The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-11-22
JOHNNY BOUQUETS STORY.


the bridal bed of Eve-if you viii
carry it TO this address"
"All right, boss" was my response
as l took his so bill and observed q
rather devilish light in his eve, while
he wrote name on a card. 1t was q
beam Of the light that shone in the
eve of Cain as the discriminating
flame of heaven shot past his offering
and blazed on ibers alter. However.
| wasn't particular about what WAS
going on in his mind and he slipped
the card in the bouquet and | started
off to deliver it. Stopping close by
TO change my note and eat hit of
lunch, a good many people gathered
near the prize bouquet and began to
talk about it and Ia smell it, and SO,
whether some jealous rival stole that
card, or whether had dropped it on
the street. the card was missing when
took UP the great salver of flowers
again.
| hastened back to the place where
| had met the gentleman He had
gone away in carriage. told my
trouble to the hotel clerk, the genial
ellis, and he said, "Pshaw! take il to
his wife. He is no sporting man."
Now, that gentleman knew, by an
accident of passing his house, and l
had often admired the infexible, the
solitary, the lofty and selt-reliant
quality in him. He was kind to his
interiors, manly to his equals, haugh-
tv to his superiors. About once or
twice a year he showed liquor in his
eyes, as if Cain had bred on Ahers
stock, and little liquor brought ont
the consanguinity. said to myself:
These flowers will wither for which
I have been paid | believe he meant
to send them to his wife, and | will
rake them there"
] rang the door-bell of his house
and asked for the lady. Shown into
the parlor. saw my buyers picture
over the mantle. The house was not
extensively furnished, but looked like
the abode of perseverance in some
moderately cOmpensating profession
and slow but gaining conquest on half
fortune. A lady entered the parlor
and beheli the flowers. Sne turned
to me and said: WHO are these for?'
For YOU, madam"
For me-" Her face flushed.
"Who has dared to send flowers to
me-"
saw I was in for it somewhere,
and there was 10 safety but in consist
eut living. Your husband sent
them, Mrs." | had heard his
name, and felt that this was his
wife.
"My husband" her voice fal;ered.
How came he to send me flowers.
Have you not made mistake?
mo, madam, he has never bought
flowers of me before He is not
customer of gallantry. There is no
mistake about il
She seemed all futtered, like a widow
told that her dead husband had come
to life. Looking now at the flowers.
again at his portrait. her eyes dilated.
her temples flushed. She walked to
me like woman of authority and un-
der same mental excitement. Looking
into nv eyes she said:
"What did my husband say?"
ale said, madam, Il have not
made a present to my dear wife for a
year, business and care have risen be-
tween us. Take her these flowers that
their blossoms may dispel the winter
from our hearts and make Us young
again"
She turned TO the bouquet and rain
ed her tears upon it. An orange bud
she took, all blinded 80. and hid it in
her bosom. She sank upon her knees
and laid her head among the flowers
to LET their GOODNESS refresh her parch-
ed, neglected heart, and sobbed the
joy of love and confidence again. |
stole away like a citizen of the world.
As l went up the street and stopped
at the same hotel, the husband was
there. johnny" said he, "did you
deliver the bouquet" Eyes, / took it
to your wife" ITO my wife ?" Eyes.
boss, you are too good a man to wan
der as you wish to. Go home. The
ice is broken. Your wife is full of
gratitude. Saved by mistake, en-
brace the blessed opening made for
both Of you, plant those rich blossoms
Oh the grave of your arrangement.
and, in the words of the great good
book, cling to the wife of thy youth
He staggered a moment, looked as
if he ought to knock me down, and
rushed from the place.
Nat la,- i nat L.. La