Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1909-06-26
FROsTBURG, Md SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1909.

he lost all knowledge or nCr i've
often heard him tell
"Oh, you must meet mother" Inter
rupted Natalie eXCitcdly. "Shc knows
all about Aunt Natalic's love affair.
Oh, isn't this just like story book|'
To the romantic tale of the days that
the mother and the father Of these two
lmprcssionable young people thcreupon
pieced together out of their fragmCn
tary knowledge Natalie and Dwight
listened with all their sympathetic
young souls.
1t was the old story of southern
girl falling in love with young north
ern officer and of her fathers rclent-
less opposition to the match, even to
forbidding the girl from ever writing
to her lover or OF letting him know her
whereabouts after the war.
The girl had died of a broken heart.
The man married, to be sure, but to
his son he bcqucathcd with loving re-
membrance the little silver spoon
marked "N. s.
On the strength of this mutual bond
of sentiment it was natural that the
EllsworthS-both father and Son-fcll
into the habit of frcqucnting the little
tea garden.
Not always at the popular social
hour, to be sure In fact. to Natalic's
delight, they pointcdly avoided that
grc"ariouS part of the day. sometimes
dcfcrring their visit till the sun had
gone down. and. on rarcr occasions
still, till the moon even had stolen It's
way into the fragrant garden.
"I'vc brought you something tonight,
Natalie" announced the major on one
such occasion, unfolding from its
crumplcd tissue wrappin%s Il tiny silver
spoon. "You see" he added, lit really
belongs to you. my dear young girl,
and l thought that Just now would be
an appropriate time to give it over
into your kccping-a sort Of engage
mcnt present. You know"
AN engagement present.. gaSped
Natalie "Iut I'm not engaged"
"Oh. we'll" laughed the major teas
inglv, "I may be a little anticipating.
but
"Natalic." called Dwight from the
garden. "Ar"n't You ever coming? It's
heavenly ont here tonight"
"Then, again, may not" continued
the major, looking down on Natalie
with affcctionate understanding.
"What do You Think
"Im tell YOU later" Natalie evadcd
archly. giving the major Il hurried but
very emphatic hug as she called out to
Dwight to "wait just Il minute.'
WAS there ever such a night, Nata-
lie" exclaimed Dwight tendcrly as
side by side they strolled through the
little moonlit garden.
Natalie was cCn:CicuS Cf the trcmor
In his voice. but her mischievous mood
was still upon her.
Eyes; think l know of one she an
swcrcd, with a lingering emphasis
upon the "onc' that smote a hitherto
untouched chord of jealousy In
Dwight's worshiping heart. He had
rival, then. Natalie had only been
playing with him.
"Who is he" he blurted out abrupt
". Natalie stared at him.
"I mcan-whcn was it, he corrected
in confusion.
"Rcforc the war" answered Natalie
serenely.
Dwight's expression changed instant
| ly.
"And the girls name was Natalie"
he added softly, falling into the trend
of her thought. and her lovers name
was Dwight. and think know what
| he said to her"
No word from Natalie, but they had
come to the rose arbOr again, and all
unconsciously she stopped and leaned
against it. waiting for the words that
should set her heart humping.
"And he said" went on Dwight, tax
ing possession of both her slender
white hands, you are the flower of
my heart. beloved. Lift your sweet
face, f,S l love YOU"
And Natalie raised her pretty head,
and the lover lowered his till their lips
met.
The roses seemed suddenly to exhale
great waves of perfume and all the lit
tie leaves to tremble with delight.