Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-03-19

their meeting. and the delay had been
intended. and the consequences fore
scent
In dim kind Of way Hyde realized
this fact as he sat the next day with
an open book before him. He was not
reading It; he was thinking of Corne-
liza. Soon he closed his book with Inn
patience, and went to Princes and
bought little rush basket filled with
sweet Yiolets. Into their midst he
slipped his visiting card, and saw the
boy on his way with the flowers to
Cornelia ere he was satisfied they
would reach her quickly enough. Then
turning aimlessly into Pearl street, he
saw Cornelia.
She was dressed only in a little
morning gown of indian chintz, but in
such simple toilet had still more dis
tinctiyely that air Of youthful modesty
which he had found SO charmingly tan
talizing.
Cornella was going to the "Univer-
sal Store" of Gerardus Duycldnck, and
Hyde begged to go with her. He said
he was used to shopping, and could
tell the value of laces, and knew how
to choose piece Of silk, or match the
crewels for her embroidery; and, In
deed, pleaded his case 80 merrily, that
there was no refusing his offer. And
how It happened lovers can tell, but
after the shopping was finished they
found themselves walking towards the
Battery, with the fresh sea wind, and
the bright sunshine, and the Joy of
each others presence all around them.
Now Love has always something in
it of the sea, and the murmur of the
tide against the pier, the hoarse voices
of the sailor men, the scent of the salt
water, and all the occult unrecog-
nized, but keenly felt life of the ocean,
were ministers to their love, and for
ever and ever blended in the heart
and memory of the youth and maid
who had set their early dream of each
other to it's potent witchery. Time
went swiftly, and suddenly Cornelia
remembered that she was subject to
hours and minutes. A little fear came
into her heart, and closed it, and she
said, with troubled air, "My mother
will be anxious. had forgotten.
must go home" So they turned north
ward again.
At the gates Of her home they stood
moment, and there Hyde touched
her hand and said, Il have never, in
all my life, been so happy. 1t has
been walk beyond hope, and beyond
expression!" And she lifted her face,
and the smile on her lips and the light
in her eyes answered him.
Cornelia trembled as she opened
the parlor door; she feared to look
into her mothers face, but it was as
serene as usual, and she met her
daughters glance with one of infinite
affection and some little expectancy.
This was a critical moment, and Cor
nelia hesitated slightly. Then she
said with blunt directness which put
all subterfuge out of the question:
Mother, have been a long time,
but I met Lieut.. Hyde, and we walked
down to the Battery; and l think l
have stayed beyond the hour ought
to have stayed, but the weather was
so delightful"
"The weather is very delightful and
Lieut.. Hyde is very polite. Did he
speak of the violets he sent your"
81 suppose he forgot them. All, there
they are! How beautiful! How
fragrant! will give them to you,
mother"
"They are your own, my dear.
would not give them away. Take your
flowers and put them in water-the
young man is very extravagant, /
think. Do you know that it is quite
noon, and your father will be home in
a little while?"
And there was such kind intent,
such divining sympathy in the sim
pie words, that Cornelia's heart grew
warm with pleasure, and she felt
that her mother understood, and did
not much blame her. She went with
some haste to her room, and, forget
ting all else, sat down and permitted
herself to enter the delicious land OF
Reverie. She let the thought of Hyde
repossess her, and present again and
again to her imagination his form, his
face, his voice, and those long earess-
ing looks she had seen and felt, with
out seeming to be aware of them.
ITO be continued.)