The suburban citizen., 1901-04-13

mingion, meditatively.
Yes" said Fitzroy, ''she must have
some waterlilies"
"And the man that gets them stands
the best in her good graces, eb?"
80 it would appear"
Both young men went back to their
hOstelry, and made diligent inquiry
separately, however, and without
cOllusion-abOut 4 boat. No such
aquatic convenience was to be had, it
appeared, on investigation.
Il never was in such an outlandish
place in all my lifer' said Symington.
But I'll get her some lilies if l pay
their price in gold!'
you mean you'll send to Philadel.
phia, where they're blossoming away
as thick as peas, close to youy'
"Neyer you mind what 1 meanw
Symington retorted.
"Humphw said Fitzroy. "If some
folks choose to be reticent, others can
be equally sow
Just as you please" said syming
ton. laughing.
Fitzroy huggcd himself. He had
the best excuse in the world now for
not telling his rival about the leaky
| punt he had discovered under Farmer
Hatheway's old barn.
Hell send to Philadelphia to.
night thought he. His lilies will
come from the florists, all packed in
wet cotton, tomorrow evening III
be up at sunrise, and bring the flow
ers. all wet with dew, as Il morning
offering to olives breakfast table;
ana he may laugh who wins.
Mr.. Symington went to the railroad
station and sent a note to Philadel-
phia by the conductor Of the evening
train-just precisely as Ferdinand
Fitzroy had conjectured he would.
Fitzroy slept, with his watch in his
hand, lest sunrise should steal on
him unawaTes.
And, early next morning, Symington
was snoring comfortably as Fitzroy
passed the young mans door. Ferdin-
ands heart thrilled with triumph as
he heard the somnolent sounds.
Cool and fresh, and wax-like, gllm-
mered the lilies in the purple flush Of
the glorious midsummer dawn; sVket
and clear echoed the songs of the rob
ins and thrushes in the alder bOughs
that dipped their green fingers in the
water.
Bring on your boat, my lad" said
Fitzroy to the boy who sat waiting on
the shore.
"Her leaks a Bit" hesitated the boy.
Dad, he nailed a piece of ollcloth In
her bottom, but it amt no good"
Nonsense" said Fltzroy. Here!
give me the oars! Now steer, and
don't let's hear any more of your nom
sense. Whoop! Hurrah.-here we areg
The stern of the boat ran into the
mat Of water-lilies with a soft rustic
of crushing greenery. Fitzroy caught
greedlly at the many-blossom cups
and half-open buds. pure as if they
were carved in pearl.
This is something like" painted he.
IF only Symington could see me now!
Hold on thought 1 must have yonder
great shining flower"
Rising up in the boat he leaned over
nearly his whole length to reach the
royal blossOm-still it evaded him.
Il will have It," he muttered with
a reckless plunge
"Oh, take care, sir" squeaked the
boy.
But his counsel came too late. The
boat gave a lurch. Ftzroy lost his
balance, and over he went-splash-
into the still and shining water.
Dear heart alive, sir, don't fret!
You amt drowned-nor you amt
hurt. It's nOthin' on airth but good
scare; and them Hatheways ought to
be indicted for coaXin' anybody to go
out in their old leaky, rattle-trap Of a
boat-that they ought"
Mr.. FitzrOy sat in a big rocking
chair in Farmer Westwoods kitchen,
dressed in an old blue-hannel dress
ing gown which belonged to that gem
teman's father, n frilled night-cap
tied about his ears, his feet thrust in
to coarse carpet slippers, and wooden
stocking tied about his necll-Mrs.
Westwood's panacea for all possible
and impossible ailments.
Here's the mustard plaster" said
Mrs. Westwood, triumphantly. "And
here's the sage tea. Drink it now, like
a darling good gentleman, and then
I'll get a sponge and wash the mud off
your face"
But l say, look hcrew sputtered
Fitzroy, getting a chance glimpse Of
himself in the little asparagus-shad-
owed mirror that hung below the
clock, I'm such Judy Of a sight! +"
"Oh, never mind" purred benign
Mrs. Westwood. There's nobody to
see you except"
At that instant Olive Harcourt came
in, robed in n cool white muslin. her
golden hair floating around her like a
cloud.
MRS. WestwOod--.-" she began.
And then, struck with an irreslst-
ible sense Of the ludicrous, she burst
out laughing.
"Psny forgive me, Mr.. Fitzroy," she
at last enunciated; but you do look
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