The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-29

those elaborate receptions for which she
was noted-merely an informal affair, to
which only few of her most intimate
friends had been invited
my dear, - she said to her niece, ''you
Will meet tonight great friend of mine.
He does not care for parties. VIII you see
that he is not bored at this oneS"
HE does not care for parties? A wom-
an hater no Doubt I dislike such men,
They invariably have dyspepsia or jaun-
dice and are dreadful bores. " And she
held up her hands with pretty gesture OF
disgust Everything this girl did looked
pretty. She was graceful and apparently
unconscious of the fact
why must he be assigned to me?" she
asked.
Now, Mrs. Hudson q dearest wish was to
have these two people fall in love. She
had planned this party for the sole pur-
pose of having them meet, but Mrs Hud-
son was wise woman. She did not tell
all she knew. Besides, as she herself often
acknowledging great matchmaker-one
cannot force such matters. So she simply
said in answer to her niece: Il want you
to entertain him, Lillian, because he is a
stranger in town. He 10 by no means
bore He is handsome, witty, interest
ing"
what a paragon, auntP' interrupted
Lillian. 81 know I shall hate him"
II believe you will" exclaimed the
elder woman in despair as she left the
room.
Lillian resumed her preparations for
what promised to be very disagreeable
evening. Handsome, witty, interesting.
That is a good description of some one
know" she thought as she twined some
flowers in her hand. He used to laugh at
my fancy for flowers
The bright look died out of her face. 81
have not forgotten him. I wonder If
ever WILL she whispered, ''while he has
probably forgotten am in existence.
A tear rolled down her cheek. Glow
foolishl'' she said as she hastily brushed it
away.
A pretty picture she made in her white
silk gown, with the flowers about her head
like crown, when few minutes later
she descended to the drawing room. So
thought young man who stood Watching
her as she came down the stairs, and who
held out his hands to her in welcome.
''This is indeed a surprise, - he said. ST
did not expect to see you here this even
ing"
MRS Hudson is my aunt you know,
or, rather, you do not know. Inever mem
toned her to you, I believe. I did not
know you were friends" she said.
81 am happy to say your aunt is friend
of mine" he said as they moved across the
hall away from the drawing room, where
her aunt awaited her.
him.
"You have changed - the young man
said, gazing long and earnestly at her.
"You have grown from child to a wom-
an"
"You also have changed" she replied,
noting the sternness of the handsome
face.
eyes, although fortune has been kinder
to me than dared to hope. She has been
kind to me tonight, " he added, bending
over his Companion.
She turned and looked from the window
near which they stood. The house was
large, the guests few in number; no one
molested then.
"How we'll remember the last night I
saw you'll" he said. "There were flowers
in your hair-daisies-like you wear to-
night. One nestled in the curl above your
ear. wished to take it. / dared not ask
for it, although one flower more or less
would mean nothing to you. You were a
mere child, with no knowledge Of the
world you were so soon to enter, while I
had neutrality-suspicious. fame nor fortune.
Our lives were apart. I babe you goodby
that night, but I did not forget you-I
could not"
She did not move nor turn her head.
81 have offended yOu," he said CON
tritely.
"No, no." Lillian answered.
"Oh, but have, he cried in distress
''In my delight at seeing you 1 have
overstepped the bounds Of pOliteness. I
have been rude.
''You do not understand. I was no
child" she said hurriedly, and she turned
to go.
A flower fell from her hair. He stopped
and picked it up.
Keep it, " she whispered, moving away.
He took the flower and with it her
hand, as If in that moment he had OWNED
the truth.
"At one time he said, in tones that
trembled, ''if could have had a flower
from your hair, my happiness would have
been complete. Now my happiness win
not be complete without the gtver. May
I have herP'' he whispered. ''Say yes"
he pleaded.
Who could resist that tender voice9 Not
Lillian, who loved him with all her heart.
Her answer was low, but he must have
heard it, for he kissed the flower.
1.-THE paragon p LILLIAN said, a few
minutes later, suddenly remembering her
sunt's commission.
Filled with emotion she approached
that lady, who smiled benignly upon her.
why, you have been talking to him
all the evening"" explained her aunt.
james, your pRragonr exclaimed Lii
Ian In astonishment.
James," Mrs. Hudson repeated, indig-
nant at the familiarity.
He and are old friends, aunt. met
him three years ago, when was at the
mountains with papa. Besides" very
demurely, she is to be my husband"
And Mrs. Hudson always declared she
made the matoh.-Josephine Mullaney In
Boston Post
Cambridge and the Poets.