Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-08-12
The GERANIUM LEAF.


ferent direction
4 1t was g.ranium leaf that altered the
whole course o: my lie: but for the trivia
leaf, picked by young girl in . thought
less MOOD, I should not be sitting here to
day In thi, pleasant dininy-room, where
the sun comes in through the vine wreathed
windows and falls upon ths geranium pot
inside: and this little girl would not 10 upon
my knee nor yonder red-cheeksd maiden on
tie veranda with young Smithers; and
neither would that very handsome matrou
who has just passed into the parlor have
been in her present condition IL you will
listen an hour or so will tell you my story.
1t was Just twenty years ago this summer
tnat fell in lSs=e with Carrie Dean She
was 81 and 27-both old enough to know
wha. We me,nt and what we were about: al
least l WAS, but Carrie was such little CO.
| quetts that u eel TO think she had ~ mind
Of her own
Oh, but she was lovelyi all ross-coiored
and white. and brown trssssi. and pssrly-
teethei, with the roun lest, plumpsst figure,
Is graceful as fairy in every movement.
ami with beautiful shapely hands that were
Constant delight 70 the eyes / was just
home from college, and shs was on visit 10
my step mother. her aunt, and my half-sis-
ter, Lila. and her cousin. Ia sen e good
many girls in my seven years at college, and
some Of ths bellies Of ths land: hut l had
never yst had ny heart stirred by any
woman's eyes as Carrie Dean stirred i. when
her CLAN lie met mine in greeting; and the
tpuch Of her soft fingers completely set me
| all at On the sea Of love.
l was her slave from that hour-uot her
slave either, but her Passionate lover and
Il. - h. 10
and. Of course, being finished little firt,
she queened Il ovsr me right r Jyally.
There wa, Fred Town. the country physi-
clan. aud Tom Dsiano. the handsome young
farmer. both as badly of as was: and a
pretty time We had OF it Fred and /, old
ums in former DAYS. were at swords
points now. ami hats each other <pleniidly
for few weeks And T5m held in the ut
most contempt, AMI railei at them both
wiiensver Opportunity pre-ented itself. for
Carries eJification. after the manner OF
men, ami was repaid by seeing her bestow
her sweetest smiles and glances upon them
the next time they met
Frei drove a splendid span Of bays aud
almost every day they dashed up the avenue
and dashed out again with Miss Carries
added weight And Tom was on hand nearly
every evening and she was just as sweet TO
one as the other, AMI just the same 10 me:
and that was what madisned me. ] was
not to be satisfied with willows thiri"
by any means, and l told her 50 at last,
and asked her how the matter WAS to be SET
tied.
Il love you better than those brsinls,s
fops know how to love-" / said hotly. "Ani
now decide be.ween us,
She had listened to my love confession
with blushing cheeks and downcast eyes,
but when said this s,,s turned defiantly on
me.
They are no more tops than you ara, y she
said, "even if they have not spent seven
years In College They are gsntlemsn, and
l can't say that Tor every man Of my ac-
quaintance.'
And here she shut the door between 10
with u slam and left me to my pleasant 70
tections, and half an hour later l met her ut
the gate with Fred going gu. for ride.
which was very aggravating, I must con-
feSs. thought over my con iuct that night
and concluded that had bs,n a brute.
The next morning l founl Carrie at the
dining-room window alone and sought her
side. She had her hand among the leaves
Of sweet scented geranium. and just as
approached she plucked leaf and twinst it
among her braiis. remember just how
bright and srsen il lopi,el among her dark
lock-.
Carrie" began. "Ifear l was very rude
yesterday
Il know you were,n she said, looking ill.,
differe,.Giy out of tho window
This was bad beginning. but went on:
But, Carrie, love you SO, and when ]
ses you with that Fred
Here Miss Carrie turned on her heel
Il am not going to listen to you while you
SANDER my friends" she said. "When you
can speak respectfully of Mr.. Town will
return and she left me again.
l left the house then, and did not return
till afternoon As came up the path met
Tom Delano. Poor fellowl He looked like
the last rosa Of summer after o rain.
"Good-by. old fellow!' he said gloomily.
-Tm going away. She has sent me OF, and
can't stay in the place. I hope You are
the happy one-I do honestly. AL She said
her heart was given to another, and it's |
either you Fred. I hope it is you. and |
God bless you
Here Tom dashed away, and left me star !
ing after him in amazement
"iiven her heart to another!' repeated, !
with a great pain in my chest somewhere |
Swell. it is evident that am not that other,
and that Fred is Poor Toml-poor moi |
The best thing can do is to follow suit, and |
leave too. can never see her the wife Of |
another aui the sooner am Of the better
for me"
80 went modify up to my room and |
packed a sachel and got all thing in read |
inesS for speedy Departure GA my way
up met Carrie. just emerging from her
room, arraysd in her riding habit and l /
could hear Fred's deep tones shouting
"whoar in the yard below watched her
trip down the stairs and out Of sight. think
ing Il WINS tic last time ! should zee her for
years. perhap; forever
When had strapped the last buckle on
my saehel, and all was in readiness, went
down TO say good bye to father. mother and
Lila Lila was not indoors. AMI my par
ents looked at me in amazsment
But, Allan. my son, pleaded father, Il
thought you would enter into business
with me. There Is grand opening for
you. and have held tho position in rs-
serve
Il thank you for all that. but | want to
travel year or two before going into bust
ness wa, ali l could answer, enI Iny father
gave up in despair.
Lila was still absent. but i, was quite
lark. and the train would leave in half an
hour. so l loft a goodbye for her, and
,aSsei out into the hall 1t was long. mar
row hall reaching the whole length Of the
house, and with several rooms opsninS into
t. but yet it was unliShtsd, and was as
lark as Egypt
About half way through it. l heard the
,trect door open and shut, and n moment
ater ran full against some one who was sD-
,ering
1T Is Lila" l thought: and reaching out
ny arms, caught her between them Is t
'ou LillaT said; but she did not answer
,nly twined her two arms a bout my neck
Why, little sister said softly. do you
owe NE muchY for Lila was not demon
trative as usual thing. and l was sur
,risei at her movsmsnt
oh better than all the world beside, Al
an she said in a whisper and then as ]
Eted the fsls ~ my lips the sweet odor Of
:er.ainm perfumsi IL ar, and NV hsars
...e great hap
II WAS Carrie. not Lila, whom hall in
ny arms, She was trying 70 dissnsass bar.
sI nov. but suddsoly caught hsr Light
orm IN my arms and opsning The Library
!oor carried her into the brilliantly Lighted
oon.. Her face was hot With bfushes ncv,
nj Der eyes full OF tears
You are too bsdi7 she sobbed AID
late you,7
But then she noticed nv travelling attire
nd paused abruptly.
Why, where are you soinsr she asked
With interest
i was ing away never 20 return
nswered -But s.ncs YOU said what you |
ID in the hall have changed nv mind