The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-10

self, l thought it very becoming and
wondered if Hugh would like it as well
as my old one-that horrid red and
brown thing of which I had grown so
tired, though Hugh did say 1 looked
like robin redbreast in it. As l sat
there in my yellow dress, with my lap
full of yellow flowers, 1 smiled to think
that now he would say 1 was like a
canary. 1t was such a very common
occupation to think over what he would
say or do, that l fell TO wondering how
I had managed to pass time before he
game to give it me, on that cold day
,.when we first met Dad and 1 were
jogging along through the November
6nist and mire as we had logged along
Through winter cold and summer heat
bver since ] was a wee mite of child
land he held the leading rein of my
&hetland pony; when someone came
trOttinG up behind us. In those quiet
country roads, that was quite an ex-
element in Itself but my curiosity
ran TO fever height when, turning TO
look. [ saw stranger. who, TO my
surprise. drew in his horse, raised, his
hat TO me. and addressed my father by
name. Dear absent dad! He was SO
pleased at the recognition that he quite
forgot to introduce the new conner TO
me, and so insensibly I fell behind and
began to take notes after the manner
of girls. l don't exactly understand
my own method Of arriving at the con-
cluson, but / remember that his APP
pearance inspired me with a fear that
my nose was red and an earnest de-
sire for some more hair-pins. Pure van
fly, no doubt, for the young man set
us 10 great example of tidiness himself.
Even his red coat was FLASHED with
mud, and his horse showed evident
signs of having been in somewhere. I
decided also that he was nice looking.
despite the absence of the Greek pro-
file which my heroes were bound to
Possess; but my most unfeigned admir-
alton was reserved for the way his
shirt collar was "got up,' and its Dol-
ish convincing me that he had not long
been in the country side. I thought I
should like to take 1t home and show it
to our Margaret, who was always
grumhlng at poor fathers modest
complaints about his. Perhaps some
brain-wave betrayed my larcenous wish
to the owner. for after a time he be-
came manifestly uncomfortable and
kept casting backward chances at me
IN furtive way. Suddenly he seemed
to make III his mind, and, reiEning his
horse in, asked nv father to allow him
the honor of an Introduction to Miss
Maxwell. surely, surely" was the re-
ply, with an apologize look towards
ME. Birdie. my dear. this is Hugh
11alrymple. our new neighbor at Dahl
linton. His father was a dear friend
Of mine. You must excuse my forget
fulness, Hugh, but I can't always re-
member that this little girl Of mine is
beginning to grow up
why, dad 7 was FIVE feet four when
You measured me last month" / cried
hotly. and then blusbed with shame at
having so far forgotten my dignity.
I think I liked Hugh from that mo-
ment. because ne did rot try to con-
ceal his laugh.
and a very good height. too. Miss
Maxwell he said cheerfully. you'll
grow another inch yet, and t1ve-hve is
quite tall enough for woman"
That had been the beginning of it.
Since then I had learnt his opinion on
many subjects besides the proper stand
ard of growth in the weaker sex, for
from the first he treated me with q def
erence and yet with equality which was
pleasant from its very novelty. So DIFF
ferent from Aunt Dorothy and dad.
who sill thought of me as the child AS
for Aunt Phemie she never had any
thoughts or opinions of her own, and
If ] had chosen to say I was 100, would
haze replied. my darling, if it pleases
you to be Melthusaleh. don't mind"
Thinking of these things, 1 forgot my
llpMtIS. anu let lily 0NtSS snip. ana
there were the poor primroses all scat
tered head and heels over the floor,
As I sat beside them gathering them
once more into little punches their
faint smell reminded me Of a bet Hugh
had made. that he would find the first
bit of gorse; as if. being comparative
stranger, he could know Of those bush
es by the west-post, that were always
week earlier than any others. For
was a connoisseur IN gorse, and loved
Ne .eSsaiDt, prickly branches that for
one' short month blossomed from ugly
into perfumed beauty
with their fairir gold, as the country
people call it. And suddenly, without
a word of warning a perfect bush of
1t few in from the window against my
primroses.
1 felt fer moment quite angry with
the mischievous face that looked in on
me also.
Il call it horrid of you. T was going
round there this afternoon on purpose
TO see If it was not out. Indeed
should have gone this morning but
The continuance Of my sentence in
volved an admission that I had re-
manned at home hoping ne would call
made me stop abruptly
IF You mean that you proposed to |
come and see that gorse growing I |
can only say that I should have de- !
lighted to show it 10 you. But if YOU
had picked it should have prosecuted /
you for deliberate and malicious theft |