The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-03-01
HIS LOVE WAS TRUE.

nalunS up some stray red roses that
had dropped with their own weight of
sweetness and beauty from the wall, so
that-should a high wind or heavy rain
come up-they were in danger of being
broken l was very careful of my last
late roses.
Summer was over now-these queens
of the garden had not much longer to
reign; l could count the buds even
now; there were no more than a dozen
to open yet, and it had always been my
pride to have roses still in bloom until
quite far in October.
WhyP oh, well, 1 was a lonely wo-
man, with few tender human ties, and
such n one will always feed her heart
on whims and fancies. Wives have
their husbands, mothers have their
children, to take pride in. / was a
lonely old maid. you see; a pet dog and
q few sweet red roses sufficed for me.
Was there no other reason why these
roses were SO dearp All, yes; though
only my own heart knew it, they repre-
sented the ono sweet, delusive love
dream of my life. For to all womanly
women love will come; to such as l only
as q bright, u~nattainable dream; to
others-happier, moro favored hearts
as a precious and glorious reality.
Ned Hilton had planted this rose tree
ten years. ago, on the night before he
sailed away.
We had been schoolfellows and
friends through all our lives, but 1 had
never realized with what manner of
love 1 loved him until he was going
away. Even then the knowledge
brought mo only an increase of sorrow
for Ned thought of me but as a sister,
I was sure; SO many brighter, prettier,
younger girls would have smiled upon
handsome Ned.
1 wasn't a bright or pretty girl by
any means; / had a brown skin, and
big, dark eyes-"saucer eyes" Ned him
self. when we were children, had often
called them.
I was quiet and demure in my ways,
ghich made me seem older than my
'wenty years; and, because l distrusted
ny W power to please, and was pain
July conscious of my lack Of beauty, !
vas shy, and could never learn those
pretty, winning, self-assertive ways
y which other girls commanded admir-
ntion.
/ was cut out for an old maid, people
said, and Ned had said so many a lime.
| had grown at last, somewhat sadly
nut reslgnedly, TO believe II.
But when l heard that he vas going
away, the salt and SAVIOR seemed sud-
denly taken out of life.
My brother and friend-how should
| live without himP l said nothing to
anyone of my borrow however, but
made my moan in secret. Not for
worlds would l have had anyone guess
how bitter n moan it was, and when he
1880. - 4~11 -, I.-..1 - NI.N ,-....l,
rs yet l only knew from others. that an
uncle offered him opportunities there
which here could not be his, l managed
10 smile cheerfully and talk of his pros
poets in my usual tone, although at tho
thought that in n few days the ocean
would roll between US, my heart seemed
really breaking.
My composure deceived even linn,
and surprised him too. He looked al
me keenly.
Don't you care, Milly?" he said re-
p%roachfully. N''Such old and true friends
rs we have been, and don't you care
for parting from me?"
But when | tried to smile up ut him
and say quietly, ''NYhy, of course ! shall
miss you, Ned'-whcn | tried TO say
this lie. saw tho tears that would come
into my eyes, and smiled and took my
hand and kissed it, without my saying
even Il word.
at won't be for long" lie said cheer
fully and confidently. That's one
comfort. Don't forget me, Milly."
And then he fell into deep thought,
still holding my hand, and never seemed
TO think about al Hnswer. And /,
watching him, and thrilling because he
had kissed my hand-I began to dream
my dream. ,
L wasn't handsome nor particularly
clever, l knew. Was it possible that
Ned cared for me rs 1 now knew 1
cared for him, beyond all the world be-
sideP Was love, his love. to be mine
some day? Life grew to be quite an
other thing with that hope to brighten
it-a thing rs sweet, and beautiful, and
fair as these red roses.
He planted the rose tree-a little slip
only-on the evening when he bade mo
goodbye,
Nurse it carefully" he said, 'for
my sake, Milly. In three or four sea-
sons when it climbs up to your bedroom
window, and is laden with flowers, l
shall be back again. And, Milly, dear,
for old acquaintance sake, promise me
one thing-don't get married till come
back"
And with a heart strangely torn by
love and grief l promised him.
Ten years ago!
The red roses had climbed to my bed
room window long ago, and for the first
few years my hopes had budded and
died, just like the flowers.
The only difference was that the red
roses b!oomed to sweet perfection ere
they died. while my hopes-on which
the blight of absence and forgetfulness
had Aforementioned and persisted in
tho bud. !
After the first two years 1 heard no
more of Ned. and gradually l learned
to submit, rs time went on, TO the ineV-,
liable fiat of fate. Ned's liking for me,
had been liking only-not love.
MY Ii e was to be a lonely one.
1t would have been lonely indeed
but for bright May, my pretty, darling
sister. She was my junior by twelve
years, and mother, dying, had given.
her to my care.
The cottage was ours, and more than
enough to live upon very cozily SO that
life was easy and peaceful enough
very peaceful. -,
Ihad almost forgotten that dear old
love dream-or an cas- l had outliVed
the pain Of it-and in Mays young
bsanty OF eighteen I was living my own
youth over again
seldom gave a ear to the lost hopes
Of ten years ago, but II ! did. such
tsArs --r. apt 70 tall on my red rosns.
The roses often made me sad. Often
est in the autumn days, when / real
lied that the reign Of their beauty, like
that of my hopes. was ending.
At such times / was often weak
enough to give them kisses AS well as
tearsewhnt matterp No one in the