The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-02-28

A NEMESIS.
A bou,luct. sir :"

"A bouquet, sir!"
Elmer K charls starts suddenly. and
elances npp,chensivcly ut the speaker.
Surely thcra is nothing to fear in tn,
little pak-rohcd figure before him, with
shyly dropping eyes, and white, dim.
pied hands that Just now are engaged
III wrapping hit of silver leaf around
the stems Of bunch Of flowers.
Bouquet, sir?" she repeats. "Hcre
is one nm sure YOU will like, myrtle
and tearoses. Shall arrange it fol
yon?'
He bends forward that she may pin
the blossoms on his coat t-lanel. lie
notices how small and white her hands
are, and wishes she would raise hel
fringed lids.
"'There; don't You like ?' she says.
"The price is n shilling"
Elmer draws sovereign from his
well-hlled wallet, and lays it on tho
counter.
"keep the remainder for the caus,'.
he says.
The young girl smiles, and raises he,
eyes to his.
Beautiful eyes they are, large and
black, with yellow fire smollelins
in their depths like the CLEAN of q
topaz. They thrill Elmer Richards
heart with strange emotion.
Can it be that he, u blase man of the
world. who has been admired aud
sought by dozens OF beautiful women,
has fallen in love with pretty flower.
seller Mt charity fair?
He moves away, and aceosts an nc
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 comran
ion with an amused smile.
"What, Richards, are you smitten 2
he says. "Well, You are bv no means
the first one with whom those eyes
have made sad havoc. Her name is
Beatrice Irving"
Irving Elmer gives an inyoluntar,
start. Irving. All, yes, that name i
familiar to him. A sad, pale face rise,
before him, with wistful blue eyes ant
trembling lips.
1t appeared to him once before thi,
evening, when he first heard beatrice
Irving's voice; it haunts him all tn,
| evening, and when the fair is over. aat
he returns to his handsome apartments
he sees it still. and beside it glows tn,
flower sellers brilliant face.
| He remembers the bright June even
| ing when other white hands than her,
had decked him with blossoms, an,
other eyes had smiled up into his. All
those little hands will gather flowers
no more; those pretty blue eyes spark,
never again: they are closed in the doe,
slumber that knows no waking.
Elmer Richards starts like guilt,
thing rs this thought comes to him: h,
knows why the sweet life ended $,
early; why the little grave was mad,
% soon for her whose last words wer,
Of him--pretty Mile Irving.
"Why indulge in these morbid fan
cies?" he thinks. 1T is thing of tn,
past now, and rs such should be for
gotten"
So he dismisses the sad. unpleasan
memories, and, leaning back in hi
chair, lights u cigarette, aud, watchin;
the curling smoke-wreaths rs they i,oa
upward, he sees in their midst din
vision OF the rose.tinted face of Bcatric
Irving, the flower seller.
"What, Richards! are you going I
snub your friends in this nanner."
Jerry, old boy, is it yon." he ~
claims. "'pon my honor l did no
know yoa! Step up into my room ant
tell me the news"
Mice place you've got here" say
Jerry, rs they enter the luxuriant apart
ment.
"When did you return?" Elmer asks
"Onlv two days ago" is the repl,
sBeen down to see the folks; lots &
company there-a whole Household,
Oh, hy-the-bv. Richards, Esther SCI,
you an invitation to come down and er
Joy yourself! Nothing else ON hant
have you? No! Then of course YOU
accept. 1T Will be n good chance f.
sou. Almost a dozen, girls. E~,ha
says, and every one either beauty G
OH heire s."
"What, arc yoa mafr,ea?" liner II
quires.
NO. bnt engaged, aud that am ,nn,
to about the same tia n.y." Jerry replies
"Hessie Townsend don't yeu r,mea
ber her? Well. She's there too Rt
say, You haven't told lac Whether yo
are coming or not.
"ies. l will Come"
"Sooa ~ possible. mllnl. >.,s I,rr,
T. ther will H. !"oaing tor YOU. 4
reyoir"
Hc gees out, ana few moment, 1t,
Elmer. looking aut of the window, ~,
his tall form striaing un the street Wit
the same careless, swinging gait he Il
members of old.
A few days later Elmcr Richards el
teIs the train IN route for the Irow
country residence. That evening |
makes fanltless toilet and de>eends
the lighted roams.
Esther presents him t. The osh.
guests, and soon he is engaged IN II liv
~ conversation with ierry's h.trathe,
Bessie Townsend Then Esther com,
and carries him of to the conserrator
As they enter recumbent figure rise
and in the dim light Elmer sees Ii
yellow flash Of jewels.
"Are you here2" cries Esther. The,
"Miss Irving. Mr.. richards"
The figure takes o step forward, III
ray of light, streaming through Il
ha!i'opea door. falls upon her face, Il
L 4 a