The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-05-13
B0b'S ularTiage.
(By Helen Forrest Graves.

ShriekS as signal that 1t was ready
to start; there was the inevitable rush
of people in peril of being too late,
the commotion of checking baggage,
and lifting toddling little children on
board and still the young person
so anxiously expected by Robert Nor
rison did not arrive.
He walked hurriedly up and down
the floor, ever and anon comparing his
watch with the clock on the wall, and
eagerly scanning the faces Of all the
newcomers, but in vain.
"Please buy bouquet, sir? Only
five cents?"
The voice was very sweet; the face
that belonged to it sweeter yet. But
M. Morrison was too much perturbed
to heed them.
mo, no-don't bother me-" he said,
petulantly. Conductor, is this the
last train that stops at Olive Hill?"
"The last train, sir. Anything
wrong, STRIP
"Confound it-yes-everything'
wrong! was to bring up waitress
for my sister, and the creature hasn't
come"
"she was to have met you here,
sir?"
"Yes-at quarter to FIVE"
Happens very often, SIR" said the
conductor. Cant put any dependence
at all on that class of women"
And away he bristled. Mr.. Robert
Morrison was about to follow, mutter-
ing discontentedly to himself, when
light hand fell on his arm. He turned
round, and, to his surprise, encounter
ed the timid blue eyes of the bouquet
seller.
Pardon me, SIR" she said, in an ac-
cent Enthusiastically foreign, but the
domestic you expected has disappoint-
ed you?"
eyes"
eff you would take mel can wait
well at table; l would make myself
generally useful to madam, your sis
ter. Oh, sir am so tired of trying
to sell flowers"
But you have no recommends
tion?"
IlOW oAOQiu Stl dul q oil dA5-
er in your country. My name is
Desiree Fontaine."
Mr.. Morrison was sorely puzzled
) how to act This little Desiree's face
was not only pretty, but it was in
nocent looking. To be sure it was
rather an unprecedented manner of
engaging a girl, but what was he to
do? Mrs. Ferrars expected him to
bring her waitress; there was to be
a state dinner party on the morrow,
and he scarcely knew what was best
to do.
AS he meditated, Juggling at his
mustache, the train gave its parting
shrek. There was no further time
for deliberation.
Come on, then" he cried, making
rush for the hindermost car. "Ill
risk it, by Jupiter,"
Desiree followed him, light and
swift as a young fawn. and the next
minute they were in motion There
was no receding now.
"Well, I've been and gone and done
It," said Mr.. Morrison to himself, as
ne glanced furtively at the girl who
sat beside him. s"What will Lizzie say?
But what was a fellow to do, under
all the circumstances? Besides, IL she
Is half as smart as she is pretty, she'll
do well enough. AS for making off
with the spoons, and the cake baskets,
she hasn't got that kind of face. We
can but give the poor thing a trial. at
all events
Mr.. Morrison. laundering masculine
creature though he was, was quite
right about Desiree Fontaine's face. 1t
was pure and innocent as a child's,
Swallowed with crispy little rings of
golden-brown hair and dimpled round
the mouth; while the blue eyes, large,
and soft, and shy. were modestly
averted. Her dress was plain, even
to shabbiness. and in one hand, we'll
shaped though sun-browned, she held
the two or three little bouquets she
had been unable to dispose of in the
depot.
what wages do you want. Desiree?"
said Mr.. Morrison. abruptly breaking
the silence that was beginning to be
little awkward.
Desiree grew scarlet as the carna-
ton in the center Of her biggest bou-
quet.
Il never took wages BEFORE" she
siad. little impulsively.
But you will have to now, 1 sup
pose"
''What you choose to give me?"
Twelve dollars month";"
"Yes-anything!"
Bob felt little awkward. Desiree
Fontaine was not in the least like
the Hibernian damsels he had that
morning haggled with at the crowded
Intelligence office.
81 don't want to be inquisitive," he
said, Out"
''You want to know who I am" in
terrupted Desiree. 81 am French-I
came to this country because my rela-
tives were all dead. have an uncle