Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-04-03

ping close by to change IAy note and eat D
DIT OF lunch, good many people gathered
near the great prize bouquet ard began to
talk 10 smell 1t, and SO, whether some Isal-
lous rival style the card, or whether l bad
dropped It on the street, the card was miss.
ing when 1 took up the great salysr of
flowers again. $50 - are .sa
fastened back to the place where 1 had
met the gentleman. he had gone away in
a Carriage. told my trouble to the hotel
clerck, the genial ellis. and he said.
"Fshowl take it to his wife. He is no
sporting man."
Now, that gentleman knew, by an &C.
cident of passing his house, and I had
often admired the inf sxible. the solitary,
the lofty and self.reliant quality in him
He was kind to his interiors, manly to his
once or twice year he showed liquor in
his eyes, as if Gain had bred on Abel's
stock, and little liquor brought out the
eonssnguinity. Issid to myself: These
flowers will wither for which l have been
paid. believe he meant to send them to
his wife, and will take them there"
| rang the door bell Of his house and
asked for the lady. Shown into the psrlor
| saw my buyers picture over the mantel
The house was not expensively furnished,
but looked like the abode of perseverance
in some moderately compromising profess
ion and slow but gaining onbuest on half
fortune. A lady entered the parlor and be-
held the flowers. She 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 l was in for it somewhere, and
there was no safety but in consistent lying
our husband sent them. Mrs." /
had heard his name, and felt that this WAS
his wife
My husband?' Her voice faltered.
how came he to send me flowers? Have
you not made mistaken
No, madam. He never bought flowers
from ME before. He is not customer OF
gallantry. There is no mistake about it."
She seemed all futtered, like a widow
told that her dead husband has returned to
life. Looking now al the flowers, again at
MS portrait, her eyes dilated, her temples
| flushed. She walked to me like woman of
authority and under some high menal ex-
citement. Looking into my ewes she said ::
What did my husband say?"
DE SAID, madam, have not made q
prese mt to my dear wife for years. Business
and care have arisen between US. Take her
these flowers that their blossoms may
dispel the winter from our hearts and
ma US young again."
che turned to the bouquet and rsined
her tears upon 1t. An orange bud she took,
all blinded So and hid it in her bosom.
She sank upon her knees. and laid her
head among the flowers to let their cool
ness refresh her parched, neglected heart
and sobbed the JOY of love and confidence
| again. stole away like a citizen of the
world As went up the street and stop
ped at the Same hotel, the husband was
there. Johnny said he, ''did you do
liver the bouquet Yes 1 took it to your
wife" ITO nay wife2" Eyes, boss, you are
too good a man to wander as you wished
to. Go home The ice is broken. Your
wife is full of gratitude. Saved by a mis-
take, embrace the blessed opening made
Tor both of you; plant those rich blossoms
on the grave of your enstrsngement and in
the words of the great good book, cling to
the wife of thy YOUTH
He staggered moment, looked as if he
ought to knock me down, and rushed from
the place.
Next day met her upon his arm.
Johnny" he said, bring her as big a
bouquet every week. and save one scarlet
rose for me!'