Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-05-30
A BUNCH OF DAFRODILs.


From Penny Pictorial.
Northmore first observed her one
spring morning q he stood st his
window smoking bis customary af-
ter r-breakfast cigarette. She vas
also at her window, and as she was
occupied in arranging some flowers
in vase, he was able to study her
nnnoticed. Like most men, he had
his 5-n ideas "a to what constitutes
beauty in women, and this girl pos
sessed several traits in common With
his ideal. She had that decsdsd
nut-brown hair which he had always
admired, and 1t rippled upward
from her smooth brow in the wavy
fashion that he found particularly
pleasing. Her features also bore o
refined and cultured look that nat
urally appealed to Q man Of strong
literary tendencies, and whose taste
verged upon the fastidious.
She looked extremely girlish in
her pretty morning blouse, and her
figure was both dainty and graceful.
As be watched her she suddenly
raised her head, and he received o
full. steady look from pair of very
fine brown eyes. This look was 90
direct that he was somewhat taken
aback, and he found himself star
ing at her in a manner that was
rather pronounced, and of which
she quickly showed her distaste by
turning away in an abrupt manner
that made him annoyed with him.
self.
81 see your friend, Mrs. Mason,
has let her rooms again, Miss Lati-
mer," he observed to the faded,
elderly person who was removing
the breakfast tray.
eyes, sir her lodger came yes
terday while you we're out. Quite
a young person she seems"
As Northmore sat down to cor
rect the short magazine story he
had concluded the previous even
ing. he found his thoughts straying
across the street to the brown-eyed
girl. After the fashion Of the story
writer, who often constructs ro-
mances out Of very unromantic ma
terial. he had quickly given her o
history. She was probably q cler-
gyman's daughter, q conntry cler-
gyman's, and she was, no doubt, q
governess-a daily governess. What
a hateful life for such a pretty
creature
But there, he must think of her
no more. With an effort he ban
ished her face from his brain and
concentrated his attention upon his
work. He had already gained q
fair share of success as o writer of
short stories, and as he was blest
with q private income which en-
abled him TO live in O modest but
comfortable way until he had got
his foot firmly planted on the lad
der Of fame, his life was O very
pleasant one. There was one draw
back to it, however-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 in
tervieWs could scarcely be regarded
IN the light Of friends.
He worked steadily on until the
clock struck one, and then he went
out to lunch. He always lunched
ont, usually ct Q fresh restaurant
each day, for he was studying life,
and his hobby led him into many
curious and out-of-the-wsy corners
Of the mighty city. As he took mp
his hat he glanced across the way,
and he saw that the brown-haired
maiden was busily writing. This
surprised him q little, but he came
to the conclusion that she must be
ont of q situation, and she was
probably answering advertisements.
He felt that she was more to be
pitied than ever.
The afternoon being fine, he
spent it on bench in Hyde Park,
smoking and pondering over the
novel he was plotting. until the
suns rays began to lose their pow
er; then he rose briskly and set of
home. On his way he paused ct q
corner where Q flower seller offered
her attractive wares, and purchased