The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-09-25

stant, not long afterward, as that por-
tion of the exercises ended. And when
he left her side great bunch of red
roses was in her hand, the most delicious
dewy roses, whose perfume swept around
her like an atmosphere. But the pro-
fessor bad relieved guard. His lynx eye
caught sight of a white CLEAN among
the roses. He took them suddenly out
of her hand. abstracted little note, and
gave the flowers back to her. Then he
slipped the note into his coat pocket.
1t is a pity the professor did not read
that note before next day. This is what
was written there: ..- ...... ...1..
my RosE.-If your affection for me is
all it was, is all that my adoring love for
you would claim, you will hold these
roses in your hand tonight as you enter
the reception-rooms of Rex. If at any
time in the course of the night, when the
band is playing the LANDER waltz, or
when it is playing Little Buttercup,
you lift these sweet red roses to your
sweeter face, and bury your face there
for one long moment, l shall know that
you can no longer endure this tyranny
that parts us. My horses will await us
at the gate, and when you are my wife,
neither professor, nor uncle, nor any one
on earth can part what God has joined
together"
But he didn't read it. There was not
the moment just then; somebody or
something occupied his time exclusively
and when he e.might have read it, he had
changed his coat, and could not find it..
Being a little lame, and feeling obliged
to attend the reception of the college
president, unwilling to lose moment of
his watch, which he could not easily
delegate, he ordered carriage and pair
to take him to. old Rex's gate, and
stumped up the stair with his precious
prize before him.
Was ever anything lovelier than this
vision in the doorway, with the shaggy
old Professor Redmond behind herp So
ethereally fair-the corn-silk hair, the
eyes like starry bluets; it was the i'm
personation of girlhood and otinnocence.
With huge cluster of creamy white
roses pinned in her belt just over her
heart, in their center red one blooming
like tn live sweet secret thought beating
in the heart beneath, and in her old
pearl colored draperies, she would have
seemed ready to melt back into the
outer twilight world, like the spirit of
the evening star itself, but for the great
bunch of red jacqueninot roses in her
hand. What did she know of her
lovers wishp Nothing. He had given
these roses to her; he would be here; OF
course she wore his flowers.
The old President Rex had as good al
eye for beauty as any undergraduate OF
them all and although the young class
day poet was receiving an ovation, he
left him in order to welcome this perfect
creature who had just come TO his par
lors out of fairy-land.
just then the band was softly playing
the LANDER waltzes; old Rex was over
powering her with his flattering speech /;
the music was enchanting; there stood
Adrian before with his eyes shining full
upon her, although acr0ss the room
she could not bear it all. Absently she
lifted that bunch OF roses, and buried
her face in all that blaze of color and
delirium Of fragrance.
The next moment Adrian slipped from
the room. She looked for him present
ly, but he was gone. And although
they staid but an hour, it seemed to her
IN endless period before she stood at
last upon the step in the dark and per-
tears of disappointment getting leave to
near her face. Her uncle came limping
along behind her. Professor Red
mond's carriage !" called servant.
"Here!n shouted a reply. Then Il
hand was helping herup the step, whip
was cracking, horses were plunging,
her uncle was yelling into the universe,
Adrian's arms were about her, she was
resting on his breast, and they were
dashing madly away. "You are here,
you are mine" he was murmuring be-
tween his kisses, "never to leave me
again. You exchange one jailer for an
other"
Before she well knew what had occurred
what it meant, she was standing in q
clergyman's study; papers of some sort
were being scanned; kind, silver. hair.
ed lady was giving her glass of water
words were being hurriedly uttered, tC
which if she replied she did not know it
Somebody put into her hand little sliI
that he called a marriage certificate
somebody spoke to her by another name
-Adrian's name; the kind lady had
kissed her, and she was out in the dark
sweet summer night again; was in the
carriage whirling away, and Adrian wa:
holding her, and calling her his wife.
care we married." she gasped. IAN
truly your wifeP" and then she burs
into a flood of tears. "And I've nothing
but this gauze gown" she cried.
And your Jacqueminot roses" said
he.
So that was the way it all happened
| know that by this time the professor
has forgiven it all; he can't do withou
her. But the aunt Redmond had sorr,
time of it for one week. 81 don't bla.n,
him at ALL declares Adrian. I'D hav,
done the same in his place. I wouldn'
have given her to the archangel Michael
let alone the son of fishing merchant
| if the merchant were ten times million
aire, and the son ten times nearer pro
fessorship himself" -.
The professor has had the little fata
note glazed and framed and hung up il
his den, but he has never yet been abl
again to endure with equanimity tn
sight of Jacqueminot roses.-Harper'
Bazar.