Daily Republican., 1884-03-28
CARNATIONS.
BY ALFRED rOUSGE.

y POSSESSED tnt ROOu SENSE 10 Keep Ill
! grievances to myself.
Naturally, perhaps, l considered III
Experience the supremest and mos
! tragic that had ever heard or read o.
This was my story.
was engaged TO be married.
1t had been a pure loJe match be
tween Robert Lane and myself, and "
had been unconditionly happy and con
tent until, like a dazzling comet, ~
= cousin Blanche Vail crossed our path
| had never seen Blanche, and
seemed to me that only Satan himself
could have suggested to her the plal
of making US a visit in the country.
She came, she was seen, she conquer
ed that il, she completely bewitchet
my Robert.
Little goose that was, felt mysel
UNNECESSARILY her inferior in the powel
of fascination, 3, | lay right down and
let her weep over rue.
OF course she was beautiful and &C
complished, and added to her natura
charms all that indescribable finish
which life in the wealthy circles of great
cities imparts.
From the very first was con WINGED
that she did not actually love my
lover knew that she only visited to
tlirt with him while the summer days
lasted, and she had no other victim To
toy with she had even limited to my
mother that she was engaged to man
o great wealth and high position yet
my tongue seemed sealed | never
spoke q word of warning 10 Robert,
and 80 affairs drifted on to climax.
Blanche nevec missed an opportunity
of exhibiting her power over Robert,
but her monopoly Of him was 80 GETTY
managed that though she frequently
came upon us tete-a-tete and separated
us, she gave me no chance for an open
rapture.
lie 1t understood right here never
once blamed Robert Lane. He was as
tender aud considerate TO me AZ ever,
but felt rather than saw that the worm
In the heart OF the rose was gradually
affecting its beauty lin other words, that
his love for me WAS tainted ever 30 little.
In my misery TUNED my attention
to @ never ceasing source OF comfort
my garden.
The little plot before our door was my
pride and joy.
My catalogue of flowers was quite ex.
tensive, but my pet hobby was carna-
tons.
| raised them in every conceivable
variety, from the royal crimson bios
SONS, whose breath was to ne dream
of the orient, to the faint variegated
sort that are like an imprisoned scrap OF
fading sunset.
Inursed and watched my dainty pets
morning, noon and night, and perhaps
you can imagine my horror " hen one
afternoon | wandered down the gar
dem path to find every fair, nodding
head gone!
Who had robbed me?
Blanche!
was almost startled at the prompt.
tude with which my suspicious mind
answered the dismayed query.
Yes, she had arrayed herself in fill
my costume of white gauze and lace,
and had despoiled me to complete her
decoration.
lnwardly raging, | wandered on
down the path, out through the gate,
and into the grove
Almost at every step found one of
my pets lying upon the ground, and a.
gathered them up and pressed them
to my lips another and yet another
)led me ON until it seemed as if wick
cd, vindictive trick had been practiced
upon me.
At last, weary and disheartened, |
threw myself upon shady bank, my
ruined carnations in my lap and fell in.
10 little, bitter reverie.
Presently the sound of footsteps
md voices startled me, and glancingI
jhroug a screen of alder bushes, l saw
Blanche and Robert
Yes, in the bosom Of her dress she
wore q huge cluster of carnations.
int was beautiful among her laces, but
III, what sin she had committed
But if that was sin, what shall II
ay of what followed ? !
They were speaking in excited
ones hot words were exchanged be-
ween them.
He sued for her love she laughed in
is face.
Then liz threatened, and she-
aS"'oA LdVc uhoiCy upon no 'hcs
Few revolver, took deadly aim, ard
red.
My lover fell dead apon s&s sward,
nd she fled.
With sti..ied shrie,s, J started up.
There ne lay, close beside me, but
ns.eal of being dead he was read
ng ! i
And I-you have guessed it-had
'een dreaming
| turned to fly but he caught Inc in
lis arms and kissed me.
In mercy's name" he cried, what
3 the matter ?"
"Where is Blanche 2" l painted,
Unable to divest myself of my vivid
,ision.
"There p he answered, pointing
through the alders to a couple who were
slowly sauntering, armin-arm up the
hady avenue.
TIL 70 was Blanche. just as had seen
ler in my dream, in tilmy white, with
my carnations in her bosom.
Her companion was a tremendous
swell and a stranger to me.
y "Who is h. 2" l asked, in whisper.
"The man she il engaged to-
tAnd you knew she was engaged all
thin time?"
'Why, certainly"
Then you--you didn't fall in love
with her?"
He set me away from him and
stared It me.
Fall in love with her !" he said,
slowly +; have you taken leave Of your
senses 2"
yes" vas my contrite reply. 81
think muat have"
n{n1 Ia