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

greenhouse. 1 tod the gardener to
force some
That's not fair" I cried, starting up
and letting my poor flowers fall once
more.
Il didn't know any limitations were
put on the bet; besides there's a prov
erb which says, AIS fair
You haven't wished me many happy
, returns Of the day" I interrupted has
tily, don't you know this is my birth
day"
Perfectly; but I'm not going to offer
my good wishes nefarious.y through
the window. I was going round to the
front door like a Christian, when
caught sight OF the canary
There! knew you would say
that" 1 cried contemptuously. do
leave my poor dress alone. Aunt
| Dorothy and Dad have been at it al
ready. almost wish 1 hadn't put it
on
81 don't. It suits-the howers-ad-
mirably."
think it was the content on his face
which angered me into showing indif-
ference. AT any rate I turned away
with the excuse that I really must put
| the poor things into water at once or
they would ole.
You needn't PUT me into cold water.
Miss MAJ WE'LL" he said cody. II don't
feel at all disposed to witner up"
I tried to take no notice Of him, but
! it was simply impossible to arrange
flowers with his eyes criticising my
taste from the window.
Mr.. Dalrymple,' I remarked stern
ly, you Will find Dad in the library"
But I came to see you, and I'm
waiting to be asked in
Il have no doubt that if you ring the
door ben loud enough Maggie viii an
swer it and show you into the drawing
ROOM
Il should prefer coming in through
the window, may 90
Certainly not; I'm surprised you
should suggest such an undignified
proceeding"
81 beg your pardon" he said with
mock humility. II forgot you were
eighteen" The next minute 1 heard
his steps crunching along the gravel
and the bell which SO seldom rang
woke the echoes OF the large empty old
house. My aunts had lived there all
their lives, even during my mothers
brief reign of a year. and so the whole
place had the Old world look which
had been new when they were young.
1t seemed almost impossible to think
of stern Aunt Dorothy as young and
yet many We're the tales Aunt Picnic
had to tell me on the sly Of her beauty
and brightness. Deed an l was a
toast myself" the dear old lady would
say with a faint blush on her withered
cheek, but l never could touch Dor
othea. You gfrded at the harpsichord
because it was no guid enough for
your flam-jangles. but in the very place
where your piano stands I've seen
Dorothy singing with all the beauX of
1 the county round her.
Then, why didn't she marry one Of
them?" 1 used to ask contumaciousiy,
for these renliscences usually came as
a sequence TO some friction between
me and my godmother. She would
have been far happier; now, you Phe-
qnie darling, were mean to be my
maiden aunt"
''Harl to her impudence, but God
send, dearie, you may never learn
more synpa thy for your aunt through
troubles Of Your own
used to try and persuade Picnic to
tell me what the trouble had been, but
beyond mysterious hints that some one
had played the back step. instead of
coming forward, ] was not successful.
OF late, however. had been too much
occupied with my own pleasure to
think Of other peoples grief, and when
Hugh, with all his mischief gone,
walked into the parlor sobsrly and TAX
ing my hand wished me ali the luck
in the world, l felt I was not far from
possessing it. He had brought me a
present, too-the very thing L had
[onged fora watch; and yet as L
looked at it in its dainty velvet nest
with nay monogram glittering on it in
diamonds, l felt something was want
fv,r- hot -. ?
my hesitation, and taking the little
morocco case from my hands laid it
aside on the table.
I'VE will talk Of that by and by"
he said with a smile. Meanwhile I
have something far more important to
occupy your attention. The fact Is, I
have been intrusted TO deliver another
birthday gift to your keeping: though
who the donor is L really can't say"
Wont, 1 presume
No! 1 am serious. I think I told
you that my stay at Dalhinton began
in business. Ny brother, who, as You
know, died abroad after an absence Of
years left his affairs in sad disorder,
and I have had to go through them
carefully. This morning 1 was looking
fer a deed that has gone astray, and
in a chest full Of Old letters I found a
small packet tied up with a ribbon,
addressed TO the care Of Hugh Dali
rymp,e, EsQre., Dalhinton. Please for
ward it to its destination At first
sight l thought il must have been
meant for my granduncle Hugh, who
was killed at Waterloo; but seeing that
the seals were intact. and the paper
fresh, I decided Oh opening it. The
contents proved my wis33m. and l now
forward them to their destination glad
-
] thought he was joking ana took
the little packet with a smile. It con-
tanned a case in which lay an Old
fashioned ring with an embossed posy
round its broad gold circle.
Gods gifts are good"
glanced at Hugh; he was grave,
preternaturally grave and L was about
to deride his attempt at imposition
when he called my attention to some
writing on the paper. A few slaves of
music and couple of verses headed:
''To Dorothea on her birthday"
They are very pretty" said I, after
have been ashamed Of the authorship
Il knew you would say that" he re-
piled in q -vexed tone; ''but indeed it
is as have told you"
...The writing is suspiciously like
yours
81 admit it; and see, the signature is
h. D. Perhaps wrote them in my
sleep,"
l turned the ring round and round
curiously and idly Slipped it into my
finger.
''4hat is right" he said in tone of
satisfaction. now set down and let me
sing you the song, for it embodies all
my ideas-and hopes"
played the prelude and he began:
Queenly daffodils of May,
Nod3ing blue bells tell me, pray
Why you bloom SO bright today?
Bending each her perfumed head
IT'S the birthday of maid;
Best of ali Gods gifts is she,
And her name is Dorothy