Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-09
Of conversation than because l really
wanted the noMnrs.

my hand warmly when she would
thank me for some gift that
| brought her. and Iny hopes
would climb to fever heat in conse.
quence. But then she seemed so cold
and Indifferent towards me. when she
knew | loved her. | found myself
wondering how Marie would act { |
were to take her hand and tell her
loved her. Her tile trembling. soft.
white hand would lay in mine and her
face But what vas | In mixing
about? AT Eastgate there was another
gardener. 1t was already twelve o'clock,
and Eveline must have the black rose.
l called for a cab. but there were
none to be had, and it was showing,
raining and freezing. | must walk.
| could not send anyone. for | must
get them in person. In vain, in vain.
After my long walk | was doomed to
disappo ntment again. The flower
dealer did not have them. 1t was
already two O'Clock. What could /
possibly doP How | would like to graf
ify her W sh and see her smile of pleas
ure, Could they be made? No; inn
possible. But stop. Could the natural
roses not be colored? She would only
want them for one evening. So. with
Frightening hopes, | FASTENED again to
Rings place.
Marie, "A couple of dark red roses.
please | said. entering the store.
"lhey are for Fraulein Gunther.
she faltered; and in her eyes | noticed
y panied and sorrowfui expression that
ven strangely to nv heart.
stXau tn. tho KasinA hall to-pirht - /
replied. hastily. Tho darkest you
have, please
| took the flowers. but somehow the
pale. pretty face. and the sad express
sion, affected me deeply. | motioned
to a cab and drove home. 'Why am |
a chemist | said to myself. triumph
antlv. II | can't overcome such a
difficult as this?' | locked myself i'm
my little laboratorv, which | had hardly
entered snce my infatuttion with Eve
line, and worked about two hours on
one of the roses W tn iron. powdered
birthstone, and charcoal dust. | almost
smothered myself by inhaling the dust
and odor of the ingred ents; but
tr umph! the rose became black-deep
velvet black.
| wa ted until almost time to 90 after
Eveline, and then prepared the other
rose. with greater success than before,
for it was more beautifully and perfect
lv than the first.
| got a carriage and drove to Eve
lines home. Odd You get it?'she said
in great suspense and excitement. run
ming to meet me. | nodded, and held
out the package TO her. She threw her
rt,, .r,ttt.l ,,a. atni lt....l M. ty.--
ed both NV hands and looked me i'm the
cyes-she knew well how To show her
apprcciat on: She admired the rose.
her eyes beamed with del ght. and her
cheeks colored beautifully. For an in
slant | was almost jealous, for it did
seem like she apprec atcd the rose more
than she did me-. and | could not re-
member that she had ever blushed with
delight al seeing me; but she was 50 re-
spectful toward, me. and this time al
most atlcctiOnate, | was more lnfatu-
atcd with her than ever. We went to
the ball. of course, with her mother rs
chaperon. | had provided a commo-
dious carriage. Her mother and | sat
with orr backs TO the horses giving
Eveline all Of the back seat 50 As not to
rumplc the elegant party costume she
wore. She created II fHvOrc-she was
always the queen Of the ballroom. but
on this occasion more 80 than ever.
Her old gold bodice was beautifully en-
broidered with LOUNGES. and the rose
Nesting among her golden trcsses, at
tracted the attention Of everyone. |
did not myself escape being mentioned
rs it was known that | procured the
otv.p.ra iANVnr fltaf nnnnu hal n.t..
seen before.
With what q%ueenly grace she carried
herself! She was at home in the ball
room; was greatly admired and sought
after by every cultivated gentleman.
with her pleasant smile to this one.
her bow to that one, her pretty round
ed arms. her queenly head, in sitting.
standing, waltZing or dancing she was
n model of perfection. She was con-
stantly the enter of an admiring group
of old and yonng. and was be~ieged
by dancers. Every one who met her
was favoraby impressed with her.
But of all her friends and adm rers
She seemed to appreciate me the most.
| decided 10 know my fat0 tina very
night. felt that my happiness de-
pended on NV being able to call hat
Irresistible essence of womanly lowell
ness, my wife.
The first dance was ended; the signal
from the coronct in the orchestra an
n%ounced the next dance. | approach
ed her to secure the waltz she had
promised me when-oh. horrors! what
did | see! Tho rose had completely
changed color; no longer sh ming black.
but faded yellowish green. spotted
with rusty edges TO the leaves. 1t
must have been caused by the prepare
ton in the hair, the nitrogen. The
heated atmosphere or the gas. What
if Evelinc should notice it aud discover
the cheat? What would she do?
What would she think of me? For II
moment | was exc ted and astonished
that | could hardly control my voice to
speak to her. | did not have much
time for speculation. Large plate
glass mirrors W tn narrow gilt frames
covered the walls of the salon. She
glanced in the mirror opposite where
we stood. ready for the waltz, with
her arm resting quietly in mine. Sud
denly she drew her arm away and ap-
.rnauI,..I yI.. ,1a.a a,,11 .,n k,r