The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-15


 ness by the side of her gardening basket, and henceforth, when busy hands appeared among leaves and flowers, she gave them one or two semi-severe taps. The effect was magical. With a baffled snort the intruder dropped in moment, and she could hear the batter of swiftly retreating feet. And now the lilacs had some peace, and she continued her labors undisturbed. It did not last very long. Twice more she was called on to repel attacks. She was wedding out some thickly crowding marigolds when, for the third time after the lull, her ear caught the grat- ing of bent or broken lilac boughs as they were drawn against the wall and, oarting to the spot, she administered well-directed blow at the furtive fingers. It was much harder blow than she intended, for she was in a great hurry, and besides this, uncon- sciously to herself, she was beginning to feel much pleasure in the efficacy of the treatment. A cry of surprise met her ears, and voice which did not sound like the voice of a lilac stealer exclaimed: "You need not have done that; was only putting back half broken branch which is hanging down on this side, because the boys swing themselves up on to the wall by it."
 And now, by standing on the stone edging of the border, Margaret Falk- land could just see the well-brushed crown of 6 gentieman's hat.
 She was dismayedl Should she partially reveal herself by apologiz- ing? should she hold her peace and try to bury this in perpetual silence? Her instinct bade her apologize. "I am SO sorry-so ashamed !'' she said, "I beg your pardon SO much. The boys break the lilacs, and won't go away for speaking-that's what made me do it. l thought it was one of them"
 She could see that he raised his hat, heard him say, "Yes, they destroy the trees shamefully ["
 "Have l 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, if you will allow me, think, before 1 go, had better finish putting that branch over the wall"
 He did this, and with much shame at receiving so much good for evil, Miss Falkland thanked him and he went on his way. She had not seen his face, and sincerely hoped that she never would, and what was still more important, he had not seen hers. Never in her life had she felt SO mis- erably small. The lilacs suffered for 1t; she could no longer endure the sight of them. Gathering together her gardening tools and the offending umbrella, she went into the house and left the trees to their fate.
 When lilscs are in season in Lon. don, so many other things that are delightful are in season too. Miss Falkland had little enough time to brood over opportunities too well used. She had 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 ley's musical party, but I hope we have not to go anywhere else. I met that silly little Mrs. Varley this after noon; MT. Carlton is to be there to- night, and l am so anxious to hear him sing"
 "We have several engagements father, but, if you prefer the Varleys' let us give up the others-they arc only dances"
 Thus did girl of twenty speak oi one of the greatest pleasures of her life but how could she do otherwise to 6 father who was father, mother, sister and brother to herr
 "By all means" replied MT. Falk. land, all unconscious of the sacrifice that his daughter was making. "l am told that MT. Carlton's singing is magnificent, and is so difficult to hear him; he will sing for Mrs. Varley, she says, because he is an old friend of the family, but he won't sing at other peoples parties"
 The dinner was dull, and the only occasion on which Miss Falkland fel, any emotion but weariness was when either of the gentlemen near her spoke of the tender charm of the young green leaves in the parks or ths beauty of the Towering shrubs in tho little London gardens. Towering shrubs was almost the same thing al saying lilacs, and lilacs was word which to Miss Falkland was simply insupportable.
 "What crush it is going to be!' observed Mir. Falkland as he and his daughter ascended the Varleys stairs Near the drawing-room door they saw an old friend. "Stay here with me till MT. Carlton goes to the