Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-10-16
"I am sure it will be exquisite" he

worried look came into his handsome
eyes, but she was not noticing.
"You mustn't think" he said pre-
sently, 'that am q worthless, idle fellow,
gadding about for my aimless amuse-
ment- fear you do. I'm in business
stock -brokerage-but my mother has
insisted on my taking year of because
had believe, really, it wasn't much
more than a severe cold-ast winter"
Ethel smiled little. Tat last stake
ment, that he worked, was the last
shred OF proof she had required to con-
firm her growing certainty that he was
oh, he vase man--an ideal man!
And she wished he had cot completed
that proof; for were not these flowers
to 60 to-day to his schoolmate's sister,
Was he not going to call on her to-nor-
rowe
eve done my best" she said, her
smile not very steady. ~ hope she'll
like it."
"I'm more than satisfied" he declared,
in his straightforward way. "How much
do owe?"
"Oh," Ethel gasped, half laughing,
half angry, all confused, ''pay the
gardner-I mean, pay to-morrow-any-
thing!"
She felt she could not be self-controlled
much longer, and she all but flew along
the narrow walk to the door, turning for
parting nod then swiftly disappear
ing.
He stared after her wide-eyed. For
the first time he saw how graceful she
was, how fair-faced, and crowned by
what mass of yellow hair! Then he
took himself and his flowers slowly
| away.
Ethel ran to the konse. to an upper
room and to a window.
Yes, she could see him plainly as he
went. What stride he had, aud how
he carried nimself7 Strength, simplic-
| ity, energy-that was what she read.
eyes, he was every inch man. She
had believed, in her foolish pride, that
no such a one existed, or that none such
would cross her path. Yet he had.
Yes, that was quite the phrase-he had
crossed her path, and would not be
| likely to recross it, Or, if he should,
there would be his schoolmates sister,
on whom he was to call tomorrow,
and to whom the flowers would go.
The Herkimer House parlors were we'll
filed that evening, and the gathering
was select and brilliant.
Ethel and her mother came late, but
that only added lustre to their triumphal
entrance.
Mrs. Hapgood was entirely used to
such happenings as those which fol-
lowed. Mrs. Games introduced three
young men; Mrs. Stanley produced four;
they were unwillingly forced to produce
others.
Ethel was the centre of an eager
throng-easily the bright star of the as
semblage. She looked uncommonly
lovely in white and lavender, with
great bunch of fowers-roses, pinks,
camellias.
But her eyes had a searching, preoc-
cupied look, which her partners, observ-
ing it, were not greatly 1attered by.
She had danced the third quadrille,
and was standing listlessly at her moth
er's side, fastening loose ribbon, when
Mrs. Stanley came again, beaming.
''Mr. Sutherland wants to meet you,"
she said-''Miss Hapgood."
Ethel gravely introduced him to her
mother. But her mother was talking to
| Colonel Eames, and Mr.. Sutherland
offered his arm, and they strolled away
| together.
''Is your next dance taken2" he said
timidly.
eyes" she answered.
But she never danced it. They went
slowly down the long hall and sat down
III perfect silence on a retired sofa; then
she looked at him, with her blue eyes
very bright.
81 received the flowers" she said, "and
I'm very grteful. Frank has spoken of
you so many times, Mr.. Sutherland, that
1 am glad to know you"
| He returned her look with his wonted
steadiness.
Was he handsomer in evening dress2
! She didn't know.
"You played me an awfully mean
trick" he vowed. SIT was my fault, of
course. But tell you was scared, Miss
Hapgood, when I caught sight of you
and the flowers twenty minutes ago. I
saw it all then. How I'd blurted into a
private green house-yours-like an awk-
ward great BOBBY, and ordered bouquet
of you, and-oh, I trembledl I assure
you 1 shook. I've been all this time get
ting up courage to come to you. was
afraid you'd cut me dead"
"Why9" said Ethel, cheerfully. "We
had rather a pleasant time, didn't WEI
What could do2 You took me so by
storml got the flowers. That was my