The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-01-18
xE,rEsas.

nothing TO fear 10 the little PINK
robed figure before him, while shy
" dropping eyes and white, dim
nled hands that are Just now engag-
cd in wrapping a bit of silver leaf
around the green stems Of q tiny
bunch of flowers.
ssRouquet. sir ?R she repeats. Here
is one a am sure You viii ike, myr-
dc and tea. roses. Shall ] arrange It
for You p
lie bends forward that she may
pin the blossoms on his coat lapel.
He notices how small and white her
hands are, and wishes she would
raise her fringed lids.
~There don't you ike it?" she
says. "The price Is twenty-five
cents
Elmer draws FIVE dollar bills
from his well filed wallet, and lay
II on the counter.
"Keep the remainder for the
cause" be says.
The Young girI smiles, and raises
her eyes to his. Beautiful eyes they
are, large and black, with q yellow
fire smouldering in their depths hike
the CLEAN Of a topaz. They thrill
Elmer Richards heart with q strange
inexplicable emotion. Can it be
that he. 5lGss man Of the world,
who has been admired and sought
bv dozens OF beautiful women, who
has pressed their white hands ii the
dance, and gazed into eyes equally
beautiful If not as fascinating as the
ones before him, has fallen in love
with pretty, flower seller at achar-
ity fair
He moves away and accosts an
acquaintance who Is sauntering
around the brilliant apartment.
Who Is that young girl with the
handsome black eyes-the flower
seller ?"
George Ellis looks upat his COM
panion with an amused smile.
"What, Richards. are You smit-
ten ?" be saws. "Well, you are by
no means the first one with whom
those eyes has made sad havoc. I'd
give You an introduction, but ! don't
know her myself Her name is Be
atrice Irving.
Irving Elmer gives an involun-
tarv start. irving All, yes ! that
name is familiar to him. 4 SAD,
pale face rises before him, wan
face with wistfOi blue eyes and trem-
bling lips. Il appeared TO him once
before this evening, when he first
heard Beatrice Irving's voice it
haunts him ali the evening, and
when the fair is over and he returns
TO bis handsome apartments in an
aristocratic avenue he secs it still,
and beside it glows the flower sell
er's brilliant face.
He unfastens his bunch Of roses
and myrtle, and lays j; away in Z
little recess OF his desk. The form
ers rich velvet tints and subtle per-
funae remind him of Beatrice her
white fingers had fashioned the bo-
euet, and twined it yith silver cord.
aud for her sake he win keep ii.
He remembers the bright June
evening when ether white hands
than hers had decked him with
blossoms, and ether ewes had smil-
cd Up into his. Ahl those little
hands viii gather flowers nc more
those pretty blue eyes sparkle never
again they are closed in the deep
slumber that knows no awakening.
Elmer Richards starts hike a gull
~ thing as this thoughts comes TO
him he knows why the sweet life
ended so soon for her whose last
words were Of him-pretty Mile
Irving.
"Why indulge in these morbid
ancies ?" he thinks. 1T is n thing
of the past now, and rs such should
be forgotten. No, no : Il VIII not
be SO weak"
So he dismisses the sad. unpieas-
ant memories, and leaning back in
his chair, lights a cigarette. and
watching the curling smoke wreaths
rs they float upward, hesees in their
midst dim vision Of the rose-tint-
ed fance and tawnv black orbs Of
Beatrice Irving, the flower seller.
What, Richards are you going to
snub your friends in this manner 2p
Elmer Richards, about to ascend
the hotel steps, turns at the voice,
and sees q tall, bronzed man stand
ing beside him. At first 4 puzzled
expression crosses his face; then he
laughs heartily.
Jerry, old boy, is it yoa?" he ex.
claims. " Pom my honor l did not
know YOU Step up into my room,
and tell me the news.
Mice place you've got here, says
Jerry, as they enter the luxuriantly
furnished apartment Il tell you
Pm tired Of travelling, knocking
about here and there. I'd rather be
at home ten times over"
"When did YOU return n Elmer
asks.
Only two days ago, is the reply.
Been down TO see the folks lots Of
company there q whole houselul
Oh. By the by, Richards, Esther
sent YOU an invitation to come down
and enjoy yourself Nothing else
on hand, have YOU Ne ? Then Of
course yoall accept If yoa're not
engaged or married, it viii bed good
chance FOR you; almost a dozen girls.
Esther saws, and every one either q
beauty or en- heiress Think Of that,
Rich"
"Tbe chance is lost on me, how
ever.
"What. are YOU married p Elmer
inquiries
~No. but engaged, and that is
about the same thing, > Jerry replies.
Bessie Townsend f; don't you re-
member her , Well, she's there too.
But say, YOU haven't told me wheth-
or YOU were coming or moi. Esther
wili be hopping mad ifvoG don't"
If any refusal viii be followed
ov such dire consequences as that,
flmer says laughingly, = certainly
shall not give il. Yes, / viii come. .
Soon as possible mind" SAYS