Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1895-11-29
SUB ROSA.

The hon. MIS-. mditioNCiS.
her gardener, ancient, autocratic ana
well meaning Scene, q conservatory.
Mrs. Maltravers-It is very singular,
Fraser, that we shouldn't have sin
gle camellia. Now, Sir Francis houses
Il saw them only the other day
are full of them.
Fraser-There's a wulgarity num-
about camellias as 1t doesn't surprise
me- Sir Francis-begging your par
don if he's a partickled friend of yours
should have a heap o of 'em.
nasty. snowy shrub is a camellia, TO
NV thinking, mum. AS gaudy as you
nlease for little, but pick 'em and In
ten minutes they're as brown as
brown. It's hallegorical, to my
thinking, mum.
Mrs. Observation-Disclosures! what
in the world do you mean, Fraser!
Fraser-Well, mum, It's TINS. 81,
Francis wallet tells masters wallet ana
masters wallet he tells me as now
Sir Francis has lot a lot OF money late-
~, and, camelias or no camellas, am
Is rich as you'd think. "Took to the
turf" says masters wallet TO me ohiy
very morning. ats pore LOOKOUT
for our Miss Lyddy,' says l as they
are going to marry to Sir Francls, anu
III M axe it my dooty to let the missus
know his goings on
Mrs. Maltravers with dignity)-Real-
ly, Fraser, you re excessively KIND 10
busy yourself so much with my-prl-
vate affairs. Let me recommend you
to look after your business-whlch
very sorely needs your attention-a lit
80 more and mine little less. You
10 not know, perhaps. that your can
Cor is something very like imperu-
nence.
Fraser-No, mum, / don't I'm that
fond of Miss Lyddy as I'd do anything
for her. And Miss Lyddy, do she care
Cor Sir Francis? You take my word
for ii. mum, not jot. Why, when
he give his grand ball, L meet MISS
Iyddy, and says she to me, Il suppose
/ must have some flowers to wear this
evening, Fraser" And says /, agree
ing ready: you shall. Miss. Name
your flower, Miss. and I'll do it." "Oh,
I don't care, thank you, Eraser" says
She. with her smile, only tlredlike.
at doesn't much matter SEND me
whatever you will miss least" Now,
that's unnatural mum. Ny idea is
when young woman's in love green
houses and the delicatest OF plants
and the feelings of hall the gardeners
In creation amt nothing to her. why,
Miss Lyddy herself, when the captain
was a-staying up at the house, treated
them pots o'lllies of the valley cruel
iy. Lilies for her nosegay, and lilies
to put in her frock, and lilies-which
was wicked-to pin, quite senseless.
on her fan. And all accuse, suppose,
of the captain saying to her one day
/ heard him, though busy pruning:
sLilies are your flowers, Miss NAL
travers / never like to see you wear
any others"
Mrs. Maltravers (frigidly)-You seem
to know a great deal more about my
daughters feeling than l do, Fraser.
/ must really beg that you will keep
your information to yourself.
Fraser-No, mum. / can't. Sorry as
/ am to disoblige a lady as has been
always considerate, except for asking
occasional for flowers and cucumbers
out Of season, / must say my mind
about Miss Lyddy and Sir Francis.
If Sir Francis were sure Of his money,
l shouldn't have spoke. Moneys a
nice thing, mum. His wallet Is an hon.
est spoken gentleman, and he says to
our Chawls: "You take my word,
Chawls," says he, 1--WE shall have to
bust up at our place before long"
And so they will.
Mrs. Maltravers-May I ask If You
are presuming to offer me advice as
to whom Miss Lydia is to marry?
Fraser-No, mum, no, yet, but I'm
coming to It, If you and master amt
above listening to an old fellow who
Is nigh upon as fond Of her as you
are, / say let her have her captain.
He amt got much cooks tells me.
But what he has is sure. And she's
fond OF him-which don't count for
much In the hupper classes, I'm aware
but Is useful, uncommon useful.
Mrs. Maltravers "a little sarcastica1-
ly)-May | ask, Fraser what reasons
you have for thinking Miss Lydia is
attached to Capt. Wetherly?
Fraser-ReasonS. mum? There was
the hincident Of the lilies. That came
fust. Aud after that seed him, doZ-
ems o. times-when you was a driving
IN the afternoons, MISUNDERSTANDING
on that seat near the border which
was bedding out. Miss LydGy-she
don't say much. She hangs down her
pretty head. and color like one of
them carnations comes into her pretty
cheeks And she says: Yes George
and mo George" once or twice, un-
common soft. And the captain. he
talk and persuade her. you'll be
brave, Lydia. won't you?" and she
says. You don't know how I dread
seeing Sir Francis" Hang Sir
Francis" says the captain, and she
cries. "Hush. George! very gentle and
shocked. That's how / know, mum
And by the way she looked at him