The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1902-07-19

s A Little Hair Ribbon

( 3 By SOPHIE HAMMOND. *s,sE :: :.
:(Copyright, 1902, by Daily Story Pub. Coz


A garden in old Annapolis, crowded
with blooms and fragrance; a child up
ON a rustic bench, with lapful Of
flowers and busy, serious face; a boy
on the wall above, morosely watching
her--these are what the June sun
shone down upon, long ago. 3"
The chi1ds eager fingers had deity
put the flowers together, and one hand
dra eyed the pink ribbon from her hair.
With an effort of generosity she select
ed 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 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 two-days' guest-a
young man in a scarf 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 took them gallant
Ey. <'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
Dig windew 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. He
had been pleased-a real soldier, who
had fought the Indians-he was going
TO keep her flowers forever!
LA, child, you have worked your
self into very fever!" the voice of
her governess exclaimed. Go out for
a walk with your cousin, do, and cool
your cheeks. And be sure you don't
turn back until you reach the gate"
Betty got her hat obediently. Tom
was cross-he didn't like her hero;
but nothing could mar the beauty of
the day for that proud, happy little
heart
The grass was checkered with shade
and sunshine all down the avenue.
Near the end, the blue bay, with its
dots of white sails, came in view.
They had reached the great stone gate
Dosts-and between them lay her flow
ers, in the dust!
The boy picked up the soiled ribbon.
Never mind, Betty" he said, though
his eyes were full of anger. Hes not
worth crying for"
The little teeth shut down sharply
"on the red lip. I'm not crying" she
said. -..,-- -',' -~.--.." -,
Eight peaceful years had passed, and
peace-for the colonies were shaking
themselves free of leading strings.
But in the little water-lapped city
there were no signs of the strife. The
June sun was shining down again, Sc
Tenely, on the garden, and the flowers
were giving out their lavish mingling
Of odors on the still air.
In the morning room, through the
open windows of which the garden
sounds and scents were drifting,
uninterrupted spinster, the governess Of
yore, was pouring out a continuous
dow of tea for herself, and grievances
Ito the morose young officer before the
fireplace.
II never go away" she protested
fnjuredly, ''but something happens.
The whole town has greeted me with
questions about Betty's new beau, and
with never a word to answer! Bet
ty tells me nothing, but only laughs.
She has gone off now to make the
BLACK and white cockades that the
commandments has ordered in
compliment to our French allies, and
he has followed her. Your uncle, I
suppose, is satisfied. For my own part
I believe he is Tory-his refusing a
commission is certainly suspicious:
though, to be sure his manners are