The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-13
LOVE ON A WALL.

lie llttle DUCK yNTQ pTeSeHCeu Il uONel
appearance. The frost was on the ground,
and the one skeleton tree in the corner
Extended it's leafess branches like gaunt
arms in various directions.
A wooden post was stuck in the CEN
ter of the gravel square, its purpose
vague; at few yards distant stood
man practicing at broadsword exercise.
Sergeant Major Boyne. pausing from
his exertlons addressed some one sitting
on the wall to his right.
care you cold, Mollie?"
'sNo, thanks; it is warming to watch
you"
The sergeant continued his evoutions.
ne-two-three-four; right! One
o-three-four; left!"
The girl clapped her hands. The SER
geant repeated the performance.
'How jolly you look, cousin Jack"
Mollie cried as the cuts and thruStS whis-
tied through the air
'Do Il" the sergeant queried, solcmnly
regarding the post in the middle of the
ground
''You know that you look nice" she
said severely. Don't pretend"
He returned the weapon to it's sheath
and looked at the girl critically.
"You know that you look nice, Cousin
Mollie," he said, with mock severity
Don't pretend. You are the prettiest
girl in Linbridge. All the men at the
barracks say that of you"
"Do they she cried with gasp. ~
am so glad"
Glad? silly girl! What is their opin
ion worth?'
GAS much as yours, l suppose" she
answered
sob, Of course"
She leaned against the wall and re-
fastened buckle. She bit her lip and
tapped the red bricks with her heels.
Sergeant Travers came off worsted
among the men the other night, L heard"
"The odds were all against the one, as
usual she said. Your barrack Jokes
are seldom funny"
He laughed. "Why do you care for
him, Mollie?'
Il don't"
"All right, Molle," he said in tone
that indicated 'all wrong"
Its getting late" she remarked
''They are setting the tea tray"
'Shall help you down"
Her toes were on level with his chest
tinized the height from the ground.
"No, thank You"
"Oh, all right" he responded, with
the same dubious infection.
She heard his spurs click over the
frosty ground. She watched the patch
of scarlet merge into the gloon. and re-
appear in the lighted room of the house
Then the tears trickled down her cold
cheek and froze there.
A boy was spinning Il top i'll the next
garden. She leaned toward him.
"Little boy" she whispered, give me
push.
The little boy, mounting an inverted
bucket, pushed" and heard IL mut1lcd
thud on the other side of the wall.
Every girl in the little garrison town
who possessed an invitation to the non
commissioned officers ball was prcpar.
ing for the evenings fcstivity
Mollie Henderson pirouetted round the
small limit of her chamber, Il gauzv be.
ing in white. The circumscrbed mirror
had been tilted up and tilted down, only
quarter of her form being visioned ut
one time.
The edge of her sl;iyt and white satin
slippers were undergoing reflection when
her youngest brother shouted through
the keyhole:
"Youlldo Mollie! You'll beat Gcorgina
Webb hollow"
sob, Bobby, darling, do you think so: '
she cried, opening the door.
Positive. Here are two boxes. Guess
ones from the sergeant"
Each box containcda spray of flowers
She held the red roses admiringly.
"Dear Molle, please wear my flowers"
was pencilel on a sheet of paper bearing
the name of Sergeant Travers. The
lilies of the valley were accompanied by
a scrap of paper From Jack"
(Which shall wear, Bobby" she ask
ed excitedly, laying the roses and the
lilies together against her bodice.
"Both,' the boy replied promptly
ooh, l can't. l think-I think the red
looks better on the white. The lilies are
a trifle insipid, and yet-oh, must wear
the roses; the red looks lovcly!'
She turned from her brothers inspec-
ton, with the roses clustered at her
breast
stunning! Now stick the lilies in
your hair"
"But they would look awful, Bobby"
whats the odds? Cousin Jack might
feel hipped if you don't stick 'em some
where"
"Don't be so silly! The men have
nothing to do with the flowers"
She gathered her gloves and fan to-
Igether and fastened out of Bobby's
sight.