The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-08-15
THE PARAG 0 N


oneT'
He does not care for parties7 A
woman hater no Doubt Why must he
be assigned TO mef'
Now, Mrs. Hudson's dearest wish
was to have these two people fail In
love. She had planned this party for
the sole purpose of having them meet,
but Mrs. Hudson was wise woman.
She did not tell all she knew. Besides.
as she herself often acknowledging a
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
stranger In town. He Is by no means
bore. lie Is handsome witty. interest
ing"
what a paragon, auntv' interrupted
Lillian. II know shall hate him."
Il believe you wIllv exclaimed the
elder woman in despair as she left the
room.
Lillian resumed her preparations for
what promised to be a very disagreed
| BILE evening. Handsome, witty, inter
esting That Is a good description Of
some one I know" she thought as she
twlned some flowers I'm her hand. "He
used to laugh at my fancy for flow
ers."
The bright look died out OF her face.
II have not forgotten him. l wonder
II ever WILL" she whispered, while
he has probably forgotten I am in ex-
istence."
A tear rolled down her cheek. How
foollsh!' she said as she hastily brush
ed II away.
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 q 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. never
7 mentioned her to you, believe. l did
| not know you were friends" she said.
. Il am happy to say your aunt Is {
( friend Of mine," he said as they NOV
. Cd across the hall away from the draw
{ ing room, where her aunt awaited her.
/ And the paragon5 Lillian had for
; gotten him.
, You have changed" the young maj
" said. gazing long and earnestly at her
q "You have grown from a child TO we
h man"
4 "You also have changed" she re
8 piled. noting the steFnness Of the hand
/. some face.
Yes. although fortune has been kind
er to me than dared to hope. Sh
has been kind to me tonight" he ado
n ed, bending over his companion.
!. She turned and looked from the wiz
h dow near which they stood. The hous
10 was large. the guests few In number
n no one molested them.
70 How well remember the last Nigh
m saw your he said. There WEI
- flowers In your haIr-dalsies-lik 20
Il wear tonight. One nestled in the Gu
M above your ear. l wished to take
IA | dared not ask for It, although OIL
m flower more or less would mean not
n ing to you. You were a mere chill
AZ with no knowledge OF the world yC
he were so soon to enter. while l ha
ho nothing neither fame nor forum
IN Our lives were apart. l bade yC
~ goodby that night but / did not forg
~ you'll could not"
ma She did not move or turn her head.
NJ II have offended you" he said co
tritely.
mo, nor Lillian answered.
''Oh, but l havev' he cried In d
or tress. ain my delight at seeing you
a have Overstepped the bounds OF poll'
or ness. have been rude"
IA you do not understand. I was
,er child" she said hurriedly, and s
~ turned TO go.
"a A flower fell from her hair. ]
n. stopped aud picked II up.
m. keep IT," she whispered, mOvi
,ot away.
- He took the flower and with It B
= hand, as IL in that moment he b
an OWNED the truth.
- AT one time" he said In tones u
- trembled. 'if could have had a 10
~ CT from your hair my happiness wOl
~. ness win not be complete without
N giyer. May I have herr" be whlsp
cd. Say yes." he pleaded.
Who could resist that tender volt
Not Lillian. who loved him with
- her heart. Her answer was low.
- he must have heard It. for he kiss
, the iower.
49, The paragong' Lillian said 4
"a minutes later. suddenly remembers
-. her aunt's commission.
,,,h Filled with emotion, abe approach
|, = that lady. who smiled benignly ~
-. her.
, = why. you have been talking to
~ all the evening" explained her aunt
:. James, your paragonf' exclain
- Lillian In astonishment
"James." Mrs. Hudson repeated.
dlgnant at the familiarity.
"He and are old friends. aunt.
met him three years ago when l \