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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1887)
THE PHANTOM FLOWER 803 hand to get some water to put it in. She returned immediately, but the plant was gone and she could not find it high nor low. She knew no one had been in the tent, for she was in sight of it all the time. It wastooTexing. No one would believe she had found it, and they would bother her unmercifully. She would not tell she would But here she broke down in her meditations and began to sob. She was so engaged that she did not hear a step outside, and Paul's dis mayed " Why Miss Gertrude! " brought her, startled, indignant, blushing and disheveled, to her feet " What is it? " said Paul, tenderly. "Nothing. I mean I shan't toll," stammered Gertrude. Paul looked distressed, and Gertrude, peeping through her fingers, saw it and relented. " Its that miserable flower Dr. liay mond wants. I found it and lost it,'' she cried. " Found and lost it! " echoed Paul, blankly. " Yes," she responded, a little testily, " and you do not believe me. I did not believe any one would." " Oh, yes," said Paul, " I believe you; but how was it?" Gertrude related the whole affair, and Paul listened with a grave face. "It's bewitching, isn't it?" laughed Gertrude, with her usual good nature. " I guess so," said Paul, " but never worry over so small a thing. Why, do you know?" he added, "I feared you had met with real trouble, or an acci dent, and I was well, frightened; for to tell the truth, Gertrude, I can't keep still any longer. I love you dearly, and all that concerns you concerns me. Can I hope that you return my love?" he added, drawing near. Gertrude put up a detaining hand, and, blushing rosily, said in her coquett ish manner " Wait, Dr. Bernard, you have taken me by surprise, you see." " Have I ? " queried honest PauL " I supposed you could see" " Oh, it would never do to imagine ev ery gentleman who was civil to mo, to be in love with me," doclared the girl. "Now, would it?" " No, I presume not," agreed Paul, " but-" " Wait," again commanded Gertrude " Find that flower tomorrow, and bring it to me in the evening, and say again what you have just said" " And you'll say yes? " said Paul, ea gerly. " It will dispose mo to bo favorablo," replied tho girl. " No more now, please, find me the flower." " I'll find the flower if it is on tho earth," declared Paul. Gertrude could not help shivering a little as she thought of her mysterious plant, and turning, met her mother and the children coming in. Neither Paul nor Gertrude spoko of the flower to tho others, but next morn iog, while tho drivers and cooks wcro picking up, ready to start away, Mr. Fenton and Paul had a conversation, which resulted in another day's stay, so the gentlemen could tako a last moun tain ramble. After they had gone, tho ladies strollod about, wroto, sketched and lounged, but tho day seemed intolerably long to Ger trude, and she walked out by herself toward evening, unconsciously rambling in a different direction from any sho had ever taken before Suddenly, in a mot picturesque spot, she camo upon a man a stranger sitting on a rock and cleaning a gun. His long hair, un trimmed beard and odd clothing pro claimed him to bo a hermit Indwxl, his shy manners when ho caught sight of Gertrude, standing, half frightened,