Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-03-21
Q 90
OH 7.

spring day, and beautiful girl was gath
ering flowers in one of the loveliest of the
loyely gardens Of that seaport city, Nor
folk, Virginia. A lovely garden indeed,
with it's spacious area, its graveled walks
and fountains, it's graceful pavilions, its
radiant flowers, and the tasteful villa
ahat rose in the midst of this terrestrial
paradise looked very attractive outlined
whitley against the dark green OF the
softy grove of trees stretching Tar INTO
3ts rear. Built on the suburbs OF the
city, in the portion of it known as Ocean
View, one could scarcely have imagined
a fairer prospect than that which met
abe eyes of the two gentlemen who idly
talked on the wide piazza fronting the
sea.
The sun was setting in a blue May sky,
sinking slowly and sadly beneath the level
of the sea, while far away, just family
outlined by its fading beams, glimmered
she white sails and tapering spars Of an
outward bound ship. To poetic mind,
the sight suggested many exquisite simili-
Andes, and Bruce Conway unused sadly
as beftted the occasion, till the voice of
his companion Jared suddenly on his
dreamy mood.
Bruce, my boy, will you favor me
with the earthly name Of the white -robed
divinity whom | have observed for the
last half hour fitting about this parddis-
facal garden? Since my advent here at
noon to-day | have not had the pleasure
Of meeting my amiable hostess, yet am
persuaded that this youthful creature
cannot be your aunt"
"Smitten at sight-er, ClendenonW
answered Mr.. Conway, with an attempt
at archness. That, my dear fellow, is
my aunts companion, Miss Grey. She
Is coming this way, and I'll introduce
you"
The young girl came up the broad ave-
niue, bearing on her arm a dainty basket
Escaped high with flowers and trailing
vines that overfowed the edges of her
basket and chung lovingly about her white
gpbe. She was, perhaps, seventeen years
of age, and endowed with a rare and
peerless loneliness. A Mary of Scots, Il
Cleopatra might have walked with that
stately, uplifted grace, that rare, I'M
studied poetry Of motion. Slender, and
tall, and 1.-THE, with her pale gold ring
bets and marvellous fairness was COM
bined so much innocent sweetness that
1t brought the guest to his feet in invol-
nntary homage and admiration, while MIR.
Conway himself, fastening to meet her,
aook the flowery burden from her arm and
assisted her up the steps.
Miss Grey. allow me to present to
you my friend, Captain Clendenon," he
said, in his graceful, off-hand way.
Perfectly beautiful, faulty fault
Sess!' murmured the captain to himself,
AS he bowed over the delicate hand she
8hyly offered. With quiet grace she ac-
<epted the chair he placed for her, and,
taking up a great lapful of flowers, an
severed a question Mr.. Conway asked.
Il nm chary of giving away roses OBJ
famed at the price of so many thorns,
said she, holding up a taper finger with
a dark-red scratch marking a zigzag
course over its wilderness. Gather your
soses yourself, sir"
IF l might gather those that blossom
on your checks, | might take the risk
of the thorns" he answered, darlngly.
The roses referred to deepened to vivid
crimson, the golden lights in the pansy-
Folored eyes sent Il fiery CLEAN along the
Blacll-fringed lashes, as she answered, in
dignantly:
You forget yourself, and presume,
sir"
Il did, indeed, but you know my idle
habit of testing. Pardon me-"
"Willingly, so that the offense Is not
repeated" she answered, more gently,
RS she continued at her task, grouping
Ahe flowers into tasteful bouquets, and
ending by a fragrant gift to each gentle
Rnan of tiny posy for his buttonhole.
And tomorrow, Bruce" said the cap
tain, presently, Il shall see the last of
you for years, if not forever. What pos
sesses you to go wandering off to Europe
Sn this mad fashion,
A smothered cry of establishment caus-
ed him to look at Grace Grey. She was
Booking straight at Bruce Conway, the
bloom dying away from her cheeks,
and the beautiful eyes, eager, question
sng. startled, with a woman's love looking
cut of them, and Il woman's love reveal
ed, alas. too plainly, in that mute gaze.
Conway's dark eyes met hers for
moment with answering love in their
dark depths. Only a moment, though,
and then they wavered and fell, and he
hdifferently answered her mute question.
You look surprised. Well. it is true
shat l leave here tomorrow for an OK
Sended tour over Europe. l have long
shought of it, and the time has come at
gast"
No answer. She could not have spoken
If life or death had hung on a single sem
gSiCS IEOHl llOSp sweet ups, from WneltGe
Abe rose-tint had faded. leaving them cold
and white, and drawn as if in pain She
gathered up her fragrant burdens and
carried them into the house, leaving a
momentary shocked silence behind her
Presently the captain spoke, in the calm,
assured tone in which we chide a dear
and intimate friend:
Bruce, have you been flirting with
ahat pretty, innocent child?'
Conway fdgeted a little, but he an
&wered nonchalantly enough:
why do you ask? Have you fallen in
bore with herr"
i was not speaking of myself; we will
Keep to the subject, if you please. She
Soyes you" His voice grew tender, rev.
srential You will marry her?"
why, no."
The words came out with jerk as il
they must be said, and the sooner the