Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-06
HIS LAST BOUQUET.

at your first convenience" This little note
on my desk begins the tale. There were like
ones there; was a clever lawyer, people
said, but this particular case had set the craft
In Barre by the ears; for weeks my ilk had
lived in hope Of hearing from Mrs. Hopgood
Hare. 1t was not strange, then, this simple
missive held my eyes; that at last threw it
down exultantly to Harley.
"You know what that means, suppose.
What do you think Of this grand stroke
of fortune come to mel"
keep away from there"
keep away from thercH
@YeSr
@And whyr
"Why. Because you are sure to fall In
love with that pretty thing; You could never
resist the sweet face in its frame of chestnut
hair that curls--that curls to the madness Of
every man that sees it; the wondrous smile,
the little hand, the glory Of the laughing eyes,
the whole witchery Of
Harley"
The charming vista of the Hare estate
broke suddenly to dull me to the rest of life;
hurried up to the house all in a fresh, ex-
its obstacles, its ugly features, mine to win
was as sure of it as that should marry Rule
Grey two weeks the morrow, and never fall
in love with Mrs HopSood Hare.
IL wanted to speak to you" faint voice
broke in upon me-
Ny SMILES had crept in most involuntary
fashion; stood in the room where the SER
want led me, quite lost in smiling at them,
for that little moment with no thought,
no eyes for-Harley's picture coming to-
ward mel
"Ye-sr
1t was breath; stared at her, that
was all.
"lhe fact is, | am in trouble, and-and you
being lawyer, and then, besides, you are the
young man who is to marry my dear school
mate, Rule Grey"
Eyes"
"And you are acquainted with IA Mr..
Harley, Mr.--John Harieyg'
"Y-e-sn
SWELL this all concerns Mr.. Harley. He is
prosecuting me il most uncomfortable way,
and want it stopped-I want it stopped at
once. tt
"My-my dear madam, it shall be-
Il was going TO say it began Immediately
upon our acquaintance, six weeks ago, in
Boston, and now, though l am here since
yesterday only, he has begun again in full
earnest; two baskets of the choicest roses and
an exotic bouquet to-day. or course you
know what that means in the depth of winter,
and, as l am forced to stay hore, l want it
stopped: l cannot endure it, because you see,
cannot can never marry Mr. Harley"
'Of course you cannot"
sand you think there u Q law to reach
himf'
" can stop him this very hour"
"And you will!"
al will
@Oh, thank you. But will see you again
and settle with you"
1t was certainly very singular proceeding
on the part of Mrs. Hopgood Hare; she
turned suddenly, with a quick, frightened
look, and walked away from me. My eyes
followed her to the door, stood listening till
the last rustic of her dress died up the stair
way, and then-snce there was naught else to
dol took my hat and walked slowly out
from Haiemeath.
1t was most humiiating outcome This
case in which was to win my laurels which
was to lift me to an enviable height in legal
warfare, was not to be mine after ALL For
the simple matter of Harleys bouquets Mrs
Hare had sent for the would be the laugh
ing stock Of the procession Besides that, I
was conscious for the first time III my life Of
having posed a very fool Dut somehow it
occurred to me but dimly; for all. walked
back quietly enough 10 town. for the most
part smiling over mad John Harley, laughing
outright as those words of his came floating
back;
THAT curls-that curis to the madness Of
every man that sees it; the wontlrous smile,
the little hand, the glosyr-
1t was the bells of st Peters suddenly ring
ing out that brought to myself There
was fact forgotten, these flung back to me;
fact which brought me to an Involuntary,
shudderiDg standstill at my Office door There
were two facts to make me smile il | could
have dreamed them: the figure that moment
sfriding briskly up the stairs at Hareineath.
the other startling one-four words on the
desk within:
paul Grey is dead
@Your attentions are very disagreeable 10
ArA Hopgood Hare; she commissions me to
request their discontinuancen
The deuceI7
Paul Grey was dead, but my first thought
was for Harley.
"Bu. I must be assured that you will no
longer annoy this lady
~Ihe deucei
John Harley, r
Enough. Roshore. Ny very disasreeahle
attentions to Mrs. Hopgood Hare shall dis
continue from this moment
hurried away from hin to the matter of
That little note to her:
This business is settled, you may depend upou
IT, And yoa have a fancy Of fee. An crave il
Jour thanks, If Only l hear them from the
lips that-taat PARTON me; but may Gomez
1t never occurred to me that was maxim,
fool of myself for the second time that ,iay
posted my note with a gay little laugh as
took my way TO Rule. Then, for the first
time that eventful day, my thoughts settled
down solidly to her, She grew suddenly a
very interesting object to ME, for she was the
girl bad been going to marry.
That bad been hard thing for both OF US:
betrothesf, our wedding day appointed, and,
though we two wiIled it, apparently no
escape This way: A sick client, who
fancied me to the extent that be would have
me marry his only daughter, and-Ruie liked
me, he had said 1 knew nothing Of love: it
SEEMED q pleasant, fatsering thing. and al
recklessiy fell in with his plans. And II
was pleasant thing, thar little, till saw ~
Aimplv bent To her fafbertu - izl,x- tA,.e a..