The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-01-08
AMARYLL|S
BY MARTHA
Neutrality-suspicious.
Copyright, 1863, by T. c. Mcclure


Outside il was raw and gusty. with
white, high lying clouds scudding 80
thickly across pale sky that only
wan and watery sunshine strained
through the breaks between. Inside
there was the balm Of May, especially
In the south parlor where | knew !
should lind Myrtilla.
Myrtilla is tall and twenty, with 20
chid's foot and turn Of the head ana
neck that would become an empress
She has coral red lips, a line. straigh.
nose, olive skin. dark almond eyes
heavily lashch and iiddcd. ana u low
straight bow deeply shadowcd h!
dusky floss silk hair. In virtue Of o
this she rcigns as a queen over mos
men. We had been engaged until iW
weeks to be cX"ct. until the dat
Of the Verincws ball and the cpisod'
Of the Grantlcy girl
The ball Is ancient history now; b'
sides, It has really nothing TO do Wit.
the case. left off dancing with th'
Grantlcy eirl at I q. m.-to lling myscl.
into twpcds ana set forth upon 8
weeks Journey. Coming home from
IT, | found my table numbered VIII.
my letters to Myrtilla down to tl'
most fragmcntary c-thosc OF the
last week unopened my ring, my
books. bracelet or two, the lockrt
with my picture and n Hitter Of those
idiOtic things one sends at Christmas
and Easter and on birthdays. IT was
this litter that saved me from utter
despair. ! reasoned that If Myrillla
had cared enough for me 10 keep IT all
this time she could not give up caring
for me in moment.
Sull. knew there was tough Job
ahead. But did not dream she would
90 10 the length Of refusing to see or
hear me or even 10 listen TO ry side of
the case through Aunt Bah, most tact
full OF Intermediates. Her people back
cd her, too-all but Dicky. Dicky Is
fifteen and owns the distinction of be-
ing the only thing In trousers Myrtilla
has found herself unable to subjugai g.
cannot natter myself that Dicky'B
advocacy of my cause was wholly dis.
Interested Dicky has fine taste In
terrier pups and relish for stolen gal
lops on my hunters. At home he Is al
lowed nothing more hazardous than q
steady going cob. However that may
be, IL meant lot 10 have any sort Of
friend at court Otherwise, how should
the hall door have swung open at my
approach? The servants had strict or
ders to shut 1t civllly in my face.
"Shes i'm there. II beats me why you
want her why you want any girl, when
you've got heaps of dogs and horses, y
Diclly saia, grinning, ms | shot past
him. "She's been real hateful polite
no good for even fight this whole
week." Dlcky's voice pursued me down
the hall.
The south pnrlor Is a square iut open
upon three sides to the sun, with walls
more than half windows, iron barred
outside and full of green growing
things within. There Is n big fireplace
Myrtilla stood I'm front of II, her eyes
lntently fixed upon the smoldcring logs
At my entrance she started ever 50 lit
tie. turned her head the least bit and
kept on staring I'm the fire.
"Myrtilla," | vcnlurcd irrCsolutCly,
my hand still on the doorknob
She sat down and rook up her en-.
broidcry, her face still further avertcd
Then | knew | had won half Il point
If she had been as angry as she be-
licvcd herself TO bc she would hay,
marched away with her nose I'm the air
began again formally, "Miss Grey
but stopped short. She had begun tC
whistle over her work softly, mcdita
lively, as though she knew herself tc
be alone.
Something happened then. am net
thcr poet nor romanccr, but my ranging
eye saw i'm the south window n crcl
turc of tropic charm, slim aud tail
green gowncd as wood nymph, with
wonderful golden tawny eyes and 4
crown still more wonderfully red. As
| went 10 her she shivcrcd and set all
her green gown tluttCring dcfcnsiycly
but paid no heed to 1t, only said JOY
ously, barring my head
"Amaryllis You are real godscnd
| was never SO glad To see any one IN
all my life"
Myrtila's head came around SO that
| saw her profile out of the tail of my
eye. funciCd she stared, but dared
not make sure of IT, My wood uympl
barely nodded; her trcmors were all at
rest. | bent toward her low enough tC
look into her golden tawny eyes and
ran on:
"What have YOU done TO YOURSELF
You are so beautiful. 50 strangely, 50
rarely beautiful, il makes me desperate
that | did not keep my heart FOR you
or, rather. IL would make me desperate
II hearts were things that could be Civ
OH t-npt ~ win "
The Cause OF MANY