The record-union., 1897-04-12
] Street, between Seventh and Eighth.
his mental equilibrium, and the name
Of the orchid vanished from his mem

| his mental equilibrium, and the name
Of the orchid vanished from his mem
| Dry
The words had been so unexpected.
His impression was that she could
| have identified at a glance any speci-
ment in the plant creation, having all
| the titles and characteristics. as ii
were, at her finger ends. He could not
| know that botany and Horticulture We're
| subjects which she would have been
| glad to Danish for time from the
realm of things spoken of. for during
the past month they had haunted her
to the limit of her patience. She had
been the victim of every noodle in the
vicinity who thought himself a lover of
flowers, ard of an innumerable host of
people, like Sir John Pinder, who hon
estly believed it their duty to converse
with her upon the subject with which
| she was most familiar. Life had be-
come a burden under those distresses,
and she would have left the Hamp-
tons week before but for one thing.
Now even this one thing had turned
upon her, and the afternoon to which
she had looked forward so eagerly had
been invaded by her plague oh, bot
any, bOlteIiSs DOtdiiy
So her question had been the last
effort of failing patience. and she wait
ed listlessly for the answer
1T is called" began the Squire
slowly. He could not remember the
name, but he must not fail at this last
moment. She did not seem to know
the plant-perhaps anything in Latin
would pass.
1T is called he said, 'tthe Aurora
Borealis-the far-famed Aurora Boreal-
is. You must have heard of it,
The effect of his words We're start
ling. The lecturer looked quickly into
his face and seemed to perceive at once
the meaning of it all-the secret of his
late reserve, his portentous gravity to-
day, his conduct among the roses-all
crowned by this last insult. She had
heard of men who thought it their duty
to jest at the expense of educated wom-
en-. and this was one
How dare you, Mr. Thorpe?" she
cried angrily, but with a curious break
in her voice. Then before he could
recover from his establishment, she had
turned
Good gracious, Miss Botany-I mean
Miss Polwarth! "-and in his eagerness
the Squire put forth his hand to de
tain her. What is the matter?
forgot the thingamy's name, that's all
| quite forgot it, really / did"
| Near the door stood a garden-seat
placed there for the convenience of the
| orchids visitors. Miss PoIwarth
reached it, but could get no farther. AS
she sank into it Thorpe caught a glance
of a flushed and indignant face-then
tiny lace handkerchief appeared.
Good Lord!'Ncried the Squire in dis
may, what have 1 done?"
= =
| 1t seemed a long time before she
could be convinced, but at last his pro
| testations and explanations-h even
took the Field from his pocket to dis
cover the correct name of that con-
founded orchid-took effect The Lee
turer spoke, still from behind the hand
| kerchief.
| Do you mean it? II thought you
were laughing at me, be-because lee
ture on botany Everybody seems to
| talk about it, and now I-now hate il.
that l dol"
DO you, by Jove?" cried the Squire.
amazed. so do I. And 1 got it up just
to please your
There was a moments awkward sill
ence, during which he drew nearer, and
in his agitation even bent over the arm
of the seat.
You hate it?'' he said nervously. "Of
course you do. How can you help it?
And I've been boring you all the time.