The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-12-31


spoil his tale with the bungling of
mere words? She laughed again as
she turned down the familiar. path
toward the greenhouse door beyond.
She found the man today, bending
low over box of discarded cast
Always, the floral rubbish from the
house above. The marguerites were
untouched with stain, and to the girl
unaccustOmed to prodigality the car
nations looked sweet and fresh, but
Hugh passed by them all regardless,
and the girl saw with surprise that
he was selecting, one by one, the lily
of-the-valley, sprays all torn and
dropping though they were. Quite
innocently, Aileen stepped forward,
and felt a traitor and ashamed to see
the secret of Hugh's heart writ in the
pale, drawn face above his task
Hugh Mcdonnell would never have
unbent TO any one, surely last of all
to that person who might consciously
strive to gain his confidence, but as
he turned and saw the outpOuring of
his hearts secret reflected in the ten
der eyes of the girl before him, his
confidence rose up to meet her sym
pdlAg AiIoS <AtACGIIs l4O oeli05 OAAAA
ply, unembarrassed, and at ease,
they were her flowers, my dear"
Her fowersI Oh, far-seeing, little
Mistress Invalid! The girls brain
swan, revolving at the bitterness,
yet even now her heart rejOieed in
his full confidence.
For Hugh the gardener, the man
of work the underling and servant,
told the strange story of his lowering
TO the girl beside him. And as he
talked the great Scotch house seemed
even now before her, the fields and
woods. the hills and running streams,
the brother love betrayed.
You see" said Hugh, they thought
took the sum. All. well. I thought
that she loved Jeff-a fine, bright lad
he was-I thought that she loved Jeff
and so l took the blame.
Then there were quick footsteps
from without, and suddenly Hugh
stood keen erect, once more the
clever player. enacting his part. You
will forget" he said. My sorrow
must not trouble you-prOmise. you
will forget"
The girl looked up into the anxious
face of the man above her, and
through her tears, she smiled. Il will
forget"
Il will forget" promise is easy
to give. but as day followed day, the
story took more vital hold of the
girls deep sympathy, and time, in
stead of obliterating it, scared it deep.
making it a sorrow of her own. The
ic
rifice, were before her in her walks,
her duties, her pleasures and her
play.
Most keenly did she feel his injury
that night of the great reception at
the COverly home. She had been ask
ed early, as an honored friend to help
receive, but, somehow, through the
music and laughter one thought held
swaA-the injustice of the powers and
the desire to right this wrong. Per
haps it was the banks of lilies that
suggested Hugh so persistently, or it
| might have been the little Scotch
woman, the guest of a neighbOr, who
| brought back the hurt, an unconscious
reminder of the country of his birth.
| A slender, fragile little soul she was.
! dered, as she bent above the bowl OF
fragrant blooms. at the sorrow in her
! eyes.
And the girl marveIed still more at
! the start the woman gave and the
| fearful pallor of her face when she
! questioned her about her love of these
| same flowers. She trembled and then
| she said:
Il am not well-forgive my stupid
ness, dear girl-a little air would
! help"
Aileen sought their cloaks, and by
some inspiration, divining her love
| for flowers. she led the little woman
along the boX-hedged walk to where
the conservatory windows cleaned
brightly in the moonlight.
There was some one in the outer
room and as she knocked, Hugh open
ed wide the door.
Then, in a flash, the girl perceived
tn ending of her tale, for the mans
face was as flame, and the woman
trembled toward him.
Hugh. Hugh" she cried. "Al
through the world I have sought. JEFF
told that it was he-and always from
the first, I have loved you!"
The girls eyes were blinded as
Hugh caught his old love in his arms
and as she hurried back through the
darkness, there seemed a frail, fain
| fragrance of lilies following her
Na+ure,s True ovar