Mohave County miner., 1888-10-13
OLD BRIX.

Tho Battle Of the Flowers. the 6rst act
In the Carnival drama at Nice, was ct it's
ksi4ht. Not entirely . bloodless battle,
~ Harry Prescotts nose testified, hit BY
tbs stem end Of bunchI Of box and b.
a.sgglsd gtlly flower. -...-
Saucy, sudacious Lady Csrriston hsld her
handkerchief to one eye, but the other
was wickedly unabashed a. usual, and shs
seemed In fair way to avcnge her in
iuries by the vigor with which she s~nt
volleys Of stocks. hyacinth and nsrcissus
pslenels into the passing carriages, the
crowd, the tribune, and even into the re-
spectacle midst Of the municipal Jury.
In tho crowded tribune, iayishly decor
sted with red calico, gariands. and flags
Of all nations. thin young man. with .
grand profile, sa. with . half emptied
basket Of pale Parma violets on his knees.
In the long procession Of gayly adorned
carriages, he had eyes for one only, a
dainty little Victoria transformed into o
fragrant bower Of mimosa and mauve
hyacinths. II enshrined All elderly lady
and an exceedingly pretty girl In white
cashmere and pale gray fur, the latter
tossing her bouquets. and avoiding the
strokes Of those thrown en- revanche,
with charming grace and vivacity. Al
though her aim was no surer than that Of
most Of her sex, many Of her pansies
found their way into the garrison Of the
young man with the lamed nose. perceiv.
Ing which be. with ecstatic delight,
sSTiandered more than one gold piece upon
roses snd yiolets with which he raked the
Victoria fore and aft. ...
As farewell burst Of music and q cold
wind creeping up from the sea announced
that the revei was over Mr.. Sydney Neal,
Of the statuesgue features, was in state
of mind TO feel no astonishment had q
rosy cloud descended TO whisk his goddess
away to her native Elysian fields. As she
seemed about to take her departure from
the promenade Like ordinary mortals, Mr.
Neal coliared ganin picking up bouquets
from under the horses heels, and bade
him follow the Victoria out of the throng,
and report the hotel at which 1t set down
Its precious freight.
Avenue Victor Hugo, No. S." an.
nounced tho young waif half an hour
later, his eyes big as saucers at the un.
usual sight Of five franc piece In his
Grimy palm
The Misses Rynner. plain, elderly and
sminently prudent In department. and
style Of dress. cudgeled their well bal.
anced brains for the next three days to
understand why Q well dressed, distin.
Ruished looking young gentleman found
the contemplation of their garden and
front windows so particularly engrossing.
Alasi for the carelessness OF street Arabs
the world over--this young valet OF Mr..
h.l fntl L..
wrong carriage, q discovery which plunged
that gentleman into the deepest despair.
Doubtless while he was making fool Of
himself staring the Bynncr establishment
cut Of countenance his divinity had spread
hsr wings and vanished TO parts unknown.
In vain he searched for her on the prone
made, at the Casino, at Monte Carlo and
sll the rallying places Of fashionable Idle
ness. Try as he might to forget them,
the girls lovely brown eyes haunted him
with their half mocking, half caressing
winsomeness Waking or sleeping, he
ssw only her graceful, slender figure In
Its soft, white dress, cpthroned In fra
grant masses Of flowers Find her again
he must, and break the spell she had cast
shout him. or become her willing bond
slave for life,' II she so wished And yet
how could he hope TO find her, not even
knowing her name? The thought wss
maddening:
Aunt Helen, let Us do the Corniche
road tomorrow IL II Is finer said Miss
Nargery Moore, the object Of Mr.. Meals
intemperate admiration.
"Oh, Margery dear, not during Carnival
weekl You have no idea OF what prices
these rascally coschmen ask now, and
such tricks they play upon us poor for.
signers. Carnival time excuses every.
thing, you know. Why, Lady Bellaby
told me her donkey man made her pay
double fare for going up Monte Fabbro,
and then winked at the donkey and made
him lie down till she promised to pay
three francs pourboiro to have him en-
couraged TO get up. Everybody says 1t Is
very fmprudeut to 60 anywhere TIL next
week"
People always have . great deal too
much to say about affairs not their own,
and Lady Beilaby Is always Aoundering
among breakers where other people find
only smooth sailing" replied Miss Moore,
with decision. "Procrastination Is such o
mistake; we have put of this trip dozens
of times, and ! mean TO 90 tomorrow or
never"
VERY we'll: II you insist we will 10,
but I think It very inprudent for two
ladies alone 20 take such trip during the
one iawless week of the year"
Nobody IL so safe as the unprotected
female abroad. my dear aunt; the whole
world feels itself In duty bound to take
care Of her. Trust to ne and you will
come to no harm"
Mr.. Sydney Neal. feeling that canter
over tho hills in the delicious February
sunshine might calm his troubled spirits,
betook himself To the remise Of Aristide
Jolicnur q Son to engage horse. At the
door Of this establishment, patronized by
the elite Of Nice, Mr.. Neal became aware
OF q furious palpitation Of his heart and a
sudden weakness at his knees. Issuing
forth from the estbeticaliy furnished sails
dattente he beheld the vision Of his
dreams, his goddess Flora, with q great
bunch Of carnations In one hand and
Directoire psrasol In tho other. She gave
Mr.. Neal swift, comprehensive glance
which seemed to the credulous young
man 70 speak volumes; she remembered
-