Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-11
GaIfs ano Sketfbfs.
Rose Geranium-
81 hate the odor,'-

of rose geranium which he held, ana a
shudder crept over him. II was on wide.
cool yerandah Of large hotel at one Of
the fashionable watering places. and his
companion was Mrs. Warburton, a young
and lovely widow. She looked up into
his handsome face with peculiar glance
from under her long exclusives.
..Why, Mr.. Penrytb." she cried, gavly,
what an idea, To hate flower"
lie tried 10 smile, but il ended in fail
ure.
II will tell you. Mrs. Warburton, he
answered. land then, perhaps. YOU VIII
understand me better. In the first place,
ever since can remember-eyen when
child-the odor Of rose geranium causes a
curious sickening sensation to creep over
me. cannot understand it it il a sort OF
antagonism or repulslon, Tor which iall
to account. Then later"
lie paused. and TAR away look stole
into his dark eyes, as though recalling the
past a leaf turned down on some page OF
his life-historv.
II had dear friend once, he went On
after pause, "a dear friend-never had
another. Gerald Brookes and were like
brotbers modern editions Of Damon and
Pythias they used to call Us in the college
where we were educated. had no hopes
nor aspirations apart from Gerald, and his
interests were as dear TO me a my own.
Nothing could hurt him which did not
hurt me.
II regretted acknowledgements
with strange pang Of jealousy-when at
last, in the course of events, Gerald Tell III
love. The lady was one Of whom be had
met while travelling for the firm which
employed him. j never met Miss Delorine.
but learned that she was the perfection
of grace and beauty an elegant and ac-
complished woman. and. withal, an arrant
coquette. She was heartless and uDprin-
cipied, and set about breaking my friends
heart. coolly, deliberately and systematl-
cally. Mrs Warburton. that woman was
as certainly the murderess eff Gerald
Brookes as though she had slain him with
her own hand. for she blighted his hopes
and ruined his peace. and lured him on
with her false, deceitful smiles. and her
glorious beauty, until he confessed his love
and cast his heart at her feet, only to be
laughed at and told scornfully that she
was on the eve Of marriage with deere
pit old millionaire.
..Now Miss Delorme's favorite perfume
so Gerald told me was rose geranium.
She wore the flowers frequently; its scar
let spike growing in vivid relief in the
braids OF her jet black hair. Somehow |
came to associate the two-the woman and
the fower-which | so unaccountably dis
liked. and feeling sprang up in my heart
for MissDelorme which grew and flourish
ed like the blossom itself-a feeling of
strong aversion.
"And so time passed, and poor Gerald
was daily fed with false hopes and illu-
sion until. at last, the bow fell. Had
been in his place when the knowledge of
her baseness came to me. ! should have
spurned her as noxious reptile, from my
path but Gerald was not made of such
stern stuff IA am. and so he could not
recover from the shock. Oh Mrs. War
burton. il was an awful blow to me when
they told me the dreadful truth that Ger
aid Brookes had taken his own life,
1T occurred in the far south. where he
was travelling sent at once tor his
body-poor murdered boy, 1t came. He
looked like a marble statue lying there
white, cold and dead. his hands folded
over the heart that had beaten with true
and faithful love for the woman who crus-
ed all of this. and clasped in his dead
hands found a sp'ay of rose gernium
which tore from his grasp; could not
see his body desecratcd by anything she
had touched or cared for. From that
hour have hated the odor and sight OF
the blossom with greater intensity than
ever. II may be childish and weak in
me il SO. | confess my weakness. but !
cannot resist it."
lie paused and rested his handsome head
on one white shapely hand. Henry Pen
rylh was young and wealthy. aud many a
woman had tried to awaken a responsive
chord in his heart. But. although he
moved in gay society and was courteous
to all. and attentive 10 some. no woman
has really touched his heart until he met
sweet Lilly Moreton. But Ethel Warbur-
ton the rich Young widow. loved him with
most wild. absorbing passion which car
ried everything before it. The crafty
Mrs. Warburton soon discovered that
there was no engagement existing between
Miss Moreton and Mr.. Penryth. aad rack
ed her brain for some method OF olsen
chanting the young man. and turning his
love for Lily into aversion and dislike
While Harry Penrvth related the story
Of his friend and his tragic death. Mrs.
Warburton's face had grown very white
wild. haunted look stole into her eyes.
and the little hand. which held u sprig oi
the obnoxious rose geranium was icy cold
and trembled.
She threw the flower away;
Pm SO sorry offended You with my
geranium." she said. humbly. 1T is no
iavnrite of mine''
twas deliberate talsehood. hut no
matter. 1.-The end iustifies the means"
at least she thought SO.
As soon as she was alone in her own
chamber, she paced the floor lik" Gagged
tigress.
My Godr' she painted breathlessly.
what would he say-how he would scorn
me if he knew that I am Ethel Del
orme. the woman who Tilted Gerald
Brookes. But he never shall know. | love
him. love him, And shall win him il
die for it ~ She fell into profound rev.
erie. All at once her dark face lighted
Strangely. Il have i" ~ she exclaimed.
II believe can see my way"
That night Mrs. Warburton stood before
the mirror in her room arrayed for the hop
which was 10 take place down stairs. She
was regal in cream satin and lace with
white roses in her magnificent black hair
She moved slowly toward window