Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-17
AMARYLL|S.
IAN Explanation That ReconCiled
the Sweethearts.
BY MARTHA NC CIVILIANS.

|swhite, high lying clouds scudding so
fhickly across a pale sky that only
ivan and watery sunshine strained
3through the breaks between. Inside
there was the balm of May. especially
in the south parlor. where l knew l
should find Myrtilla.
Myrtilla is tall and twenty, with a
child's foot and turn of the head and
| neck that would become an empress.
She has coral red lips. a fine, straight
nose. olive skin. dark almond eyes.
heavily dashed and lidded. and low.
Straight brow. deeply Swallowed by
|Alusky floss silk hair. In virtue of all
this she reigns as queen over most
|tmen. We had been engaged until two
fsweeks ago-tO be exact, until the date
of the Verinews' ball and the episode
sof the Grantley girl.
The ball is ancient history now. Be
sides, it has really nothing to do with
| the case. / left off dancing with the
Grantley girl ut a. IN. to fling my
|sself into tweeds and set forth upon a
Eweek's journey. Coming home from
it, | found my table numbered with
my letters to Myrtilla down to the
most fragmentary note-those of the
last week unopened-my ring. my
books, bracelet or two, the locket
& with my picture and a litter of those
tidiOtic things one sends at Christmas
Eand Easter and on birthdays. 1t was
Ethis litter that saved me from utter
despair | reasoned that if Myrtilla
had cared enough for me to keep II
all this time she could not give Up
Gearing for me in q moment.
Still, | knew there was a tough job
Eahead But | did not dream she would
| go to the length of refusing to see or
hear me or even 10 listen to my side Of
1.-THE case through Aunt Bah. most tact
|ful of Intermediates. Her people back
cd her. too-all but Dicky. Dicky is
Fifteen and OWNS the distinction of be-
ling the only think in trousers Myrtilla
has found herself unable to subjuSate.
III cannot fiatter myself that Dicky's
& Advocacy of my cause was wholly dis
INTERESTED. Dcky has a fine taste In
Eterrier pups and Il relish for stolen gal
Hops on my hunters. At home he is al
+ lowed nothing more hazardous than a
+ steady going cob. However that may
81 be. il meant 4 lot to have any sort of
friend nj court. Otherwise how should
the hall door have swung open at my
HaDproach? The servants had strict or
+ ders to shut it civiIly in my face.
shes in there. 1t beats me why
you want her. why you want any girl.
when you've got heaps of dogs and
horses" Dicky said. grinning. as | shot
n past him. she's BEEN real hateful po.
E lite; no good for even fight this
/ whole week" Dicky's voice pursued
me down the hall.
E The south parlor is a square jut,
omen upon three sides to the sun. with
n walls more than half windows, iron
barred outside and full of green grow
ing things within. There is a big fire.
/ place.
q Myrtilia stood In front Of it. her eyes
EintentIy fixed upon the smolderinS logs.
At my entrance she started ever so lit
tie. turned her head the least bit and
kept on staring in the fire.
.Myrtilla." / ventured irresoiutely,
nv hand still on the doorknob.
She sat down and took up her en-
broiderv. her face still further averted.
Then | knew had won half point.
II she had been as angry as she be-
ljeved herself TO be she would have
marched away with her nose in the
B air.
1 began again formally, Miss Grey,
but stopped short. She had begun to
whistle over her work softly. medita-
\ fively. as though she knew herself TO
be alone.
Something happened then. am nei-
thcr poet nor romanceT. but my rang
in- eye saw in the south window a
creature Of tropic charm, slim and tall
green sowncd as a wood nymph. with
wonderful golden tawny eyes and a
crown still more wonderfully red As
I went to her she shiyered and set all
her green gown fuiterinS defensively.
but paid no heed TO it. only said joy
ouSly. barring my he1d-
"Amaryllis, You are rea. godsend-
! was never so glad TO see any one IN
all my life"
Nvrtnla's head came around so that
7 saw her profile out Of the tail 81 my
eve. 7 fancicd she stared. hut dared
not make sure 81 II. Ny wood nymDh
barely nodded. her tTemorS were ali at
rest. bent toward her low enough
TO look into her golden tawny eyes and
ran OF:
What have you done to yourself
Won arc 50 beautiful. 50 strangely. 81
rarely beautiful. il makes me desPer-
ate that did not keep my heart Tor
you. o.. rather. IL would make me dcs.
peraie II hearts we're things that could
BE- given Or kept ~ vii"
Certainly the wood nynph stared
Tho golden fawuv eyes booked ~ me