The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-11-02

ing the trouble ia the petitioners
face, although he had many q time
wished forthe comets" discontinue.
'Will you tell her, then, for me, how
much regret her illness, and give
her these roses, which l had hoped to
present to her in person?"
"Oh, these women?" Jeremy solio-
quized, as he turned back into the
sitting-room with a magnificent clust-
er of roses in his hand. "I'd have
sworn she favored Marston, and yet
she sent Bob for a blue ribbon. And
now she's thrown the blue ribbon
away. Well, it's too much OF a rid
die for me. Asleep, sis?" he inquired
in cautious tones at his sisters door.
"No."
"Feeling better?"
"Not yet"
Here are some splendid Jacque
roses with the comets compliments.
Will you have them now"
"Not tonight. Just get Inga to
put them in water, please"
"Not encouraging" Jeremy reflect
ed. He left the roses in the kitchen
and returned to his book. But
scarcely had he read three chapters
more before another ring at the bell
interrupted. "Why, Walter, old fell
low" was his hearty greeting, "have
you stolen away from the revels?"
"You too?" he had almost said.
'Came to see why | wasn't there
eh?"
"You know we'll enough why l
came, Jeremy. Is Lou"
"Lou, providentially-for me-had
a bad headache. Come in"
"No-unless- Is she well enough
for me to see her?"
"I'm afraid not. She just told me
she didn't feel any better. Whatcon-
founded c%oguettes women are!"
Jeremy added to himself as he de-
livered these unwelcome tidings a
second time. 81 wish-I declare |
wish l had gone to the party!l"
81 am ~sOrry-sOrry she is i'll, too.
You know | must be off early to-mor-
row, and tonight is my only chance
of-of-"
He broke off there. Honest Jeremy
was sincerely troubled. The crumpled
blue ribbon on the floor above
could mean nothing else than that
the game was up for Walter.
"Have a cigar" he proposed,
offering what comfort he could.
"No. Just give her these violets,
will you, and tell her-ahl"
Jeremy had taken the flowers, in
wardly matchmaking his sister as
a "heartless little firt." Seeing
Walters face suddenly grow radiant
with hope and delight as he uttered
the above exclamation, he turned to
discover the cause. There stood his
sister, still wearing the tumbled lace
dress, with disheveled curls and red
eyes, it is true, but with an express
sion on her face, as she held out her
hand to Walter, that as Jeremy
afterward said, "told the whole
story"
Monsieur De Trop could not repress
a long low whistle of amazement as
he walked off with the violets still in
his hand. So it was blue, after all.
He carried the violets into the
kitchen, again astonishing Carl and
lnga, who both ROSE to receive him,
"More flowers toput in water"
"Yess."
"And more happycouples," Jeremy
said to himself as he went out the
back door and took refuge in the
shrubbery, where for an hour he
smoked and moralized ON life's
chances.
Next morning his sister did not ap-
pear at breakfast, but he found her
shortly after in the kitchen, where
she had gone to secure the violets.
Those unfortunate blossoms had
been thrust heads down into q pail
of water. The roses had received
the same treatment, but they were
left to her fate, and the owner ran
away from Jeremy's c%ongratula-
tions. The latter rescued the Jac-
ques, and a day later they fell to
pieces ON his mantel; but the violets
were boarded as LOUIS dearest pos
session long after scent and color
had passed away.