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AN INTERRUPTED ROMANCE.
By S. EUGAR BENET.
THEY were always together, at church, at si mplo festivities,
in daily walks and in visits to the sick or poor of the neigh
borhood. Their youth had slipped away loug agoi but gently,
without regret to mar minds or faces.
They were diffident, almost timid in manner. Though styles
changed, their gowns were tho same; they dressed their hair after a
fashion of early days, Mary in ringlets on either side her face, Anna
in curia on the napeof her neck. Mary's hair was darker, her eyes
gray, the lines about her mouth deeper. She piqued herself upon
seniority, liking well to exert a gentle authority.
They were considered tho cream of village aristocracy; nothing
was so fine as their bonnets and their musical performance. Aspir
ants to tho social privileges of the place were measured by these
standards of New Market excellence. So exalted was the position
not altogether claimed by themselves, but thrust upon them, that
the gallants of the place, if they adored, were fain to do so at a dis
tance No one had ever approached nearer to Mary, but there ar9
those who yet remember the beginning of Anna's one romance,
which was in this wise:
.toward the last of May the annual strawberry festival was held.
It was an ocsion of utmost importance. Everybody was busy for
a week preparing decorations and bringing plans to order. There
wnro cake, confectionery and ice cream tables, a floral bower, a post
office, Jacob's well and that time-honored institution, the grab bag.
According to village etiquette, never transgressed, matrons of high
est standing led by tho Rev. Mrs. Smyser had charge of tho table
first named, daughters of these ladies filled positions next in honor,
less favored maidens presided at the well and a few fortunate
younger onc-s had charge of the grab bag.
In the short spring evenings they met to make garlands, wreaths,
etc., for the days of colored paper decoration were not. Cedar, pine
and green things torn from the May glory of the woods were heaped
at the church door; yards of garlands wound for walls and pulpit,
wreaths made to be suspended below the gallery and in the deep
windows, a wonderful bower of greenery for Flora, fragrant masses
heaped in corners, until at length all was done and the poor ends of
sacrificed vendure cleared from the floor.
The festival opened to the New Market public Tuesday evening
early. Peonies, roses, snowballs, mock-orange, lilac and all sweet
old fasluoned flowers were stuck among the garlands and disposed
in stiff boquets down the long tables. There were cakes innumer
able; not to speak of candies in net bags cut after the fashion of
boots and stockings, and glass bowls of strawberries heaped in red
pyramids, mingled entrancing odors with the fragrance of flowers
and cedar. Over the pulpit was a triumph of artistic skill "Wel
come," in cardboard letters neatly covered with box leaves. All the
lamps were lighted, as well as candles in cones polished for the oc
casion and consigned with many instructions to Mrs. Smyser's care.
New Market declared annually there had never been anything so
fine.
Into this splendor, Dr. Farrell with kindly patronage ushered his
daughters. Anna had personated Flora since her sixteenth year; so
meekly had she worn her honors that no one after the lapse of a de
cade suggested their resignation to a youngergoddess. She wore
a wreath of snowballs and roses and a white gown with a
prim little boquet at her breast Her face showed no
record of twenty-six years. In her life there had never boen one
great sorrow one great joy. She had never known an ambition
unsatisfied, a hope unfulfilled. There was only the repose of a
sweet and gentle nature.
They were met with deference by- the Rev. Mr. Smyser begging
to introduce "Mr. Ivan Took, who had not anticipated the hon
or of- meeting the goddess of Flora in person. '
Mr. Took made a happy reply and had tho pleasuro of conduct
ing Anna to her bower, where he invested in boquets, quito
recklessly, buying all tho snowballs and pink roses. After
wards he proposed a promenade, and they walked around tho
room times innumerable as is the fashion at strawberry "festU
vals in that country even unto this day. They made many in
vestments in tho grab bag, from which they drew two small tin
plates, a skillet, a jointed doll and a wooden chair. Over ice
cream and berries Ana expressed the hope that the visitor was
pleased with New Market.
"Oh, very much pleased- very much. I came "but yesterday,
and since this evening have thought seriously of spending more
time here."
'It is not always as gay as this." said Anna.
"Gay? It would not matter. I do not care" about gayety. I
might take up theology, at least look into tho subject. I could
read with Mr. Smyser. I don't know much of theology, never"
thought about it; but a man doesn't know what he's fit for
until he's tried different things."
"Father says Mr. Smyser is a person of intelligence. There
are some things but then my father knows so much. It is
wrong to judge everyone by him, even though Mr. Smyser is a
minister, isn't it?"'
I suppose' it is. I studied medicine at one time, got as far as
my second year.'"
"Indeed?"
"I found out in time that I never would be willing to de
vote my life to tho practice of medicine. Took up law after
wards, but there were things in law well, I gave that up be
fore I had committed myself."
"Father had a brother who was a lawyer; he died."
"After that I thought of a mercantile career, but those long
legged stools are uncomfortable and figures are dry."
"Oh very. I had so much trouble at school. Miss Parke
could never teach me arithmetic. But," "taking up the last berry
on her plate, "I do not think anyone has had such such wide
experience."
Mr. Took flushed with pleasure ?t finding himself apprecia
ted. "You flatter me. I 'really know very little, but I thought
about theology. It might be of service some day. I once
thought of going out as a missioniary to the South Sea Is
lands. In case the idea should recur and I cenclnde to try it,
theology would rtand me in good stead."
"It is a noble work; people who go must be very good and de
voted. Now I must return to the flowers, they are putting the
lilies in the wrong glasses. I shall be considered a poor Flora to
neglect my work."
"I do not think one could find a more successful Flora at
least not here," said Mr. Took. He looked critically around as
if he would be perfectly impartial.
So Anna's romance began. A village matron who stood be
hind the table screened by a cedar bush repeated tho conversa
tion as suitable to the occasion. There, was nothing remarka
ble in Mr Took's appearance. Ho was small and slight, had a
thin face and dreamy eyes and walked with an air of import
ance. His deportment eminently became a student of theology.
The citizens of New Market, congregated after early supper
around the blacksmith's corner, grew accustomed to his dapper fig-
Highest of all in Leavening Power. Latest U. S. Gov't Report
oYal gi?
ABMUITEI.Y PURE
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