The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-05
I THE POPPIES OF LOVE.
BY HONORE T. T

the twenty-seventh year Of the same
life. The major was an old friend OF
the Scarlet family whom Jack had
| been lucky enough to fall in with on
4 the cars. They were now pulling into
a station where a % minutes stop
| would give them opportunities for
bodily refreshments and stretching OF
legs
HIN. I don't see what more you
can want" said the elder man after a
| contemplative look through the WIN
dow. You're rising fast in your bus
mess, it seems"
"Oh, yes"
Mortgage is nearly all raised off
the old place. I suppose that's your
doing?"
We'll" said Scarlet, h~esitating,
perhaps"
Got plenty Of friends east, plenty
Of society, I suppose"
"Oh, yes"
We'll, then if you're not content
ed, I don't see"
"Oh, I don't say I'm not c~ontented,
major" the young man ~interrupteo.
mo, you don't. But you talk about
| a scarcity of roses and felicity When
| a young man talks like that it's al
! ways one particular kind Of bee that's
buzzing in his bonnet"
Kind of bee?" Scarlet repeated
interrogatively, as the train slowed up
where a vast number of tracks inter-
sected. What kind of insect do you
mean, major?"
always the same matrimonial
bee" sal the major, rising to change
his travelling cal for the hat he had
left in the netting overhead. Eth! L
suppose you don't believe that?"
but 1 have't ever thought Of mar
rying up to now. There isn't anybody
that I know Of"
mo, of course there isn't anybody
that you know Of. It's always the
same. Look here, I get out here. Let
| me tell you about poor Andy Myer be-
fore I leave you. There's a moral to
it. 1t was when we were first sent to
the front in the war. Your father was
there, too. We were bivouacked for
the first time in our lives. Presently
the captain of the company caught
sight Of Andy Juggling along a big
fence post. What are you going to
do with that, sir?' says the captain
old Mexican veteran, he vast was
| just going to use it for a pillow, cap
| tain,' says Andy. I like to sleep with
| my head high Put that log on the
fire. says the captain, you'll be ask
ing the puartermaster for a warming
| pan next That's always the way in
| this life, my boy. First you worry
yOUIScll " get jill lIllHS, LIN lilCA,
| when you've got that, you worry for
something more. I've always noticed
hat as soon as a young man has Sc
cured rations for himself he begins to
look around for another mouth to fill
and then-well, here we are. Glad 1
| met you, my boy. You min what I
tell you, and let we'll enough alone"
The major got off the train and
Jack Scarlet walked with him to the
WAITING rnnro fh0n visited the re-
freshment room, more for the sake of
killing a little time than because he
felt hungry, then strolled back to the
train, pondering the DID bachelors
worldly counsel. wondering whether
the old fellow was right and even
own theories.
Scarlet was smiling sceptically to
himself as he mounted the steps of
the platform. AS he turned to enter
the car he almos ran into a feminine
figure in dark serge. The young
woman was coming out, evidently, to
look for somebody or something that
| was slow in coming. She was flushed
and anxious.
Jack first stood aside to let her pass,
then, seeing her lean over the plat
| form and look to right and left, he
ventured to raise his hat and ask
| whether he could be of any service.
THANK you," said the girl. 'It's the
porter. He said he would brng my
things, and I'm afraid he has gone to
the wrong car. Oh, there's a wicker
lunch basket and a tin box with l.. M.
in white. If you would be so kind"
The next moment Jack was hust-
ling about the depot, running into all
sorts of people and objects. In less
than a minute he returned to the car
platform, conveying a porter with a
trunk. The porter protested that he
had made no mistake, but had been
obliged to stop at other cars, and that
there was plenty of time.
The result of this small adventure
was that the young woman in dark
serge had very soon taken possession
Of the seat vacated by the major, and
Jack, as he slowed away the wicker
basket and the tin box marked L.. M.
in white, was wondering whether this
new fellow traveller would take up the
discourse where her predecessor had
left it. AS he sat down opposite to her.
let him see the color of her eyes He
always liked to know the color Of a
persons eyes.
THANK you," said L. M. smiling
and raising the little piece of net that
obscured her ~eyes-they were blue. Il
can generally get along pretty we'll by
myself, but that porter"
You are accustomed to travelling.
them"
Yes, I have Travelled along a good
deal and I'm glad of it,"
"It certainly teaches one self-re-
lance" said Scarlet, inward1y noting
the shape of her mouth, which was
clear cut, and thinking over the ma
jor's theories and the parable of the
fence post.
Yes said the girl. And the clear
cut lips closed snugly.
Scarlet thought he would
age conversation. It would be better
to talk to this girl for the next hour or
two than to stare through the car
window at familiar cuttings and en-
bankments.
II have just had the privilege of
listening to some valuable hints on
that subject" he said.
What subject?" asked L. NJ. quick
ly turning her face towards him.
Self reliance. The gentleman who
occupied that sea- before you got on.
Oh no. He's got off the train. was
telling me the adva anti oac of-uol1 of