Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-03-24


had worn his flowers in hair and dress
and had hidden him farewell.
"How beautiful they areI" exclaimed
Grace excitedly, "and Just In time for
tonight. To think Of the way I've made
that wretched husband of mine charge
through the country since daybreak this
morning in pursuit Of white flowers, and
here they come like q fairy story. It
was very nice Of Jim. I'd no idea there
was SO poetical an impulse In the old
fellow as the selection OF these flowers
appears to Indicate"
"You don't appreciate Jim, Grace.
You do him injustice. II thought and
care and love for Others, combined with
tenderness and delight in giving pleas
ure, constitute poetical impulses, then
John Byrd is the noblest poet we are
likely ever to meet" Pocahontas spoke
warmly. the color flushing to her cheeks,
the light coming to her eyes. Poor Jiml
so far away. Was It disloyal to her old
friend to go that night to dance among
strangers in the rooms that had been
his-that were full Of associations con.
nected with him?
At all events, no flowers would she
wear save his; no other ornaments Of
any kind. It would seem then as though
he participated IN her pleasure; rejoiced
In her joy. Jim loved always to see her
happy. For reasons Of their own, the
two elder ladies had decided on remain
ing at home, so that Pocahontas repaired
to the ball in male custody alone.
Blanche, who was on the watch for the
Lanarth party, came forward the in
slant of their arrival, accompanied by
her father, to welcome them, and to
bear Pocahontas away to the upper re-
gions to warm herself and remove her
wrappings. The rooms were a little
chill, she explained, with a shiver, in
spite of the splendid fires the general
had kept roaring in them all day.
Pocahontas must remain where she was
and warm herself thoroughly, and she
would send one of the boys for her pres
emily. And after little girlish gossip
and mutual admiration of each others
appearance, the small maiden tripped
away to her duties below.
Soon there was a knock at the door,
and Pocahontas. catching up fan, bou-
quet and handkerchief, opened it and
and stepped into the hall. Nesbit
Thorne, slender and distinguished look
ing, was awaiting her, Blanche having
encountered and dispatched him imme-
diately on her return to the parlors. As
the girl stood an instant framed by the
open door, thrown into relief by the soft
glowing background Of the warmly
lighted room, Thorne's heart swellec
with mingled gladness and impotence.
Joy in the pure perfection of her beauty;
impotence at the restraint circum-
stances forced him still to put upon his
love.
At the foot Of the stairs they were
pounced upon by Percival, who had &C.
lected that coigne of vantage as least
likely to attract his mothers attention,
there to lay in wait for the cards Of the
unwary. He had been strictly forbid.
den to importune young ladies for dances
unless they happened to be wall flowers,
and the injunction lay heavy on his soul
81 will ask girls, other men ask" he
muttered darkly; II hate putting NJ
with refuse and leavings. I'm going tc
ask the ones want to ask" and he in.
trenched himself beside the stairway
with intent to blackmail such girls as he
should fancy.
Pocahontas, who had a natural afini
ty for boys and great fondness for Per
cival, yielded to his demand readily
enough, surrendering her card to him IL
gay defiance Of Thorne's outspoken rep
rotation, and laughing mischievously o.
the boy scrawled his name triumphantly
opposite waltz.
'tB. Nj Who's B. NJ, Miss Princess?
he questioned, as he dexterously avoided
Thorne's extended hand and placed thu
card in Pocahontas'.
! you've got him down just above me
and you wrote it yourself. Who is he
Benevolent missionary Brother Ma
son?''
"Exactlyr she answered smiling, ant
watching Thorne scribble his name il
several places on her card. sit
Berkeley. The Byrd girls and Away
saved a waltz for him to prevent his feel
ing left out. He don't like to ask girl
generally; his one arm makes it loo
awkward. and he knows they wouldn'
like to refuse, because they all fee
sorry for him. We put a hand on eac
shoulder and don't care how 1t look
Berke is adroit and manages quite nice
ly. Often, too, it's an advantage to hav
q dance you can dispose Of later on, so
continue to put the initials, althoug
Berke seldom dances now. He like
waltzing with the Byrd girls best"
"You were very intimate with tn
, Byrds, think you said," Thorne r.
marked idly, bowling to an acquaintanc
> as he spoke. . ..r.. ...t -.....
very intimate. See what came
me this mornings all these exquiEt
, flowers, just when needed them for II
night. Roy searched the neighborhoo
through for white flowers without su
; cess, and then these came. Aren't the
beautiful And she lifted her bouQu,
toward his face. II
a Extremely beautifulr' he assente'
bending his head to inhale their fr
L GRANGE. eft was very kind and though
! full of your friends to send them. I So