"A CHAIN OF FLOWERS."

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2651, 30 October 1906, Page 2

"A CHAIN OF FLOWERS."

BY AN NICE CAREY. "ThaJ Lita Ferris—that innocentlooking girl sitting on the grass yonder, weaving a chain of daisies for those children ? T'shaw ! She is not so beautiful after all !" This exclamation rame from handsome Duncan Devere, and the tone was one of surprise and disappointment.

"Isn't she '.''" returned Jack Xadinc quizzically. "Well, take care of jour heart, old fellow ; that's all I've got to say."

A formal introduction was given by .lack, the "mutual friend," and Duncan DeVere threw himself down in a graceful attitude upon the grass among the group of pleas.d and eager children and began a covert but none the less attentive and critical sttidy of the girl of whose dangerous charms he had heard so much.

Where were they? He didn't see anything extraordinary in the somewhat pale, clear-cut features, .the black-fringed, gray eyes and the dark masse? of lustrous hair, piled up with seeming carelessness above the low, broad brow. She was slender, graceful and very girlish-looking anil pretty—yes, certainly. Hut then he had seen do/ens of other girls every whit as pretty ; so he reclined on the grass and watched Lita's small, white hands deftly weaving her chain of daisies with a comfortable sense of safety tnat rendered his enjoyment of the scene quite perfect. "Give it to me !" "Oh, please give it to me, Miss Lita !" cried several shrill little voices in concert as the da : sy chain was at last completed and Lita held it up for their inspection.

She. laughed, and, singling out a flossy-haired little fairy, the youngest of the lot, with a quick graceful movement endeavoured to "lasso " her by casting the chain over her curly little head.

Hut she was not dexterous enough. The chain missed the childish head for which it was meant and descended plump around the neck of Duncan Devere, who sat near by, Lita still holding the two ends of the flowery lariat.

"See, here, Miss Ferris," he exclaimed, with a comical look of reproach ; "you have put me in leading strings already." "It was unintentional, I assure you," she replied, laughing, but blushing deeply, too. "But then if people will put themselves in the way of getting caught in my chains, they shouldn't blame me," and Duncan was certain he delected a wicked meaning in those gray eyos a, 1 ? she said it.

"She is fascinating decided Duncan discovering all at once sonic subtle charm in the girl whom he had recklessly pronounced "not dangerous." Whether it was the changing light in those speaking gray eyes, or the arch smile that suddenly lit her almost colourless face into startling brilliancy, or whether it was her manner, ; all' saucy, half inviting, yet seeming to tell him unmistakably that he, handsome Duncan Devere, was of no inure consequence in her eyes than one of those insipid children who surrounded her—whether it was one or all of these he could not tell, hut he was beginning to feel that it was intensely pleasant to sit there and talk with her, and watch the play of those expressive features when up came Jack Nadine to carry him off to another part of the grounds for an introduction to some one else.

"Won't you come also ?" he asked, with a pleading glance at Lita as he rose. "I'm sure you must be tired of entertaining such a youthful circle of admirers." But Lita shook her head.

"I'm fond of children," she said, with a sincerity that could not be doubted, "and you see they are not slow in (hiding it out. Besides, I must, make them another chain of (lowers, since you have confiscated that one."

"Which I shall keep as a souvenir," said Duncan, gallantly touching it to his lips with an expressive look as .Jack hurried him away. "You're gone, old hoy," said the latter sententiously, as they left the fair siren's presence. "Nonsense," said Pflnean, scornfully. "I've known scores of prettier girls. In fact, T see nothing remarkable about Miss Ferris." Jack whistled.

••Well, I'm glad to hear it," he said, after a critical glance at his friend. "I'd hate to see you come to grief, Pevere, and that's what would happen if you were to fall in love with Lita Ferris. They do say, though." -lack thoughtfully added, after a pause, "that old Senator Davis is likely to win the prize that so many young fellows have broken their hearts for in vain. He's rich and distinguished, you see. That's what tells with the fair sex."

Duncan did not care a continental, so he expressed himself to Jack, and so he honestly believed just then, lint all the same when he tucked his flowery souvenir away that night in a corner of his desk, sacred to such bachelor mementos, he faithfully recalled every varying expression of the fair face that had smiled so archly, and the touch of the satin-smooth while hand which had come in contact with his lor one brief second as he took the flowe-s from it.

"It. would be a shame for an old graybeard to win a girl like. that, if he is a Senator," thought Duncan, half indignantly. "I should like to see her again just, to renew that spicy conversation which .lack broke in upon so stupidly. T should think he might have known better; but ho always was a blockhead. She seems to know what people suy about her," his thought veering from Jack to Miss Ferris, "and doesn't care a continental either. Now. I rather like that. Well," closing his desk •'1 think I'll pursue (he ac«|uainlnncc iiist to shew .lack Kadine that I'm not such a fool as the rest. I've seen lots of prettier girls, so I'm not likely to lose my heart. Hut. somehow . she interests inc."

This on the first <la.\ of his acquaintance with liia Kerris. Six weeks from that date he was the most ardent., and apparently 'lie most helpless lover in her tram. Theni were limes when he could lui\e sworn that she returned hi- love ami ~.!„.,. ( j lm .. s when he vowi.il within himself thai she was cold, r than an Arctic iceberg. She was alwn.vs rc«d.\ to welcome l,i„, „iih a charming smile, and ...,,i;,||\ read.\ il appealed, to leave him ior amho.h, else. Indeed, no one. , 1,..,- i.e.lM -Mine - e...,!d boa-l »l II m ,„,,,|,,,|\ ~l her smiles, unless il was the Senator, a liue-looking, Silvet'-

hatred old gentleman, of whom bevcre at last became most bitterl.\ jealous. "Well, how docs your wooing progress?" inquired Jack Xadinc who took a somewhat nialicons pleasure in letting Duncan know that he was tally aware of his lolly. "What do you think of Miss Lite's churms by this time '.'"

"She's a heartless coquette." snapped Duncan, turning on his heel and leaving the room abruptly. "I (old you so," said .Jack, in that comforting way some people have. "Hut you wouldn't listen to my advice."

In hastening to get beyond the reach of that irritating voice, poor Duncan was too precipitate. Tie missed his footing and down. down, he went until he landed at the bottom of the long staircase with it broken limb.

Toor .lack was overwhelmed with grief and sympathy, lie did all thai a friend could do for Duncan's comfort, and watched over him day and night. Hut his patient and loving vigils were often shared by another, the last one whom Duncan would have expected there —Lita Ferris. "Why do you come?" he asked her one day, as she laid a bunch of dewy roses on his pillow. "This must be a dull place for one like you."

"It is the place I like best of all just now, Duncan," she whispered, with a soft, shy blush . "Do you care for me, really, Lita?" ho asked, wonderingly, drawing her face down and studying every line in it with mingled hope and dread. "I have sometimes thought you did, and then I could swear 1 was utterly mistaken. Lita, what made you such a flirt?"

"I am not a flirt," she answered, smilingly, but seriously. "That is where you and others were mistaken. 1 never really cared for anyone—until now," lowering her voice and eyes together, "and why should I pretend to?"

"But the Senator ?" persisted Duncan, still doubting his own happiness. "The Senator ? Oh !" with a inue.li

"Ho is just a dear, charming old man, with whom it is a pleasure t•. converse. He never had any idea of loving me, you foolish fellow, and ho is really the only man who talk* to me without cvfr pnying its silly compliments. So there! Ai • you satisfied ?" "Perfectly," said Duncan with :i contented smile. "Do you ivmemh' •■ the first day we met?" he added, after a little while, "when you sad if I allowed myself to get caught in your chains I must not blame yon f You must have known that I would be a real captor sooner or filter. But it is a chain of flowers, low, and will be an easy one to wear."