The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-04-02
written for THE PROGRESSIVE FARMRR.
GATHERING WILD FLOWERS,
BY MISS IDA INGoLD

a pretty stream called Fern River. Il
was a pretty, cool, picturesque place,
wherethe tall trees thick with green foil
age, entirely shut out the warm sultry
rays Of the sun, and ferns, swamp lilies
and wild sweet williams grew in rich
~profusion. Amber Wood was a beauti
full place, well adapted to picnicing.
The young people around always chose
that place for their resort on excursions
o. pleasure.
Arrangements and the necessary
preparations for the party were made
and the day was close at hand.
A few weeks previous Charles Provo
and Alline Hay, after being lovers for
quite a while, had quarrelled and
parted in the most hard hearted fash
ion over a mere nothing. Alline was
twenty years old and had sweet blue
eyes, waving golden hair and a plump,
graceful figure. She was pretty and
wonderfully fascinating with her smil-
ing ruby lips and ~vivacious character.
Charles was tWenty-four and very
handsome with dark hair, brown eyes,
and, when walking a correct carriage
of the head and body. He had a proud
nature, very sensitive, and a touch of
satire about him.
The cause of their falling out was
simply this: Alline had been visiting
a cousin and came back to KensingtoD,
brimming over with praise of some
young man whom she had met while
away in fact, he had been visiting at
the same place. She had rode with
him, went to church with him, walked
and talked with him and he had been
a source of much enjoyment and liveli-
hood to her during her visit. She was
perfectly innocent in telling all this to
Charles in a simple, light, hearted way,
not dreaming of arousing jealousy in
her lovers heart. He had grown re
ticent and suddenly took on a gloomy,
sullen look, which Alline was quick to
detect, but appeared to not notice.
She had talked on gayly and finally
spoke of the pleasantness of the day
and the beauty of the flowers, to which
he added nothing. At length, stopping
her in her admiration of the flowers,
birds and glorous sunshine, he had
said with knitted eye, brows:
"Alline, do you really mean all you
have said about that fellow you met
last week2"
"Of course I do. What did I say ex-
cept that he was excellent company, a
fine talker and handsome into the bar
gain2'
That isn't all you said, either" bit
terly.
"Well, I haven't said so much but
that I might justly say more" she an
swered, Indignantly.
"Alline, g long as you stay of that
opinion I am nothing more to you"
And he had walked out of the orchard
and off, without so much as saying
good bye to her.
She had stood under an old pear tree
where he had left her for some time,
mystified, shocked and wondering
what had happened to her. Then tears
had come to her eyes and she had sat
on a rustic seat and wept, for she loved
Charles Prevo and that fact had seemed
palmer to her now than ever before.
But that had been over six weeks ago
and now the day for the Amber Woods
picnic arrived. The crowd was large
and a merry one. The girls dresses
were of all gay colors and the scene
was a pretty one
Alline Hays dress was of a very deli
cate pink material combined with
white. She wore a pink u hat and
carried a pink and white parasol. She
was a perfect picture of loneliness with
her soft, rose-tinted complexion, her
sweet blue eyes and laughing lips
framed in a halo of curling golden hair.
She had been looking ever since her
arrival, without being able to help it,
for a person she wanted, but dreaded
to see. She had looked in vain. The
morning grew to midday. Basket
lunch was served. The party was
alive with merriment. Every face was
radiant, every voice was heard in
laughter, except one silvery voice was
strangely mute, one usually romplng
girl was reticent and gloomy. Alline
Hay was disappointed. She had ex-
pected to see Charles at the picnic.
After lunch a number of the party
scattered over the woods after wild
flowers. Alline had found a little bed
of sweet williams away from any group
and was bent on gathering them. She