Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-03-31
HER APRIL FOOL.

Sweet II, in the guise of Nell Gordon,
tripped lightly to school one lovely
morning. the first of April, too Glanc-
ing over her shoulder, she saw Fred
Foster. attorney at law, coming quickly
after her.
he had but recently returned from
Cambridge and hung out his sign on the
little main street in H.
Nell had known him when a wee girl,
and he at that age when most boys dis
like girls So her recollections of him
were not pleasant
Nell uttered low, mischievous laugh
and a slip of paper fiuttered from her
fingers to the ground She hurried on,
but took another backward look just as
Foster stopped to pick up the innocent
looking piece Of paper which he had
seen Nell drop
He thought to overtake her, and pre-
sent it to her, but glance showed him
the words My April Fooli" in a round
girlish hand. The paper bore no other
words.
For a moment his blood quickened
with resentment; then an amused look
crept over his face. and he put the white
fragment carefully into his pocketbook.
$50 that is little Nell Gordon. re-
member her-a pretty, shy thing, mostly
eyes She is charming, certainly, and
roguish, besides, it seems!"
Foster walked rapidly on, and, run
ming up the steps, entered his Office.
That evening as Nell and her sister in
law sat chatting and sewing, Minnie's
slippered foot tipping fairy cradle,
there came ring at the bell, and Nell,
going to answer it found lovely bou-
quet lying on the doorstep She stopped
to examine it by the hall lamp There
was a note tucked cunningly in among
blushing rosebuds, sweet pale pinks.
waxen callas, and fragrant heliotrope.
1t read: ~Please accept this trihe from
your April Fool"
Nell was astonished at his daring, but
heartily ashamed of this mornings rude
mesa She carried the bouquet to the
sitting room.
"Who could have sent it? Isn't it
lovely?" exclaimed Minnie.
Nell smiled and blushed, but volun.
teered no explanation.
The flowers were placed in water and
tenderly cared for. till they were quite
pale and faded. Then Nell wrapped
them in paper and laid them in her
writing desk, with a smile and sigh.
One evening, week later, George,
Nell's brother, said to his wife, as they
sat at tea:
i saw Foster to-day; you remember
him. Minnie-splendid fellow-well,
made him promise to come up tonight"
Foster came, and Nell met him with a
dcmure face. He was quite grave, and
bowed low when George introduced him
TO Nell. The evening passed pleasantly,
though Nell wished George would not
monOpOlize Fosters attention and con-
versation SO entirely. However, he
came to her side before going.
Nell feared at first he would refer to
that disagreeable incident, which was
ever urpermost in her mind; but he did
not, and she liked him much better for
Il. She felt that she owed him an
apology, but she could not bring herself
TO utter one Mr.. Foster proved himself
so brilliant and entertaining in converse
tion that the evening was gone before
Nell was aware of it; she said as much
to him when he rosa to leave. Fosters
eyes frightened, and he went, after
promising to call again.
Nell saw him often after tbat-very
often before long. And one sweet Sep
tember morning, robed in simple white,
starry blossoms breaking the darkness
Of her glossy hair, Nell held up to her
admiring friends-gathered to see her
given away to Fred Foster-her bridal
bouquet magnifcently beautiful, and Of
considerable cost Everybody admired
and praised the sweet, fragrant hothouse
gloriea But when Nell was left alone
with her husband, she took herself from
Fred's loving arms a moment and
brought from her writing desk q few
faded blossoms, and laid the little note
which nestled among them in her
husbands hand, with tear and smile.
/ was very naughty that morning,
Fred, and it was 50 nice of you to send
me those flowers, she said shyIy.