, 1902-06-13
4 Little Fair Ribbon.
BY SOPHIE MHOND.

A garden in old Annapolis. crowded
with blooms and fragrance; a child up
on a rustic bench. with a lapful of
flowers and a busy, serious face: a boy
on the wall above. morosely watching
her-these are what the June sun
shone down upon. long ago.
The child's eager fingers a deity
put the flowers together. and n hand
dragged the pink ribbon from her hair.
With an effort of generosity she select
ed a sprig of heliotrope from the rest.
You may have that. Tom she said.
tossing it upon the wall.
The ribbon tied about the stems. and
the arrangement held out for a mo-
ment's anxious inspection, she sprang
to her feet, and running down the path
and up the steps of the veranda.
pushed open the green-shuttered door
of the hall.
At the farther end her father was
taking leave of a two-days' guest-a
young man in a scarlet uniform and
much gold lace. whose horses and ser
want stood at the steps. The little girl
went forward swiftly and held out the
flowers to the visitor. looking shyly up
into his face.
The young soldier tool them gallant
ly. This is indeed an honor" he
said. with a quick smile-"a posey
from the fairest lady in all this fair
province! Mistress Betty may be sure
they shall be among my treasured pos
sessions-that | shall keep them al
ways"
The child drew back, and ran to the
big window to watch the departure
straining her eyes to catch the last
glimpse of the red coat as it disap
peared through the trees, a spot Of ex
element burning on each cheek. HI
had been pleased-a real soldier, who
had fought the Indians-he was going
to keep her flowers forever.
La. child. you rave worked your
self into a very fever" the voice o.
her g%overness exclaimed. go out foI
a walk with your cousin, do, and coo
your cheeks. And be sure you don
turn back until you reach the gate"
Betty got her hat ob%ediently. Ton
was cross-he didn't like her hero
but nothing could mar the beauty o
the day for that proud, happy littl'
heart.
The grass was checkered with shad'
and sunshine all down the avenu
Near the end. the blue bay, with it
dots Of white sails, came in view
They had reached the great stone gat
posts-and between them lay her flow
ers, in the dust!
The boy picked up the soiled ribbon
"Never mind. Betty" he said. thougl
his eyes were full of anger. Hes no
worth crying for"
The little teeth shut down sharpl,
on the red lip. I'm not crying" sh
said.
then another wherein there vas n
peace-for the colonies were shakin
themselves free of leading strings.
But in the little water-lapped cit
there we're no signs of the strife. Tn
June sun was shining down again, Sc
renely. on the garden. and the flower
we're giving out their lavish minglin
of odors on the still air.
In the morning room, through tn
open windows OF which the garde
sounds and scents were drifting,
white-capped spinster, the governess Q
yore. was pouring out a %continuou
flow of tea for herself, and grievance
to the morose young officer before tn
fireplace.
81 never go away" she proteste
injuredly. but something happen,
The whole town has greeted me wit
questions about Betty's new beau. an
with never a word to answer! Be
ty tells me nothing. but only laugh.
She has gone of 20 to make tn
black and white cockades that tn
commander-in-chief has ordered l
compliment to our French allies, an
he has followed her. Your uncle,
suppose, is satisfied. For my own PAL