The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-02-28
A NEMESIS.
"A bouquet, sir ?"

"A bouquet, sir?"
Elmer Richards starts suddenly, and
glances apprehensively at the speaker.
Surely there is nothing to fear in the
little pink-robed figure before him, with
shyly dropping eyes, and white, dim
pied hands that just now are engaged
In wrapping bit of silver leaf around
the stems of bunch of flowers.
Bouquet, sir?" she repeats. "Here
is one / am sure you will like, myrtle
and tearoses. Shall l arrange it for
you?"
He 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 like it ?" she says.
"The price is a shilling"
Elmer draws a sovereign from his
well-hlled wallet, and lays it on the
counter.
"Keep the remainder for the cause, "
he says.
The young girl smiles, and raises her
eyes to his.
Beautiful eyes they are, large and
black, with a yellow fire smoldering
in their depths like the CLEAN of a
topaz. They thrill Elmer Richards
heart with strange emotion.
Can it be that he, a blase man of the
world, who has been admired and
sought by dozens of beautiful women,
has fallen in love with pretty flower
seller at charity fair?
He moves away, and accosts an ac-
quaintance moving around the brilliant
apartment.
"Who is that young girl with the
handsome black eyes - the flower
seller?"
George Ellis looks up at his compan-
Ion with an amused smile.
what, Richards, are you smitten ?"
he says. well, you are by no means
the first one with whom those eyes
have made sad havoc. Her name is
Beatrice Irving"
Irving Elmer gives an involuntary
start. Irving All, yes, that name is
familiar to him A sad, pale face rises
before him, with wistful blue eyes and
trembling lips.
1t appeared to him once before this
evening, when he first heard Beatrice
lrving's voice; it haunts him all the
evening, and when the fair is over, and
he returns to his handsome apartments,
he sees it still, and beside it CLOVIS the
flower sellers brilliant face.
He remembers the bright June even
ing when other white hands than hers
had decked him with blossoms, and
other eyes had smiled up into his. All
chose little hands will gather flowers
no more; those pretty blue eyes sparkle
never again: they are closed in the deep
slumber that knows no waking.
Elmer Richards starts like guilty
thing rs this thought comes to him he
knows why the sweet life ended so
early; why the little grave was made
30 soon for her whose last words were
of him-pretty Mile Irving.
"Why indulge in these morbid fan
cies?" he thinks. 1T is thing of the
past now, and as such should be for
gotten"
SO he.dismisses the sad, unpleasant
memories, and, leaning back in his
chair, lights cigarette, and, watching
the curling smoke-wreaths as they float
upward, he sees in their midst q dim
vision OF the rose tinted face of Beatrice
Irving, the flower seller.
"What, Richards! are you going to
snub your friends in this manner?"
derry, old boy, is it you?" he ex-
claims. "'Pon my honor / 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 luxuriant apart.
ment.
"When did you return?" Elmer asks.
"Only two days ago." is the reply.
"Been down to see the folks; lots OF
company there-a whole household.
Oh, by-the-by, Richards, Esther sent
you an invitation to come down and en-.
10y yourselfl Nothing else on hand
have you? No? Then of course you'll
accept. 1t will be good chance fol
YOU. Almost dozen girls, Esther
bays, and every one either beauty Oh
an heiress."
"What, ore you married?" Elmer in
quires.
mo. but engaged, and that amounts
to about the same til n.y." Jerry replies
~Bessie Townsend-don't you remem
Der her? Well, she's there too. Blu
say, you haven't told me whether yo'
are coming or not"
"Yes. will come.
eSoon as possible, mind, says Jerry
ESTHER will be looking for you. Al
revoirlr
He goes out, and few moments late
Elmer, looking out of the window, see
his tall form striding up the street witt
the same careless, swinging gait he re
members of old.
A few days later Elmer Richards en-
ters the train en- route for the Trows
country residence. That evening h