Smyrna times., 1895-09-18


IDLY. He looked at the blushing girl
at the yellow gown. He bowed.
And" aVowed young Rodney, send
ing his sweetheart a swift smile of en-
couragement, "and--the young lady of
whom spoke to you"
"Oh !" exclaimed Albert Ellsworth.
Then interrogatively: wilde? Was
your fathers name Clayton Wilde?"
ROsine assented.
"And your mothers maiden name
was Magnolia Kingsley ?"
"Oh, dear, no! Aunt Magnolia was
never married. My mothers name
was Madeline Kingsley"
"Eh ?" cried the dragon.
The forid color had faded from his
cheeks. He was tugging nervousIY at
his dark moustache. He looked agi-
tated and perplexed.
MY mother died ten years ago."
said Rosine, land since then l have
lived with Aunt Magnolia"
Mr.. Ellsworth regarded her grimly.
us that" he asked abruptly, ''yonr
aunt's gown you have on ?"
The soft rose flush IN the girls cheek
deepened
How in the world did you know P"
she counter-questioned.
A queer, wavering smilo 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" exclaimed Rosine, stung
to defence by a remark she considered
rude. sit is because she was true to a
lover who proved unworthy of her."
''Eh = CALCULATED Mr.. Ellsworth,
more sharply than before.
Suddenly 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. AS they were passing the
vaulted entrance to the little tagged
courtyard, Elbert Ellsworth caught
sight of familiar figure moving among
the potted palms and boxes of blooms
Go on, lad !' be said to Cyril.
He 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 ofa peculiar
possibility made him catch his breath
and do as hidden. He knocked at the
barred black door, and was admitted
to ROsine's radiant presence. Mean,
while his uncle went into the court
yard. The little old lady standing by
the banana tree looked up at the sound
of the step on the stones.
"Magnolil" he cried.
Miss Magnolia looked in a dazed
half-frightened way. Did ghosts eve
appear in the daytime? Stouter thar
he whom she had known, and will
hair grown gray but the same
Around her, in fantastic dance. tn,
broken fountain, the long-leavet
banana tree and the giant oleander
went whirling. She didn't faint, bu
she came nearer to it than she ever ha,
come in her life,
did you think had deserted you
Magnolia When left go North Of
business, l believed in you as Nv
never believed in any one since
While away heard and read that yor
had married that young Wilde l use
to be so jealous of. So l went t
Europe, and stayed there"
"But Clayton Wilde married Made
lima. 1 always told you he came t
see her."
''Yes, 1 know that-now. 1 was
fool to have been so easily convince
of your falsity. You haven't change
a bit. knew you the moment l sa
! you"
Miss Magnolia smiled delighted,
She did not know he had expected
see her.
II never forgot the dress you wol
, the last time saw you," declared Nj
Ellsworth, waxing fervent. 81 recol
nized it on you niece, last night"
u Last night Are you-surely yo
d are not the dragon !"
"Wha-at ?"
"The-the dragon |" faltered Mi
Magnolia.
% Mr.. Ellsworth still looked blank.
THAT" murmured the little lad
70 feeling she was in for it, and might
we'll make a clean breast of it, wv
, what Rosine and called Cyril's uncl
= And Rosine was going to conquer him
He burst out laughing,
:. "Well, she did. The boy shall mar
= Madeline's pretty daughter. And yC
! Magnolia-you'll marry me-"
"Oh, dear, mol I'm too DID,"
: "Not a day."
= "And ugly-now,"
: "Loveliest woman In the world
- me-" insisted the dragon, loyalty.
N "Bless you, my children !" cried
voice from above.
1a The pair in the courtyard glanc
: up quickly. On one OF the inner b
- comics stood Rosine and Cyril.
= vanish, you scampsI" roared /
- dragon.
~ 81 sha'nt allow you to marry
~ Southern girl. STRIP shouted ba
~ Cyril, as he and Rosine beat brisk
70 treat.
Laughing and breathless they fac
he each other In the old drawing-room
Il. Il. = i. A