The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-03-29
T HE A G Q N

My DEAR" she said to her niece.
you will meet tonight a great friend
of mine. He does not care for parties.
VIII you see that he Is not bored at this
oney'
He does not care for parties? A
woman hater no doubt! Why must he
be assigned to me?"
Now. Mrs. Hudson's dearest wish
was to have these two people fall In
love. She had planned this party for
the sole purpose of having them meet
Mrs. Hudson was a wise woman.
She did not tell all she knew. Besides.
as she herself often acknowledging q
great matchmaker-one cannot force
such matters. So she simply said In
answer to her niece: II want you to
entertain him, Lillian, because he Is q
stranger in town. He is by no means q
bore. He is handsome. witty, interest
ting"
What a paragon, aunt!" interrupted
Lillian. II know I shall hate him."
II believe you Will" exclaimed the
elder woman in despair as she left the
room.
Lillian resumed her preparations foe
what promised to be a very disagreea-
bic evening. Handsome, witty, inter.
esting. That is a good description OF
some n / know" she thought as she
twined some flowers in her hand. He
used to laugh at my fancy for now-
ers."
The bright look died out Of her face.
IL have not forgotten him. I wonder
If l ever WILL" she whispered, while
he has probably forgotten I am in sx-
istence."
A tear rolled down her cheek. "How
FOOLISH" she said as she hastily brush
ed it away.
A pretty picture she made in her
white silk gown, with the flowers
about her head like a crown, when a
few minutes later she descended to the
drawing room. So thought a young
man who stood watching her as she
came down the stairs and who held
out his hands to her In welcome.
This is indeed a SURPRISE" he said
II did not expect to see you here this
evening""
Mrs. Hudson is my aunt, you know,
or, rather, you do not know. I never
mentioned her to you, I believe. I did
not know you were friends,' she said.
II am happy to say your aunt IL
friend OF mine," he said as they NOV
ed across the hall away from the draw
Ing room, WHEREVER aunt awaited her.
And the paragon? i LILLIAN had for
gotten him. ~ s ~.
"You< have changed" the the young man
said, gazing long and earnestly at her.
You have grown from a child to . -
man." N ~ F'sFsesi
"You also have changed" she N
piled, noting the sternness Of the. hand
face. setfs'f.
Yes, although fortune has been Kind
er to me than I dared to hope. She
has been kind to me tonight" he add
ed, bending over his companion.
She turned and looked from the win
.doM near which nthey.stood. The hapse
was large, the guests few In numbSr;
no one molested them.
How we'll 1 remember the last night
l saw your he said. There were
flowers in your misunderstanding you.
Wear tonight. One nestled In the curl
above your ear. ! wished to takeeIt
1yddred not ask for 1t, although one
flower more or less would mean moth.
Ing to you. You were a mere child,
with no knowledge Of the world you
were SO soon to enter, while I had
nothing neither fame nor fortune.
Our lives were apart. l babe you
goodby that night, but I did not foeget
y0u4=I could not"
She did not move or turn her head
Il have offended you" he said con-
ritely. .@e
mo. nor, Lillian answered.
"Oh, but 1 have" he cried in dis
tress. I'm my delight at seeing you I
have overstepped the bounds Of polite
ness. I have been rude"
you do not understand. I was no
child" she said hurriedly, and shs
turned to 60.
A flower fell from her hair. He
stopped and picked It up.
Keep it." she whispered, moving
away.
He. took the flower and with it her
nand, us If in that moment he had
OWNED the truth.
cat one time,'' he said in tones that
trembled, "if I could have had a low
er from your hair my happiness would
have been complete. Now my happi-
ness will not be- complete without the
giver. May I have herr" he whisper
ed. "Say yes" he pleaded.
Who could resist that tender voicef
Not Lillian, who loved him with all
her heart. Her answer was low, but
he must have heard It, for he kissed
the flower.
"The paragony" Lillian said a few
minutes. later, suddenly remembertno
her aunt's commission.
Filled with emotion, she approached
that lady, who smiled benignly upon
her.
"Why, you have been talking to him
all the evening"" explained her aunt.
James, your parason!'' exclaimed
Lillian in establishment.
James," Mrs. Hudson repeated, In
dignant at the familiarity.