Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-01

"And your mothers maiden name
was Magnolia Kingsley"
"Ohl dear, no. Aunt Magnolia wa:
never married. My mothers name was
Madeline Kingsley"
"Eh?' cried the dragon.
The horid color had faded from his
cheeks. lie was Juggling nervously at
his dark mustache. lie looked agitated
and perplexed.
MY mother died ten years ago
said Rosine, and since then l have
lived with Aunt Magnolia"
Mr.. Ellsworth regarded her grimly
rs that" he asked, abruptly, your
aunt's gown you have on?"
The soft rose fire in the girls cheek
deepcned.
How in the world did you know?'
she counter-questioned.
A queer, wavering smile was his
only reply.
A constrained silence ensued. Cyril
gave his uncle an astonished glance.
so Magnolia is an old maid?" said
Mr.. Ellsworth, abruptly.
IF she is" cried Rosine, stung to
defense by a remark she considered
rude, at is because she was true to a
lover who proved unworthy of herr
Ell" calculated Mr.. Ellsworth,
more sharply than before. And sud
denly he turned and walked away.
The following day he insisted on ac-
companying his nephew to the gaunt,
ramshackle, once aristocratic old house
in the French quarter, where Rosine
lived. Ae they were passing the vault
cd entrance to the little tagged court
yard, Albert Ellsworth caught sight Of
a familiar figure moving among the
pottcd palms and boxes of blooms.
"Go on. lad!' he said to Cyril lie
had paused, and was looking through
the brief avenue Of gloom to the
brightness beyond.
Cyril was about to question this new
vagary, when the thought OF peculiar
possibility made him catch his breath
aad do as hidden. lie knocked at the
barred black door, and was admitted
TO Bosinc's radiant presence. And
meanwhile his uncle went into the
courtyard. The little old lady stand
ing by the banana tree looked at the
sound of the step on the stones.
"Magnolia!" he cried.
Miss Magnolia gazed at him in q
dazed, half-frightcned way. Did ghosts
ever appear in the daytime? Stouter
than he whom She had known, and
with hair grown graz; but the same
Around her, in Il fantastic dance. thc
:rol,cn fountain. the long-lcavco
banana tree aad the giant oleaader9
went whirling. She didn't faint, but
> came nearer to it than she ever had
come in her life.
Did YOU think had deserted you,
Magnolia? When left you to &C
north on business, l believed i'm You as
I've never believed in anyone since.
And while away heard and read that
YOU had married that young Wilde ]
useI to be SO jealous of. So l went to
Europe And / stayed there"
But Clayton Wilde married Made
line. always told you he came to
sc c her
Yes, I know that-now. I was a
fool to have been so easily convinced
Of your falsity. You haven't changed
q bit. knew you the moment l saw
you"
Miss Magnolia smiled delightedly.
Sle did not know he had expected to
see her.
81 never forgot the dress YOU wore
the last time 1 saw you declared Mr..
Ellsworth, waxing fergent. Il recog-
nizcd it on your niece last night"
"La-t NIGHT. Are you-surely you
are not tie dragon?'
'\Yna-at?'
"Thc-the dragon" faltered Miss
Magnolia.
Mr.. Ellsworth still looked blank.
That" murmured the little lady,
feeling she was in for it, and might as
we'll make a clean breast, was what
Rosine and l called Cyrils uncle. And
Rosine was going to conquer him"
He burst out laughing.
"Well, she did The boy shall marry
Madelines pretty daughter. And you,
Magnolia-you'll marry mew
"Oh, dear, no! I'm too old"
Not day"
And ugly-now."
"Loveliest woman in the world to
me-" insisted the dragon, Loyalty.
BLESS you, my children, cried a
voice from above.
The pair in the courtyard glanced
up. On one of the inner balconies
stood Rosina and Cyril
vanish, you scamps" roared the
dragon.
Il shan't allow you to marry south
ern girl, sir" shouted back Cyril, as he
and Rosine beat brisk retreat
Laughing and breathless they faced
eauh other In the old drawing-room.
"Everything is lovely, sweetheart"
cried Cyril, in an ecstasy. -Peninsular
Home Journal.
The confdant OF my vices is my
master, though he were my valet