shame
.'Have hurt you?" she faltered and her voice
might have revealed that tears were very near her
eyes.
''Oh, no, not much. Pray think no more OF it.
stay; you Will allow me, 4 think, before 90.
had better nnish putting that branch over the
wall
he did this, and with much shame at receiving
so much good for evil, Miss Falkland thanked hlm
anu LIE went ON his way. She had not seen his
Lace, and sincerely hoped that she never would
and what was still more Important he mad moi
seen hers Never IN ner life had she Ielt so miser-
ably small. The nlacs suffered for II; she could
no longer endure the sight OF them. Gathering
together her gardening tools and the offending
trees 10 their fate
When nlacs are In season In London so many
other things that are delightful In season too.
Miss Falkland mad little enough time 10 brood over
opportunities TOO well used she had a dinner
party, TWO dances, and musical party before her,
and must dress Her father met her on the stairs
and said: My dear, tell me where We are going
tonight know about the dinner and the Var
leys musical party, but hope We have not to 20
anywhere else. met that silly little Mrs varley
this areTI Don. MI. Carlton Is 10 be there tonight
and am 20 anxious TO hear him sing"
I'VE have several engagements, IaIher but IL
they are only Dances
greatest pleasures or her life; but how could she
10 Otherwise 10 a father who was ather mother
sister, and brother 10 her?
"By all means" replied Mr. Falkland, all un
conscious OF the sacrifice that his daug liter was
making. Il am told that Mr.. Cartons singing is
magnificent, and II IS so diricult 10 hear him; he
will sing Tor Mrs. Marley, she says, because he Is
an old Trend OF the family, but he won't sing at
other peoples parties"
The dinner was dull. and the only occasion On
Whch Miss Falkland lelt any emotion but WEAKNESS
Was wneE either Of the gentlemen near her spoke
OF the tender Charm OF the young green leaves In
the parks or the beauty Of TIE towering shrubs in
the little London gardens Flowering shrubs was
was word which 10 Miss Falkland was simply In.
supportabe.
IL 10 kOlIg 10 DEL" observed Mr.
Falkland as he and his daughter assembled the
Narleys stairs. Near the drawing -room door they
saw an old friend. "Stay here with me TIL MIR
carton goes 10 the piano." she pleaded 'Oh,
there he lS-lOOkr'
Miss Falkland looked, and was aware OF a tall
fair-haired, bright-eyed, handsome young man
threading his Way through the crowd. Alter an
he was only one or the many celebrities there pres
ent, SO Miss Falkland turned back 10 her friend
and talked as happily TO her for some time as
II no sucn things as nlac5 existed. Suddenly She
Ielt quick touch on her arm, and saw Mrs. yafley
By her side, looking eager ami anxious. .My dear
Margaret" she said, Orspairingly, che can't play
his own accomplishments Tonight. never Knew
anything 50 unfortunate, and haven't the least
Idea whom 10 ask he Is so Particular you see
and people co make such a hopeless nluddle or
everything II they accompany badly. VIII you
try, dear? You play az sight thousand times bet
ter than any one else that know here-Tye told
him So"
4 play Mr.. Cartons accompaniment"
blef You can 90 II quite easily. He has hurt his
hand So"
"who has hurt his hand,' asked Miss Falk-
land
''Mr. Carlton has hurt his own. You may be
quite SURE that he wouldn't let me ask any one TO
pisy his Accomplishments II he hadn't; he hates
any ole 70 play them but himself"
-how did you say he had hurt it?' asked Miss
Falkland with sudden fear. allow absurd amID
was her next thought, but still she made no at
tempt 10 follow Mrs. Marley, who was hurrylny
away without giving her any answer.
come. dear, come, !" said that lady; at won't do
10 keep him waiting; 10 Is favor for him to sing
az an IL Is so unfortunate about his hand. and II