Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-06-12
DAFFOD|LS IN TOWN,
They Brought Back Memories of
Home and True Love.
BY HENRIETTA CRAWFORD.


copyright. 1902 by Associated Literary
Pressl
Everybody was slipping tea and nib
bling cakes save Mildred. For her tea
and cakes had no charm. perhaps be-
cause she had poured the one and dis
pensed the other steadily for the past
hour.
She leaned back in her chair behind
the tea table absently watching the
little crowd OF fashionably dressed
men and women that were moving
about the parlors, yet conscious never
theless that the man beside her was
observing her and enjoying her expe-
rience from his own standpoint. which
was so different from her own that
she often wondered how he could find
anything in her to interest him.
In low voice he was telling her
about the people before her eyes-how
the woman In gray velvet had recently
come into n fortune, how another wo-
man in rather shabby silk with Won
derful silver fox furs had lost hers,
how Mrs. Poynter had been Mrs.
Somebody else before divorce released
her and how the girl in blue was sad
~ puzzled as TO whether she would be
happier with an American because she
loved him or with an English eld-
est son because he was heir to
title.
She listened carelessly, scarcely re-
plying. In reality her mind was busy
with its own affairs. What did she
care about these people. most OF whom
she had not seen before and might not
see again? And what did they care
about her?
She was merely their hostess coun-
try cousin who poured tea and to
whom Hills Hubbard was somewhat
attentive. Cousin Nell had seen that
her frock was appropriate. and she
herself had been long enough In the
gay world to learn that the majority
judges one by ones raiment mainly.
Yet Hills Hubbard seemed to judge
her In different wise.
"You must be very nice to him."
Cousin Nell had advised the first day
Mildred was In the house.
"And why?" the girl had inquired.
Because he is good match, as good
as there Is 10 be had. That counts
very much In my world. Mildred. II
may be that you will charm him, be-
ing type that he Is unacquainted
with"
Certainly IL seemed that she had
charmed him. Since the first day she
met him he had been attentive to her.
sending her flowers, taking her to ride
In his motor and to lunch at the best
places. Cousin Nell was delighted.
And Mildred thought 1t fascinating
business to be thus sought after by
man whom so many girls had tried un-
successfully TO capture.
She had been quite frank with him
from the first in spite of Cousin Nell.
telling him that her father was only
poor country doctor and this was the
her cousin. He had seemed not to
mind. Perhaps he had so much money
himself that he did not care whether
the woman he married had dowry
or not
AS she leaned back In her chair she
was wondering how 1t would seem to
always have plenty Of money. to buy
ones frocks at the best shops. to live
In house where the work was done
as by magic, to go about In blue and
gold motor and be able TO hear all the
best music.
Just that afternoon Cousin Nell had
said when she came In to inspect her
toilet:
you understand, Mildred, that Mr..
Hubbard will have something to say to
you before you go home. There Is but
one answer for you to make, and am
sure he expects that one"
"But-but I'm not certain ! care for
him enough" Mildred had stammered.
Nell had stared at her.
my dear child! DO you think that
any one In these days marries for love
aloner'
II didn't know" the girl said hum
bly,. Then she thought of her cousins
elderly husband, who was seldom Wis
ible save Mt breakfast time, and the
hitherto concealed reason for Nell's
strange marriage was suddenly reveal
ed to her.
Mildred had indeed experienced
much since coming into her Cousins
house. None Of the golden rules which
her parents had taught her were APP
plicable here. Other ideals were cher
ished, other aims kept In sight. At
first 1t had been very mystlfying to the
girl 10 find that the teachings Of her
whole lifetime were Of no account. 1t
was as II she had taken great pains to
acquire Latin only to find that French
was demanded Of her.
Her father and mother had married
for love. Money they knew to be
great good which one could yet be
happy without. The poorest person