Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-24
Red Roses.
BY sALLIE A. SMITH.

Look up. sweet Joseph ne! here is q
bouquet OF your ~favorite flowers, they
ARC much more worthy Of our atten-
hon than the spray you have wrought
so finely on hat dainty satin"
The speaker was a tall. rather noble
looking man, with regular features and
large gra eyes. He was smiling now,
showing glittering white teeth beneath
the dark moustache. In his hand he
hold n bunch OF beautiful crimson
rosos. fragrant and dewy, AS if just
plucked from some country garden.
where the glory of the golden sunsh inc
had a chance to kiss the flowers into
full perfection.
The young girl bending over her en-
broidery. was very sweet and lovely,
a. she raised her blue eves-that re-
minded you OF the azure OF the sky or
tho hue of forget-me-nots-one could
SEQ that love. for the giver of the flow
ers beamed from the ~tell-tale orbs. and
that. although her life thus far had
been one long, childish dream, her en-
gagement to her cousin Albert had Sob
erod her a little and caused her to
think more gravely of the future.
Sitting in the low chair at the win
dow. with the curtains of crimson silk
and tlmy lace falling around her, she
made a perfect picture, dressed in
white, with no ornaments save n
blood-red rose in the lace at her throat,
the rose taken from the bouquet in her
hand. Her face was full OF bloom,
and in the soft eyes and on the full
tremulous lips rested a smile of per-
feet happiness.
You are very kind. Albert with all
the many dulles you have TO perform
as head clerk with Palmer and Potter.
to think of poor little me. and to spend
your hard earned money on these lux
uries," pointing to the flowers in her
hand and in her bosom. IL shall not
allow such extravaganza" said the
young girl, as she gazed with loving
eyes on the giver and gift You know
/ shall soon be Of age. then nv guar
dian will give into my keeping the fort
une left me by my parents, and |, being
mistress of nv wealth, can then assist
you and return the many favors YOU
have conferred on me-. VIII lie / have
been in bondage" and laughing merr-
". the maiden pretended not to notice
the grave countenance OF her lover. as
he listened in silence to her merry chat
tor.
The summer sunshine fell in n golden
shower over the betrothed ones, the
summer breezes stirred the silken tres
ses Of the girl as she stood at the open
window. while her companion. putting
his arm around her waist and drawing
her towards him. kissed her white fore
head. The blue veined lids dropped
over the violet eyes, n the long lash
es swept her crimson cheek. and some
of the rosebuds fell from her hand. Al
bert picked up a rose he had seen the
girl press to her lips. and saying with
algbt laugh Ito he kept in remem-
brance of this day'-he enclosed the
velvet leaves in a small blank book,
putting it in h pocket. He little
dreamed OF the events that would hap
pen ere he looked again upon the pref
~ flower.
'.And now dear, ! want you to give
me a few moments of your attention.
l have something to tell you. In one
way it is good news, in another very
bad. came on purpose to talk over
the matter with your guardian and
yourself, but remember. darling, my
mind is made up. | shall o change,
so spare me tears and signs"
Josephine's sweet face became
clouded, and the red lips trembled as
she replied:
'Of course. Albert. IL you are deter
mined beforehand to have your own
way ] cannot prevent you-but surely
you will do nothing to make me un-
happyP
mo. dear, | do not wish to cause
you any tronble. Hook to the future;
the present may seem dark. but a fe W
wears will, | trust. cast all shadows
from our pathway. but | will be mys-
terious no longer. Your guard an is
coming up the avenue. Run dear, and
tell II IN | wish Ia see him.
Mr.. Graham was a fine looking man
OF forty or ~thereabouts, but q frown
~disfigured his face. and his dark eyes
flashed in anger as he bowed with great
dgn ty to the lover of his ward.
mo doubt you think strangely OF
nv appearance here, Mr.. Graham. said
Albert, noting the naughty air and
clouded c~ountenance OF the man before
h m. IL should not have intruded
where | feel / am not welcome on ac-
count of my poverty and the ghost
OF a SIN lie fitted around his lips. ''but