Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-14
BELLADONNA.

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When tho new dean came TO st. Hilary,
he deemed 1t necessary to justify his mp
pontmcnt In the eyes of the world at largo
and the Close In particular by making
changes and innovations right and left.
Among his other reforms the dean had in
sisted on his right to the exclusive posses
sion of the ancient bowling green which
stood on the north side of the Close. Be-
fore he came the canons had made use of
1t in common but the dean discovered in
The old chapter records an entry which
determined once for all that "yc ancientc
garden, cncompasscd on four sides with
Che stone walls set up by Prior Richard
de Setria, having alleys spacious and fair
and now commonly called ye Bowling
Greene, appcrtaineth unto Mr.. Dcanc for
his delectation." Thcrr was no disputing
The record, and when "Mr Dcane" re-
Quosted the canons to restore to rsn their
keys of the door beneath the old Norman
gateway leading to the Enclosure the re-
quest was at once obcyed. At least 1t was
obcyed by three out of the four rcsidcn-
tiarics. The fourth Canon Joyce, no
doubt would have sent in his key to the
dean had he been able to find It, but 1t
had been mslaid most unaccoratably.
Ic SHlu W MS uhNshi'it
can't find the key of tho bowling green
anywhere. II was In its usual place yes
terlay, but todny it has disappeared. The
nail is there, but the key is gone"
"IIavc you asked the scrvantsp" sug-
gestcd the daughter, with a sweet smile
on her pretty face, and the frank and open
look of innocence in hT brown eyes
eyes"
"Well?"
"rhey can tell me nothing Perhaps
Miss Ethel knows, Is all they say" A
ringing laugh c2me from Miss Ethel.
"Isn't that just like servants, papa, dearP
Their one idea when anything Is s-issing
IS to tell you to find out from somebody
else" and the silvery laugh began again.
"All the same, it's very annoying The
dean wapts it.
81 know" replied Ethel, land think
At very uncivil Of him, that S all can say.
81 wonder you and the other canons sub
init to it. We have always had the uso
of the bowling green, and 1 consider it a
piece of the most
But her father did not wait to hear the
conclusion of the sentence.
Ethel Joyce and her father were dining
ut the generals. 1t was n large dinner
party to welcome the new dean. Ethel
was enjoying herself immensely Major
Brooke, the second in command Of the
troops quartered in the barracks at St.
Hilary, had taken her into dinner. She
had met him several times before, at q
cricket match or two on tho cavalry
ground, at one or two garden parties, and
notably last week at the officers ball. He
was q big, broad shouldcrcd dragon
guard-"nono of your dappcr hussars,"
thought Ethel, with pride--his face
hronzed with the suns Of Egypt and India,
go that his blue eyes took n deeper blue
by contrast.
How sweet your daughter is looking
tonight" said Mrs. Marjoram to the can
on, with genuine admiration. 1t was
true. Ethel was radiant in soft silky
gown of pale yellow. Round her neck
was an old fashioned amber necklace,
while in her black hair an amber ornament
was tastefully displayed. The whole was q
perfect harmony in black and yellow.
The major and she were laughing and
talking together most happily.
Been botanizing lately, Miss JoyceP"
asked the major. The mar of blood was
himself keen botanist.
mo, 1 haven't. have had SO much to
10, was EtleI 5 answer.
"Ah, it's only idle men Ike us soldiers
who can find time for such innocent
Rmusements, l suppose, ehf'
"Idlcness and innocence ere rare com
panions, Major Brooke. YOU know the old
rhyme, Satan finds some nischief STILL
etc"
"well, then, and what particular form
of mischief have you been up to latelyY"
n al p1 ha xyif It,t no
fore you confess your sins, Miss Joyce, l
want to remind you Of pro, >iso you made
me about certain flower
"A certain fowerS"
"You don't mean to say you have for
gotten? What clover man should be il
I only remembered half well as you
forget"
Now you're getting caustic snd i'm
personally personal, which Ia horrid"
but have you forgottcn| As the major
spoke he looked at her with his clear blue
eyes as, though he would have read her
very sAll. Ethel had no moro forgotten
than the major, but that did not prevent
her from lifting her eyes no meet tho full
gaze Of his. She raised her eyebrows
slightly, as II she were still hopelessly in
the dprk and were waiting with childlike
simplicity on this unknown and undreamt
of subject.
'Frailty, thy name 10 womanp' sighed
the major with mock tragic air.
II can't compliment you, Major Brooke
on that quotation. It's not polite, and
worse than that it's so very hackneyedl"
Quotation like thatl Who first
began them, eh, Miss JoyceS But we're
wandering from the subject. Forgive mo
for reminding you. Don't You remember
tcllSg me at the dance last Tuesday thnt
you had the deadly ightshadc-Atropa
belladonna, you know-growing in the
bowling green Of the Closer Two not seen
1t since was in Ireland, and you prom
Used me you'd show it me"
Ibid II" Miss Joyce looked charming
1y innocent Of any such undertaking.
"Yes, you did. Surely you cannot have
forgotten telling me how it grew in ono
corner among the ruins, and how its long
pale congratulate corolla"-
"Oh, Major Brookel wish you would
not be so scientific"
"You remember nowP"
Certainly; the deadly nightshade Is
thcre"
The next day Ethel Joyce and Major
Brooke found themselves within the de.
lightful Enclosure Of the bowling green.
"By Jove, Miss Joyce, this is a most
charming, most romantic spot!' q. -.
"Yes, is 1t not? So quiet and retired
No one ever comes hero. 1t Ia so different
Com the rest Of tho Close"
What delicious shade, too, under this