Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-05-03
AMONG THE LILIES.

"Well, but isn't she pretty, thought"
murmured Mrs. Lambert.
Mr.. Lambert responded by look
too full OF qualification for words.
They were not quite in their dotage,
: the two old people, but they were very
old, and the appearance of their niece
at their home had produced upon them
an overwhelming sensation.
Nothing like Fay Chester's beauty
was ever seen at Elmdale, and the old
people were sure, with her gentle man
ners, that she was as good as she was
pretty.
"Sixteen! Old enough to come out"
murmured Mrs. Lambert ''And such
little lady! Lydia Bellingham has
no such girl among hers!
Now, it had secretly vexed dear Mrs.
Lambert that Mrs. Bellingham, her
social rival, had always crowd of
pretty grand-daughters and nieces at
her house, making the place, since
young ladies are irresistibly attractive,
very popular. But not one was to
compare with the lovely Fay.
Fay, escaping, after two hours ex-
animation, from her relatives pres
ence, was allured down the main walk
of the old garden.
1t was indeed garden of lilies
Yellow day lilies dropped in beds, white
ones cleaned, and clumps of spotted
tigers glowed in the sun, while the
red, velvety amaryllis burned like fire
among the green.
Coming at length to the water, iAs
girl uttered cry of delight; for, dap
pied with sunshine, shimmered hosts
of lovely white water-lilies She clap
ped her hands in ecstacy.
She was certainly charming in her
azure dress, and with pretty, uncover
ed lead, at the edge of the water; and
perhaps the occupant of little boat
up the river thought so, for silently the
wherry glided away from its moorings
among willows, and came slipping
along tic dark water of the pool.
"Would you like some liliesP" asked
baritone voice.
And turning, startled, Fay saw the
handsomest young man she had ever
seen in her life sitting in the stern of
the pretty boat, his hat in his hard.
The voice, the attitude, the courteous
question, disarmed apprehension.
"Yes, should" she replied, with on.
ly a natural constraint.
In an instant the young gentleman
had changed his seat and shot among
them. In moment he had n great,
fragrant, dripping handful, and the
young girls eagerness and delight
hS.nrru,f cn,ilr. f0 bic rotl,or rrlN
countenance.
"Oh, | never saw anything SO beau
tiful!' she cried.
II suppose they are pretty" replied
the young man; "but they haven't the
charm of novelty for me. Indeed,
nothing about here has. You are a
stranger, are you notP'
Eyes. have come to Elmdale to
live. Mrs. Lambert is my aunt"
The young man gave vent to low
whistle.
Sorry" he said.
"WhyP" she asked.
"Well, you know" replied her COM
panion, frankly, Haven't seen such
pretty girl as you are since I have
lived here, and would like to have an
introduction, and call at your home
if it was any other place. But at the
Lambert's-out of the question: he
concluded.
Then, as she regarded him with per-
plexity, he lifted his straw hat, and
with pleasant parting glance, pulled
away out of the pool and round a sud-
den bend of the river out of sight.
Fay breathed in the delicious .odor
Of her lilies pensively, and turned
homewards. Her adventure had been
pleasure, but it left regret. q
II never met anybody so NICE" she
said. ''But he will forget me-"
That evening her Aunt Lambert said:
My dear, l hope you will be discreet
about making acquaintance, for one
thing 5JHa .a.s
> '.Yes, aunt" murmured Fay.
s'Be choice, be select. Above all,
don't admit the Brandons to your ac-
quaintance."
why mustn't know themp" asked
Fay.
"On account Of family feud which
has existed for twenty years." replied
the old lady solemnly. Twenty years
ago, my dear, you must know that my
daughter, your cousin Julia, was en-
gagged to Colonel Brandon--then only
Lieutenant Brandon. He seemed fond
of her; she adored him. Suddenly.
without cause or explanation. he drop
ped the engagement in silence. It
nearly killed my poor girl.
Her father threatened to shoot
him, but said. No violencep / pre-
ferred tile dignified course. | nurscd