New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1899-01-25
THE PARAGON.

Mrs. Hudson was to give dinner party
that evening. It was not to be one Of
those elaborate receptions for which she
WINS noted merely an informal affair, to
which only few of her most intimate
hiends had been invited.
:. My dear, she said to her niece, You
will meet tonight great friend Of mine
He does not care for parties. Will you see
that he is not bored at this one?'
He does not care for parties2 A wom-
an hater no doubtl 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 me2'' she
asked.
Now, Mrs. Hudson IS 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
fredericksburg great NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
cannot force such matters. So she simply
said in answer to her niece: 81 want you
to entertain him, Lillian, because he is
stranger in town. He is by no means 9
bore. he Is handsome, witty, interest
ing"
What paragon, auntp' interrupted
Lillian. II know 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 good description of some one I
know" she thought as she twined some
flowers in her hand Gle used to laugh at
my fancy for flowers
The bright look died out of her face. ST
have not forgotten him. wonder il I
ever will, :" she whispered, "while he has
probably forgotten I am in existence.
A tear rolled down her cheek. ''How
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 SURPRISE" he said. II
did not expect to see you here this even
ing"
Mrs. Hudson is my aunt you know,
or, rather, you do not know. Inever men
toned her to you, believe. I did not
know you were friends" she said.
II 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.
And the paragon? Lillian,had forgotten
him. -
"Yeu 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 I 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 them.
How we'll remember the last night I
saw you'll" he said. There were flowers
in your hair-daisies- you wear to-
ear. I wished to take it. l dared not ask
for it, although one flower more or less
would mean nothing to you. You were q
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. bade you goodby
could not"
She did not move nor turn her head.
II have offended you," he said con-
tritely.
"No, no." Lillian answered.
ooh, but have" he cried in Distress
I'm my delight at seeing you I have
overstepped the bounds of .politeness. /
have been rude"
"You do not understand I was no
child" she said hurriedly, and she turned
to 60.
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. #
Eat one time,' he said, in tones that
rembled, if I could have had a flower
from your hair, my happiness would have
been complete. Now my happiness will
not be complete without the giver May
1 have herr" he whispered. ''Say yes"
he pleaded.
Who could resist that tender voice? Not
Lillian, who loved him with all her heart.
Her answer was low, but he must have
heard it, for he kissed the flower.
THE paragon!" LILLIAN said, few
minutes later, suddenly remembering her
aunt'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 paragonr' exclaimed Lii
51ian in establishments
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, "he is to be my husband"
And Mrs. Hudson always declared she
made the misunderstanding Mullaney in