The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-20
The HONBYSUCKLE'S STORY.

. her MCt4Ck bloueOh 1iN "ASh S''S H'SN
married John Grant, the gamekeeper. and
anne home to live. AS you see, the lodge
yery pretty. but gray stone always looks
cold and dread if there are no ciinging
ines 20 enliyen the picture. That is why
am hereto enliyen and beautlfy-and L
latter myself that | more than fulfill my
auty.
Yes. AS / was saying. her mother planted
ne and at twilight. when John had fin
he'd work. they would come together, and
he would say:
How that honeySuekle grows! Why
John, do believe it VIII blossom before
next summer
Il shouldn't wonder, DEAR" he would an
,wer. "This lodge will look nearly as fine as
he Great House with the honeysuckles COW
ring it all over"
How proud we were-we three-on the
lay when my first tendril twined round the
to0rpoSt
Thus l grew and fourished in the sum
ight and gradually the whole front OF the
.Odge was gay with nodding blossoms. But
Though | was happy. still a. times lonely
ceiling oyercame me thar l could not ac-
count for John had his work TO 90, and
ven the little wife had no time TO waste on
he porch. But one morning my silent wish
vas gratified, for they brought her out to
lie doorwav-a tiny bundle OF fanneis-a
,aby-and l knew my playfellow had ar
lived.
Then came the Sunday morning when Il
little triumphal procession filed down the
ath, with baby in her best robes. In about
IN hour they returned. with several addl-
lions 10 the party, and sat down TO cakes
4nd wine on the porch. Presently John
use and proposed a toast. Miss Louise
Grant" They ! knew they lad been 10 the
hristeninE.
Now you see there were two of US to
9row-Baby Lou and l. aud the days passed
ike dreams She would play by the hour,
digging In the soft earth about my roots,
Stopping occasionally TO pick bunch of my
wPe;eSt blossoms and thrust them through
he big gate 10 the passers-by.
One morning she came out with q school
bag on her arm, and my lonely days began
Ince more
Thus the years passed, and Lou grew to
Ne a woman with a sweet, gentle face-nOt
-xactly beautiful. but so loving and true
that every one called her pretty; and IL
>eemed to me that Master Fred"-as John
talled the heir TO tile Great House-came to
he lodge ofiener than before. At first an
rrrand for his lady mother would be the
-xeuse; then he would develop suspicious
anxiety for Johns opinion OF the advlsa-
bility Of inviting party down for tile
shooting; but finally all disguise was aban-
,i0ned. aud Louise would watch for him,
leaning her brown head against the pillar OF
he piazza, where ! could caress her 10 my
hearts content. But not long was this
pIeasuie afforded me, for when his firm
Tread was heard upon tie gravel her little
agure would straighten and grew tense
with impotence and her blue eyes strain TO
catch glimpse Of the beloved form through
the gathering shadows.
They would sit together III the moonlight
and nodded aud bent vainly in my efforts
70 hear their low whisperings. A cluster OF
~ r- OFT rod
attention. He broke them off. kissed them
lingeringly, and tenderly pinned them IN
her hair All, those were happy daysi
she loved him truly, and be knew it; but
Master Fred grew tired, and the time came
when she would watch for him, in vain,
night after night. Finally, if he did appear,
it was 10 stay only few minutes" as he
had come lust To see how they all were"
to earelesSly pat her cheek, tell her she
looked az II Ter head ached, kiss her lightly
and go. Still she believed IN him.
3Fnaily his anxiety forithe family welfare
seemed TO die cut entirely, and one morning
Tim, the gardener, stopped at the lodge On
his way to the green houses.
Hey, John! John Grant," he called
Justify.
John, coming round the house. How are
The wife and little ones?"
''Ail rosy, John, thanks be 10 GOdi But
have you heard the news from the Great
House? Master Frederic will be soon TAX
Ing to himself a wife Miss Humphrey of
he Place-you remember, the tail one. with
the black hair, that was at the House last
summer. She"
"Hushr whispered John. suddenly, for
Lou stood in the doorway.
Had she heard? Surely not, for she came
down the steps smiling.
Good morning, Tim. All well al home?
How is Mays Group" And presently, as
Tim picked up his watering pot preparatory
10 leaving, "Well, remember me TO your
wife, and tell her l will send that receipt
for lemon pie this very afternoon, surep'
with a nod and a smile as the two men
walked OFF together.
But when they were out of sight-ahi /
knew she had heard! She graSped my
trunk for support, and sinking her head on
her arms cried passionately, but with a
tinge of despair
"Oh, / don't believe It! ] don't believe
I'll / don't! He could not! He would not !
Why, didn't he say only yesterday that
he"
She smiled at the recollection, and wills
pered contritely-
'Oh. my dearest forgive me! 1t was cruel
If me to doubt you for one instant. There
IS a mistake somewhere. He will make
everything all right"
Lifting her head, with renewed hope and
trust. she went in, and presently l saw her
stealing off in the direction of the woods.
probably TO think it out"
That afternoon party Of young men
came to the lodge, bringing her home with
them.
1--WE were shooting In the woods" one
explained, "and the young lady has caught
stray shot IN her arm. 1t is very unfOr-
tunate, but l assure you it was all accident,
and the wound is very slight, mere scratch
in the flesh, nothing more" And with pro-
fuse apologies from the whole party, they
left her to her mother.
True, it was only scratch. but Lou
seemed TO have lost her old ht-hearted
smile. and went around the house looking
ike the pale ghost of the girl who used to
watch for her lover under the shadow OF
my blossoms.
This went on for week or two. until one
night Lou came out in the moonlight alone
and after digging little hole by my roots
dropped into it package of notes and
cluster OF whitening honeysuckle blossoms
Her mother. stepping cut on the porch, was
alarmed at finding her standing there in the
still night air. She called to her softly:
Lou, dearV
At that the girls heart overlooked, ant
In a low, subdued voice that could scarcely
hear, she told the sad little story of thu
afternoon in the woods.
She had wandered on for about an hour
she thought, when rustling In the thicke
startled her, and turning, she saw (
familiar figure emerge into the path Tht
hrst thought that came to her was of tn.
doubts OF the morning. and that now h,
would explain everything satisfactorily
She had cried 'Fredw and ran toward him
when she heard report and felt sharl
twinge in her arm
She fell, stunned, more from fright thar
anything else. and lay there with closet
eyes for moment, trying TO collect he
scattered senses. There was a confuse,
ihulihur In her ears, and what was evi
IDENTITY the remainder OF a shooting mart,
hurried up. Presently one voice said dis
tinctly:
why. Fred, do you know her? Sh