Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-04-21
THE YACHT ORCHID.

lie was looking al Mays portralt-a
lovely little miniature--when the
housemaid brought the packet to him.
The girl entered timidly, with fur
tive glance at her master, for whom
her heart was bleeding. But II her
tlmidity had arisen from the fear Of
seeing sszne exhibition OF terrible sor-
row. she had alarmed herself needless
ly No sign OF tears, either past or
present, was visible In the young mans
eyes. They were hard and bright
Hard, also. was his face, and the
clenched lips like adamant.
lie took the thick envelope of the
salver. glanced at the clerky writing
and at the back. upon which was
stamped In blue letters, wv. Robinson
Il Co." Then he flung II on the table,
and as the servant left the room the
sound of harsh laughter broke upon
her astonished ears. She fed to the
kitchen and with scared face whis-
pered that she thought poor Mr. Ord
must be going mad
Small wonder. perhaps, II he werel
He had written a few days before to
William Robinson for those patterns
that he might choose the materials for
his wedding suit. What weighty
matter that choice would have beenl
May was 10 particular about what he
wore. lie used to be a little careless
about his dress once-going about In
coats with creases In them, and farm
er's boots. Then, In his ondeavor to
gain Mays appreciation. he had over
done It In the opposite direction, sport
ing collars Of absurd height. and i'm
possible ties, enduring like martyr
the pinch OF patent leather shoes size
too small for him and getting himself
a little chaffed by appearing In suits
Enthusiastically In advance OF the fash
ion.
May, with gentle tact. had changed
all this. Never hurting her ardent
young lover by open condemnation OF
his apparel. but by artful suggestions
had first reused him to an interest In
his attire, then toned down his some
what crude tastes, and finally schoOled
him into that quiet perfection OF dress
Ing which Is the attribute of a gentle
man. He had written for the pattern
from Robinson's a few weeks before
the Important suit should be needed, as
regard to the materials. Already the
little, laughing. gay girl had begun TO
be more than a mere IAece of lowell. |
ness for his admiring eyes To rest upon.
He consulted her about everything. lie
had no sisters. and until tho last year
when the death OF an uncle and the
Inheritance OF fortune had made him
his own master-he had lived soil. |
tary life In remote country town
with the relation by whose sudden
death ne was enriched. May Garden,
one of tho first young ladies he came
across In town, had taken his heart by
storm. The mixture OF frivolity and
sound practical sense In her nature
was exactly what he needed. The one
broke the crust OF certain morose-
ness born OF an unloved life, and the
other steadled the propensities to en-
travagance OF taste and living which
unexpected wealth had not unnaturally
aroused.
After that laugh Of harshnsss, which
had 80 startled his servant, Laurence
Ord went back to tho study OF Mays
portrait. II was indeed a veritabls
May" face. Cheeks like young roses
hair brown as hawthorn twigs, lips
which were akin TO the deep pink buds
OF the apple blossom, and eyes
Tinct with azure. like two crystal welli
That drink the blue complexion Of the
skies.
These latter laughed back as II 10
mocking merriment TO the hard gray
ones which were looking down or
them. A sob OF anguish broke In 0
Eroan from Ord's lips He tried b
realize that those dancing eyes wer
closed forever. Tr1ed-tried as man
and many a bereaved one has strive,
In vain to do-to grasp tho fact thu
the dear lips would never speak again
that no more until the day OF result
recti0n would 10 much as the falnteA
color tinEe the still white face. The
nloeure before him. bubbling over a.
II was with life and mirth, gave the liza
to such thought Tho idea Of May--
May. tho merriest little persOn In the
world, lying cold and silent, was too
much for the young man who had last
soon her having a wild game with
kitten on tho deck OF a friends yacht.
He had dreaded that little cruise
more than he could say. He had all
but asked her not to go; but from this
he had RETAINED. deeming 1t mere sell
nshness.
You don't mind me going. Laurie.
do your" she had asked, when the trip
had been HuRReated and with a littIe