The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-09

HsulNlulllllllUl lllIllIllNllllIN:
A garden in old Annapolis. crowded
with blooms and fragrance; child up:
on rustic bench. with lapful OF
flowers and busy. serious face; boy
on the wall above, morosely watching
\ her--these are what the June sun
shone down upon. long ago.
The child's eager fingers had deftly
out the flowers together. and one hand
dragged the pink ribbon from her hair
With an effort Of generosity she select
ed q spr;g 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 greenshuttered door
| OF the hall.
| At the farther end her father was
| taking leave of two-days guest--a
| young man in 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 took 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
| sess;ons-that | shall keep them al
| ways"
The child drew back, and ran to the
big window to watch the departure.
strainins her eyes to catch the last
glimpse CT the red coat as it disap-
peared through the trees spot OF ex-
citement burning on each cheek. He
had been pleased-a real soldesr. 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
walk with your cousin, do. and cool
your checks. And lie sure you don't
turn back until you reach the gate.
Betty got her hat obedieEtiy. Tom
was cross-he didn't like her hero;
but nothing could mar the beauty OF
the day for that proad. happy little
heart
The grass was checkered with shade
and sunshine all down the avenne.
Near the end. the blue bay. with its
dots of white sails. came In view.
They had reached the great stone gate
posts-and betwee, 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
then another wherein there was nc
peace-for the colonies were shaking
themselves free O: leading strings.
} But in the little water,lapped city
there were no signs Of the strife. The
June SUE was shining down again, Sc
renely. on the garden. and the flower.
were giving out their lavish minglins
of odors on the still air
In the morning room. through the
open windows of which the garden
!
white-capped spinstsr, the governess OF
yore. was pouring out a continuous
Gow of tea for herself. and grievances
to the morose young officer before the
fireplace.
Il never go away she protested
injuredly. but something happens
The whole town has greeted me with
, questions about Betty's new beau. and
l 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 thu
i commander-in-c chief has ordered II
. compliment TO our French allies, ant
he has followed her. Your uncle.
suppose, is satisfied. For my own par
/ believe he is a Tory-his refusing {
, comm ion is certainly suspicious
though. to be sure his manners ar