The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-02-02

die of the table on her right hand.
(which one?" she asked. "The one"
answered Hugh, that wore at Ju-
dith's wedding -the last time l was
here, you know
Elinor litter her dark eyebrows.
did you wear a f1ower?" she inquir-
ed.
"a pink rosebud" he returned.
'T protest that it was white" said
Agatha, congratulating herself on haV-
ing succeeded in breaking the ice.
You must both have really the
most marvellous memories" answered
Elinor, in a tone which suggested con-
tempt.
OBVIOUSLY one of them must be de-
fective," said Hugh.
1T isn't mime" cried Agatha.
consequently" Elinor insisted,
with the shadow of smile on her
lips, cit must be yours, Major Mel
ville."
Surely you recollect-' said
Agatha, when her cousin peremptor-
lily interrupted
lection about It," she exclaimed.
WELL" continued Agatha, sat all
events, l remember that just as we
were to drink Judith's and Harold $
health, noticed that Hugh's rosebud
was missing. It had broken off short
at the stalk He pretended to be in
a sad state of mind about it, and sew
eral of us tried to find it for him
l recollect as well as if it were yes
terday."
my own mind is a perfect blank, ;"
said Elinor, and then the butler again
opened the door. I'm afraid" Eli
nor explained, chat you will have to
excuse me. I have an appointment
with my dressmaker She is going
to alter something for tonight, and
I dare not keep her waiting. Is that
Nine. Pelisse, Rogers?" she asked.
yes, miss
"Goob-by, Major MELVILLE she said.
"Oh,' he returned, 'but-but shall
see you again!"
"Some day, perhaps, but shall be
leaving London for a few months.
Good-by," she cried, walking toward
the door.
But, my dear child" said Agatha.
81 am going to make Hugh stay and
let me give him some tea. Make haste
and dispatch Nine. Pelisse! You will
be back before he goes" On return
ing after closing the door, Hugh took
up his position with his back to the
fireplace. Agatha did not speak for
a few seconds, and then he breabhed
a profoundly depressing sigh:
''Of course" said Agatha, such
lapse of memory is very bad sign"
"Well," he answered, 81 fancy it Is,
though for that matter feel half dis
posed to envy her."
'Now l wonder" she murmured,
whether you would thank me"
what fcr?" he inquired perfume
torily.
"If I convinced you that you have
made a great mistake? Because, tru-
ly the rose was white! You look"
she added, with laugh, "as if you
were not inclined to bless the poor
flower"
'I-I imagined you were talking
about something else,' he lnuttered.
But still. am convinced-in fact, l
would give any odds"
''Will you mind excusing me q
minute?" she cried, and once more
she left Hugh alone While he stood
waiting in front of the nre Agatha
re-entered with small book in one
hand, substantially bound in black
morocco.
"Are you going to convince me by
testifying on oath?" demanded Hugh,
with manifest establishment.
81 am going" said Agatha, ito per-
form an extremely shabby trick. I
can only hope that the end may be
thought TO justify the means"
Opening the book in the middle,
she held 1t toward Hugh with rath-
er theatrical gesture, so that he could
see pressed, withered rosebud which
had been broken off at the stalk.
"You see," she cried, that it is
white!"
It appeared to be a volume of Sc
lections of a devotional character,
printed on India paper, and it seem
ed to Hugh that there was something
intimate and secret about it, as if
there were a kind of sacrilege in
showing it by the light of day. A
wave of emotion passed over him as
he took the pressed bud between his
thumb and forefnger:
Whose is the book?" he inquired.
"Elinor's."
"What is Elinor's, pray?"
Turning guiltily, they beheld her on
the threshold, and then they saw all
the courage GO out of her.
"Oh-Agatha!" she cried reproach-
fully, darting forward and regaining
possession of her book. although Hugh
continued to hold the crushed rose
bud. But Agatha lost no moment in
quitting the room.
"Elinor stood with the book pressed
against her bosom, breathing quickly