The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-05-27
A STORY WITH A MORAL.
What the Carrying OF . Bouquet to tn
Wrong House Effected.
Johnny Bouquet, in New York Tribune.l

Wrong House Effected.
Johnny Bouquet, in New York Trbune.l
1t was not long ago that gentleman
said to me-he was In Johnny,
/ viii take your best bouquet-that big
one on a tray, fit to be the bridal bed of
Eve-if you will carry it to this adj
dress.
''All right, boss" was my response.
as took his $40 bill, and observed a
rather deyilish light in his eye, while he
wrote name on card. 1t was beam
of the light that shone in the eye of
Cain as the discriminating flame of
heaven shot past his offering and blazed
on Abels altar. However, I was not
particular about what was going enin 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 bit of lunch, good many peo-
pie gathered near the great prize bou-
quet and began to talk about and smell
it, and so, whether some jealous rival
stole that card, or whether / had dropped
it on the street, the card was missing
when I took up the great salver Of
flowers again.
I fastened back to the place where I
had met the gentleman. He had gone
away in carriage. 1 told my trouble
to the hotel clerk, the genial ellis, and
he said, "Pshaw! take it to his wife. He
is no sporting man.
Now, that gentleman knew, by an
accident of passing his house, and I had
often admired the inAexible, the solitary,
the lofty and self-reliant quality in him.
He was kind to his interiors, manly to
his equals, naughty to his superiors.
About once or twice o year he showed
liquor in his eyes, as if Cain had bred on
Abel's stock, and little liquor brought
out the consanguinity. I said to my
self: ''These flowers will wither for
which have been paid. I believe he
meant to send them to his wife, and l
will take them there.
i rang the door-bell of his house and
asked for the lady. Shown into the par
lor I saw my buyers picture over the
mantel. The house was not extensively
furnished, but looked like the abode of
perseverance in some moderately COM
pensating profession and slow but gain
ing conquest on half fortune. A lady
entered the parlor and beheld the flowers.
She turned to me and said: "Who are
these for?"
"For you, Madam. Il
"For me?' Her face flushed. "Who
has dared to send flowers to me?"
I saw I was in for it somewhere, and
that there was no safety save in con-
sistent lying "Your husband sent
them. Mrs. -" 1 heard his name,
and felt that this was his wife.
''My husband?' Her voice faltered.
GLOW came he. to send me flowers ?
Have you not made some mistaken"
''No, madam. He has never bought
flowers from me before. He is not a
customer of gallantry. There is no
mistake about it. "
She seemed all futtered like widow
told that her dead husband has returned
to life. Looking now at the flowers,
again at his portrait, her eyes dilated and
her temples flushed. She walked to me
like woman of authority, and under
some high mental excitement. Looking
into my eyes, she said:
''What did my husband say ?D..n 10.
''He said, madam, i have not made a
present to my dear wife for years Bust
ness and care have arisen between us.
Take her these flowers, that their bios
SONS may dispel the winter from our
hearts and make us young again. :" ~
She turned to the bouquet and rained
tears upon it. An orange bud she took,
all blinded so, and hid it in her bosom.
She sank upon her knees, and laid he1
head among the flowers to let the cool
ness refresh her parched, neglected
heart, and sobbed the JOY Of love and
confidence again. [ stole away like a
citizen Of the world.
ASH 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. "
''To my wife p
eyes, boss, you are too good a man to
wander as you wished to. The ice is
broken. Your wife is full Of gratitude
Saved by mistake, embrace the blessed
opening made for both of you; plant
those rich blossoms on 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. 2 ~ -
Next day I met her upon his arm.
Johnny" said he, ''bring her as big
bouquet every week, and save one
scarlet rose for me. 'a