Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1890-02-27
THE LuIKY-E0SE.


! Robert Ellis walked slowly beneath
the dropping orchard boughs, absently
plucking the heads OF the tall nold-
daisies, and apparently paying small At.
tentiol to the chat IL hid companion,
Miss Harriet BEDFORD, albeit she was the
Acknowledged belle OF Broad Oaks.
He KNEW that In the gossip of the
/ neighborhood be ard Harriet had long
aimee been allotted to each other a. =
Suitable mstch;" aud it was only q few
month"; pact that he had come to So
riously consider the situation. and tried
hard to persuade himself into warmer
feeling Tor the handsome, clever and
confident girl, whose liking for himself
was sufDciently manifest to DO fiattering
to bis vanity. he'd be been possessed OF
any.
The attempt, however, was suddeniy
cut short BY the discovery that he had,
without m effort and almost unknown
70 himself, fallen In lovo with Gracie
Ming, the saucy, coquettlsh and alto
gethcr charming maiden who had come
To spend the summer with bis Aunt
Allen. on the farm sdjoing his own.
Then Robert had felt conviction that
bis tate was already fixed for him, and
from that time had done his beat to In
gratiate himself In Gracie's favor.
But he was . quiet and rather sby
young man. with but little confidence In
bis own ability Of bearing off the DIize
for which Others besides himself were
striving.
Aud she was such firtl - bow could
be trust her when he cav how she
carried on" with Dick Lowrcy, whom
he knew that she did not much like, or
bow hope ~ succeed where rich Squire
Willis handsome and dashing son had
met with small fayori
Still be was constantly In Gracie's so.
ciety; and there we're times when some
thing In her look and tone, or in the
blush with which she greeted him,
would stir In his heart wild hope and
almost conviction that she really cared
for him.
OF course she know that he loved her:
for, though he had never had the cour-
age to tell her 20 10 so many words, he
could see II At times In . certain con-
tciousasss which be could not but rocog.
nizs.
Aud yet she gave him no encourage
ments and WA often capricious and sAr.
castle, and even cold toward him, 90
that now Robert felt a though be could
give half Of his estate to know whether
che did really care for him.
II was 70 6racie's gay voice and light
laughter, and not to Harriet's that he
WA now listening, ~ they came floating
across the garden hedge, and presently
he came In sight Of her, ~, with upliited
arms and airy pose, she strovs to catch q
gorgeous butterfly, while Dick Lowrey,
with his straw hat, was making awkward
attsmpts to assist her.
In her transparent pink drcss and flut-
tering ribbons, and with her necey
golden curls waving beneath the brim Of
her light garden hat, she reminded
Robert Ellis Of the little porcelain
Wateau figures which he bad seen In the
had In 1t so much more Of character and
expression.
Dick made sudden swoop with the bat
II only want 70 look at HIN awhile, aud
then let him 20. There! / have him a
last"
Harriet King laughed, and said In {
tone which Robert did not quite like:
"Howcharacteristic that IL OF Oracle
To catch him and let him gol And sh,
looks Just like butterfly herself, won
der II she really has . hearth"
Grscis's next words seemed an answer
to this question.
Poor little thinei how bis wings trem
BILE! Don't be afraid. my little beauty,
would not hurt hair OF your head
mean feather Of your downy wing-fol
the world. There, fly away and enjoy
your little life while you mafl"
And with light, soft motion Of hel
hand, she waited tho insect into the air.
do you treat men a. you do butter
dles2" inquired Robert, As he stood be.
aide her.
"How9" with an expression Of limo
cent inquiry.
"Why, make captives OF them, amuse
yourself with them for awhile, aud then
send them of IS you did that poor In
sect"
"This one came Huttering around me.
ii men and butterflies hold themselves
Them"
What did she meant for her cheek
flushed slightly, and she gave . queer
little toss OF her head.
Harriet glanced sharply OF her, and a
flush arose to her cheek also. 1t was
clear that, for some reason, these two
/ girls had no affection for each other.
Dick led Harriet aside to look at Uncle
Ambrose's beehive.
Oracle stood on the garden walk, slow.
ly pluc king the petals from growing
rose.
"Are you going TO the picnic next
Thursday" she asked, looking up at
Robert with half-shy, appealing look,
Ms ii In apology for her late sharp
speech.
al lave not thought about 1t. Shall
you go?"
II don't know. They say 1t will be
pleasant"
Should be ask her to 20 with himi
But WHY should he, when she would no
doubt prefer Dick Lowrey's more agree-
able aud entertaining societyP
He did not Wish 10 force her into an
unwilling acceptance Of bis company.
And while be stood hesitating, tho girl
suddenly tore away the whole of the
rose leaves aud tossed them impatiently
into the air.
What changeAble, incomprehensible
creature she wasi Robert thought.
As the two approached the house they
found the family on the wide piazza en-
lSoying the pleasant evening air. Little
Flossie, seated on the top step, was
busily polishing something on her white
apron.
| "Whst have you there, Pstl snid Rob
ert, with whom she was Especial favoritc
She held up Q little horseshoe-shaped