Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-01
A Bunch Of DaffodiIs.

~,rfhmOre first observed ner one InG
.,ry morning as he stood at his Win
~ smoking his customary after
.s.olfast cigarette. She was also at
window. and as she was occupied
=, arranging some flowers in a vase,
=. was able to study her unnoticcd.
IN. most men, he had his own ideas
20 what constitutes beauty in wo-
-, and this girl possessed several
."s;,s In common with his ideal. She
Va that decided nut brown hair which
hs had always admired. and it rippled
inward from her smooth brow in the
u,ovv fashion that he found particular
+. nleasing. Her features also bore n
..srsd and cultured look that natural
l., enpealed to a man of strong literary
,sraencies. and whose taste verged
mon the fastidious.
Che looked extremely girlish in her
r,etiy morning blouse. and her figure
uos both dainty and graceful. AS he
watched her she suddenly raised her
hsad and he received a full, steady
look from a pair of very fine brown
owes. This look was so direct that he
was somewhat taken aback. and he
found himself staring at her in Il man
nor that was rather pronounced. and
q. which she quickly showed her dis
taste by turning away in an abrupt
manner that made him annoyed with
himself.
II see your friend. Mrs. Mason. has
lot her rooms again. Miss Latimer," he
observed to the faded. elderly person
who was removing the breakfast tray.
yes. sir: her ledger came yesterday
while you were out. Quite a young
person she seems.
AS Northmore sat down to correct
the short magazine story he had con-
Guided the previous evening. he found
his thoughts straying across the street
TO the brown-eyed girl. After the
fashion of the story writer. who often
constructs romanceS out of very I'M
romantic material, he had quickly
given her a history. She was probably
clcrgymans daughter. a country
clergyman's. and she was. no doubt. a
governess-a daily Govcrncss. What q
hateful life for such a pretty crea-
ture.
Rut there. he must think of her no
face from his brain and concentrated
his attention upon his work. He had al
ready gained a fair share of success as
A writer Of short stories. and as he was
best with private income which en-
ahled him to live in modest but COM
Portable way until he had got his foot
firmly planted on the ladder of fame,
his life was Il fairly pleasant one.
There was one drawback to it. how
ever-the drawback experienced by
most young fellows who live in rooms
its loneliness. He had no friends in
London. and though he had been in the
great city twelve months, he had made
none for the one or two editors with
whom he had had business interviews
could scarcely be regarded in the
light Of friends.
He worked steadily on until the
clock struck l. and then he went out TO
lunch. He always lunched out, usually
at fresh restaurant each day, for he
was studying life. and his hobby led
him into many curious and out-of-the-
way corners of the mighty city. AS
he took up his hat he glanced across
the way. and he saw that the brown
haired maiden was buSily writing
This surprised him a little, but he came
to the CONCLUSION that she must be out
of situation. and she was probably
answering advertisements. He felt
that she was more to be piticd than
ever.
The afternoon being fine, he spent il
on 4 bench in Hyde Park, smoking anC
p0ndering over the novel he was plot
ting, until the suns rays began to lose
their power; then lie rose briskly ano
set off home. On his way he paused al
corner where q flower seller Offered
her attractive wares. and purchased
big bunch of daffodils. Having llveC
in the country for the greater part o.
his life. he had acquired deep love o.
flowers and he liked to have then
ABOUT his room.
A few yards further on his attention
was suddenly caught by moving
patch of bright yellow that stood on
prominently against the sombcr hue!
OF the street Some one else had beer
patronizing the flower seller. 1t was
girl in serge coat and skirt and Eel
hat trimmed with blue. Her fisur
touched chord in his memory tina
had been played upon before, and ne
brown hair at once recalled the CIR
opposite" Could it be she? He wa
inclined to think SO, and. as he 1ol
lowed in her footsteps, he began L
study her attcntivcly. noting all tEos
little details of her toilette which NJ
sex do not usually observe. kcel
though his eye was in these matters
pc was unable to detect any ia"
There was no ragged edge to ne
skirts. and her gloves, though Wofl
We're quite free from holes.
1t was at turning that he discoV
cred that his suspicious were co:rec'
lie caught a glimpse of her face, an
he saw that she was his new nciGhhoI
al the same moment an GRAND DO
with an empty basket on his ar
rounded the corner full tilt, and, eaten
ing her bunch of daffodils with III
elbow, sent them flying into the gut
Ter. They dropped almost at Nof'!
mores feet, and as she ran forwar
WITH, WITH a al little crytef GiWay he p'cke
She gazed at the mudstained bio:
SONS in such grievous manner ths
Northmore would have been Il strane
young man indeed had he not oftere
her his own bunch. He did this with
certain amount of hesitation. Tor
always lacked confidence with prct'
Ell and as she drew back he felt ina