The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-05-06
held tray of neatly arranged bouquets


child's face urged me to do SO.
"The middle bunch is sweetest, sir
that next to the thyme" taking a
prettiIy arranged nosegay and neatly
fastening it in my buttonhole.
How do You make the distinction.
That is surely attractive but why
sweeter than the rest ~
Because mother said So came the
prompt answer. "She loves yiolets, and
SAYS everybody will when they see
/ these"
But Your tray is nearly full-a sad
tale Of poor trade, [ fear. Does your
mother cultivate violets p
Yes, sir, or at least my big brother
does-he grows them under glass"
"And what is your name, pray 2"
"Nella Martyr, sir"
At that moment a gentleman came
hurrying by us at furious gate. As
he walked past something dropped from
an inner pocket almost at the very feet
of Nela.
"A poctetbook ~ she exclaimed, hold
ing it up for inspection.
Bring it to me, child that man
must be very careless to place his valu.
ables so inseourely."
She brought it, then seated herself bv
my side, tray in hand. waiting for me to
inspect it. The wallet contained notes
and other papers OF Importance to the
owner.
sit must be returned az once" l said,
looking into Nellas upturned face.
Yes, sir mother would say 50 If
she We're here. What Il great lot of
money, and, Oh, how happy it would
make us all =
/ arose from my seat then, and taking
Nella by the hand walked out of the
square in the direction the pedestrian
had taken. l found her home way up
in the smoke and blackness Of crowded
London, with al area down in the base
mert covered with glass.
Search as we might, no owner of the
pocketbook was discovered. l did
everything to find the owner, but failed.
The contents were mostly Bank OF Eng
land notes of great value, and realized
to the family quite an income. Nella
Went to SCHOOL, felt quite an interest
in her-so her education went on Under
my care. From the turbulent quarter
of back London they moved into pretty
rooms in Scots Terrace, where | be- !
came q constant visitor. Her mother |
was an agreeable English lady, while the
brother, . stout lad, soon found other
employment. What pleased me most as
the months went by was the great i'm
provement in Nella Her manner be-
came refined and ladylike under the tu-
telage Of her new master. Three years
went by-years that gave to her mind
more development than her whole past
life had done. 1t is needless to say
that l had become her admirer she was
so favored by natural endowment, that
l feared as the days went by her talents
would develop into some art that
would take her from me. So one day
when the manager of popular theatre
desired to bring her out, l felt for the
first time the pangs Of jealousy.
DO as you like, Nella / don't
doubt you have genius, and may make a
great success-but what will il all
amount to. Will not the friends that
love you grieve to see your beauty dis
played to the wanton gaze of the
crowd 2
Blu. Notwithstanding the advice, she
had her mind set on it, and all was ar
arranged for debut.
On the opening night l stood at one
of the wings and saw her 60 on, falter
and tremble, then with steady step and
Frightening eye 60 through the first
words of her role What a sound of
applause welcomed her concluding
words though but a minor part-that
OF sewing maid-yet the spirit which
she threw in the piece won her acclama-
tons of delight. | stood by waiting
to attend her home at the conclusion Of
the play, expecting her to be full of the
excitement which she had gone through.
Judge of my surprise, if you can, when
she entered the green room utterly ex-
"This is my last appearance on the
stage she said to her mother in answer
to her greeting. Il told you would
gain some applause, and have gratifed
all the desire | shall ever have to appear
in public"
"Well, my daughter, do as you like.