New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-05
Rv c. N. AND A. NJ. WILLIAMSON

THE next morning Troy did not 60 out for % walk
but appeared promptly at the breakfast table
Daura herself had Just arrived. No one else IN the
room at the moment, not even servant and as Troy
entered the girl was laying boutonncrc Of panscs be-
side a plate Having placed it, she lifted tic plate
turned it upside down, and slipped underneath "o small
parcels Then looking up suddenly she was startled or
pretended to be startled at sight Of Troy.
oh. YOU have spoiled your surprise" she cricl Yet
all the same, wish you a happy birthday
lie had already forgotten that it was his birthday
and would not have thought Of 1t the day bco'e Lord
Gorrne had not brought up the subject He nd not
hclo being touched by Lady Daura's words md the
friendly little ceremony Of the flowers and jackets
ahouGb he was still convinced that her kindness was
directed toward one object.
as it possible those things are for me-, he .ed.
~Yes.~ Daura answered. The flowers oe. q my
own little garden which I've taken care OF mysc snce
| was a tiny child. Pansies are my favontcs t,.ause
the, have such quaint expressive faces, and -r are
meant for thoughts; so felt they would be 9pn.
ate for a birthday | gathered these for YOU ELF.
viii YOU wear them? Shall put them in your ton
hole"
Would you-realy?" he stammered.
~Yes-becarse this is your special day cry
thing is to be done for you that we can do. J. H not
much as you will see But 1t IS our best
LIE went to the table and taking up the little inch
Of white and purple panses held TO his face he
faint perfume was oddly individual, delicate u-
sive Somehow, it reminded him Of the girl the nge
qirl-who offered him flowers from her garden. Icir
soft petals brushed his lips 1t was like the shy Of
a nvmph in flight; and though Troy knew no'H Il
nvmphs and their lore he felt that there was SOM ny
fairylike about the touch lnvoluntary he 81. his
evcils for an instant, then opened them TO find 'ra
looking at him with eyes that had the purple q ..'
Of her own pansies He ngled from head 10 f..
the flower touch had been the touch Of her mor sd
he was ashamed Of the vivil sensation, '...e D.
seemed secretly to insult the girl. He was that
she knew she would hate him than sure 'it
she would rather die than let herself be kissed by 800.
Yet she was smiling, in ignorance Of his thought. YIN
| to put the pansieS into your buttonhole;'
He felt that he could not speak just then, AMI in
silence gave her the little bunch Of flowers.
Daintilv and painstakingly she fitted them in he
butonhoe Of his coat spreading the petals out o. low
them to best advantage. Then she looked up i'm
suddenly from under long lashes There. It's
beautiful she smiled.
"Yes. very beautiful he echoed.
But he was not thinking Of the panses, as Dtura
knew There was, however, one thing that she not
know vet though she would have liked to know roy
considered her far preter, far fascinatr. md
altogether wonderful than Lady Annra, wi. wed
George Conway.
"Xow don't YOU want to look under your rl'. BE.
fore anyone else comes to breakfast the girl sci.
"You have two other presents one from my father nd
one from my sister
\ dark flush stained Troy's sun-browned fa,. He
felt would have been easier to bear if these pco hd
struck and inSuted him, rather than loading h nth
favors, and all in this simple, kindly way thu as
impossible to return with GOODNESS He could r
himself a little where Lady Daura conccrne -
the assurance that She VS. playing "A well c." 'el
camc and that he had real reason 70 feel rem y
gratitude but with Lord Come it was d' c,.
Troy believed his host to be ignorant If his m %;
md Lord Gormc's worship for Margaret Cameron. .o