The record-union., 1895-05-04

lovers. while Esther and 1 have never
| had one. Not that want One-oh, dear,
noW
Kath descended from her perch, strolled
down to the waters edge and sat down
on the grass. pulling her big straw hat
over her eyes to shield them from the
glare of the sun. 1t shielded them from
something else, too-from the sight OF
Max Trevosso relinQ uishing Hernia to
the tender mercies of Mr.. Dayle, the Gu.
rate, while he himself retraoed his steps
along tho bank of the river. Directly he
observed the little figure on the grass, he
Qulckened his pace.
"Ksth. where have you been hiding
yourself? wanted to ask you to come
for walk with me-"
"To ask me?" Kath opened her eyes
in amazement. II thought Hernia was
with your"
"Only until we met Mr.. Dsyle. Kath"
coming little closer and looking down
at her with the old kind smile that she
knew SO well-.'why do you always run
away from me when l come to Al
| chester?"
"Because-well, ,,because I thought you
and Hernia would prefer being left to
yourselves"
Hernia and I? Why so?''
"Well"'-b -bluntly-''people who are in
love generally do. don't they?" :,
| L
| HermiaY'
"Yes-aren't your"
He shook his head slowly. mo, Kath.
Iell IN love once that was when l first
came down here year ago-yes, just a
year ago-for the wild roses were in
bloom then; they are in bloom again
now. See. l have just been gathering
some; will you have them?"
She took them willingly, and fastened
them in the belt of her dress-the old
gray dress she had worn at the concert.
1t was shabby and faded now, and dis
carded from "best" to everyday wear.
You fell in love-with Herman"
mo, not with Hernia"
"With Esther?" Kath sprang to her
feet in unmtigated delight
mo, not even with Esther. Kath, 1
fell in love with little wild rose."
The sunshine glinted through the
boughs overhead. and shone upon the
ripping river. Little bubbles rose to the
surface and then vanished, as though
they had just peeped up to see what was
going on in the wide world beyond the
grassy banks, and then stolen away to
impart the news to their less worldly.
wise comrades.
"She was rather thorny little rose"
went on Max smliingly. ''She did not
give me pricks, it is true, but she gave
| me"
kicks" said Kath, looking up at him
almost breathlessly. "Mr. Trevosso, do
you mean me?'
And she read his answer in his earnest
eyes.
''Oh, dear!' sighed Kath, II always
said didn't want lover, and should
never, never dream of-of getting mar
ried. and leaving Esther and the boys.
But. somehow, since you came here
everything has seemed different. How
did envy Hernia when she-when she
oh. dear! whatever am saying?"
| The flags at the water's edge rustled in
the summer breeze: the bubbles tioated
merrily down the river; the sunshine
tinged the rlpples with golden light.
In the trees above, the BIRDS wondering
at the sudden hush and cessation of the
voices below, peeped down to discover
the cause. and this is what they saw:
The girl in the old gray frock and big
straw hat was looking shyly up at the
man in the tweed suit and soft felt hat.
He was gazing down at her very lovingly,
very tenderly. Then they each said
something, but so softly, in SO low a tone
that the birds could not hear what it was.
However. 1t seemed all right. for imme-
diately after the man drew the girl closer
toward him and kissed her.
| The birds knew all about it then; they
had so often seen that sort OF thing done
| before. And they chirped and twittered,
and finally broke into q joyous chorus
! just above their heads. 1t was their old,
old song; the same song that they sung
morning. noon and eve, through all the
glorious summer days; but to Kath the
refrain sounded just like this
| "Wild roses. Wild roses! Wild roses ~
Household Words.