The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-03
A SUMMER FLOWER.

VaF you please, are you the gentleman WHO
Hi writes for the theaters ?"
H Eyes am the gentleman who writes Tor
As the theaters,' ~ replied In the utmost amaze,
- looking down on the scrap OF humanity VINO nau
been rappng at my chamber door Tor some mo
mepts and whom now admitted a girl PROD
ably OF IS years, folded in an OLD threauuaIe
shawl. her yellow hair half hidden under hioe-
ops bonnet, from beneath which peered great
brown ewes, a world too big for the small plnched
face have always had weakness ior prO"n
ewes. and these were swimming in tears.
HMav ask what you want ?' said, handing
her n chair; and from under her shawl she pro-
duced brown paper parcel, which knew by In
stinct contained manuscript.
I'VE are very poor, papa and l, !" said the mile,
yiping a few ralndrops from the brown paper.
Papa writes beautifully, but no one Will read
what he does write. We see your name in the
papers, and papa thinks you might perhaps buy
his NAV or ask one OF your managers 10 do IT.
''Nly dear child" said /, why did your father
not come himself TO me "a ,,, ia,
the simn4cily which seemed her characteristic.
Then she land the parcel on tue taOieI Win a
Wistlul glance from her big eyes.
/ cut Tie string aud glanced at tIe manuscIlpt
a tragedy IN five acts The glance or pro-
fessloualeye can some lines gauge the merit OF
pr0duciiOn, and almost without reading page L
saw That this largely was as heavy as Ieau, nope
lesslv dull painfully tedious. But could not
: " 10 .liaL ellll Cultu, Win luC bdluCt ltt
patient eyes with the AIMS as thin as the stem
Of my meetschl un and the hungry lace
Ielt rather curious 10 see the man who mad not
courage o offer The play III person, being accuS-
fOur-d 10 see so much Of the other Thing had al
most ceased 10 b iieye III the existence oil
bashiui. tmid amateur.
! offered my VISITOR some conee ana CAKE
which after "A little hesitation, she TOOK aud
then proposed returning with her 10 see her
father himself. She colored slightly, looking
around NY room and then al mySeH WITHOUT an
sWerinC Tor some lime, and then WITH Kind OF
effort agreed 10 the proposal. thought llat
though George Leslie-that was tie name on the
manu-, cllpt-1ad no dramatic power L might DO
able 10 assist him IN some other way.
The little girl finished hermeal, thanked me In
a graceful, Simple way aud then put her small
hand IN niue TO LEAD me TO her nome mere
WIS perfect confidence, complete trust IN the &C.
lion, and IL went home TO my heart One likes to
be trusted, even Wneu time has made one cease
We went through wet and sloppy streets, past
bright shops and lighted halls, down dismal
alleys, to a wretcned SUM; had been mere De-
fore professionally. II was miserable place,
and vas saddened to think OF Inc chllu living
You did NOT always live here, did you9" 1
mot always" she replied; "Only after papa
got very poor
She led The way now, 1 saying to myself:
My hope, my trust, my heaven must be,
Ny gentle guide, in following thee.
My gentle guide led NE up some dark and
nOIsOme stairs, pauSng before closed door,
was IN seindal knessi the ghost OF Il hre alone
saved il from total ObSeuIily. Dimy | could
make cut some fragments OF furultule ana dalk
heap in 4 distant eorheri silence eYeryWheIei
pa pa must be asleep" said Jeanie, In a soft
whisper; walt moment, please, and Will gel
10 this day do not know what impened me to
hold the Child back and prevent herirom going
NO, MY dear" said; "wait there moment
I'd VIII find light"
She obeyed 10 silence l stepped forward and
struck a match aud III halt-burned candle.
Then advanced TO The dark heap-a miserable
. bed ana niau stretched upon H. dead. II was
gbasty sight; one of the most CHASTITY bad ever
looked upon. / had just time 10 draw tile tat
tered c0yerlet over II, and then Jeanne was at my
eide.
will be al the Bunch OF Keys, sir. liam
sOrry. Yea would have helped him
"Douf ciy," said |. taking her hand. Listen,
Jeanne; have you any friend here, any neiglbor
with Niom you could stay until come for you?"
I here is Mrs. Balm" she replied looking at
with surprised eyes. "Nll you-are you
going 10 tnd papa?"
lent my head silently and then we went out
together 10 Mis-. Barns, a poor neigb0or, ~
whose charge l left the child and ihesif FASTENED
on on 10 tle hrsl pocenlsn, g Impaired my
u Leslie was o.sias dead, dying by his own hand.
a M tyCla1t his daughter 10 me on hopeless
-lTandI simply TO have her out OF the way WINE
he destroyed himself. A letter lying on lie table
told much OF his history. he was gentisman's
sou, ruined by dissipation aud extravaganza; lie
had been fighting starvation and poverty until
conquered by despair; lie had no friends, no
relatives, no money; his parting prayer was that
his child might moi he seat to the work house.
Ii WAS palneIicalY WOTded, as the last eplStleS
OF suicides often are; but II was not tue letter
that made my eyes DIM, but The thought OF the
mild, patient child waiting for father who
would never come. took upon myself the task
OF breaking tile terrible tidlngs 10 her, though
would almost rather have jumped into the
Thames. She did not cry nor weep, nor Indeed
utter a word; in her quiet aud silence was some.
thing appalling 10 NE.
There Inquest, and merciful verdict
of suicide during temporary insanity. linen arose
q discussion as TO what should tie done with
Jeauie, and a talk Of handing her over to The
parish. Here l interposed, Offering 10 provide
her with home aud education. After many ques-
Hons apparently endless trouble after proving
that had some claim 10 respectaDllity and was
less black than looked my otter was accepted,
and Jeauie was handed TO me. still In the old
shawl and tie nlOuster bonnet she ashed no
questions with her lips; but the large brown
eyes were filled with inquiry. She was too quiet;
In child Of her years that calm was unnatural
l had told her story TO my good friend, Mrs.
Frank. Lovelash, better known BY her stage
name TO The 1ublic, and that best OF women had
promised 10 help me III the fuItllment OF my sell
Imposed duly. We had decided 10 send Jeaue
10 school until she could choose her own path Ia
life. In those KIND and womanly hands l left
the wall who had never known mothers care,
and IN those tender arms the child cried herself
to sleep. L think my fEiend appeared as an angel
from heaven to her-the seeds of kindness scat
between.
1t was five years before saw my protege again
alter her departure for school. Every quarter
brought me letter from her, written IN round
large brand that reminded me 10 some odd way OF
her eyes. Time and fate took me abroad, to
travel through the States and AUS ralia, so thai,
as have said, 1--we years passed WITHOUT my see
Ing her.
weary OF travel glad be again In the old rooms,
ana amoug the Old familiar faces, TO slip back To
the Old way of life. One night, wet and windy
night, was sitting writing In comfort, when
heard tap at the door, Just such as had heard
i've years ago; all that past night came BACK
upon me with almost startling yiYluness. Spring:
Ing up l opened the door, fully prepared TO see a
shabby shawl, an old bonnet, and the great eyes
Of JeaIile, the wall.
- Jeanle II was, but Jeanie with Is years OF
grace and girnsh lOyeueSs-Jedne, sweet as a
TUse aud fair as a lily, coming in like sunshine,
both hands extended, and tears glktering on her
long lashes. 1 was suddenly conscious Of my
years, of The fact that my youth had passed from
lie things that are to those that were. l do not
remember our first words, but recOllect per-
teeIy thinking that The child still lived In tile
EOman-
You have left school, of course?" said.
"Oh, yes, guardian, Two years ago. have
been staying, with Mrs. Lovelash ever since,
q For wnat2 Doctors dlploma?''
Oh. nos for the stage" she replied, smiling.
'Are you strong enough ?" l asked, for she
looked lEail as a rOse-leaf.
II am very strong. 1 didn't tell you anything
about his in my letters because wished 10 sur
81 pfls6 YOU Dul-Dut-Ou MOuudI L mdho
debut as juliet at the Royalty"
bravo, Jeaniei shall be there TO congratu-
late you. Who Is the Romeo, my. chlld?"
"Mr Frank Milton" she replied.
''And the Romeo OF real HEP"
She blushed from brow TO chin, and trembled
81 don't Know" she said falteringly and see.
Ing that something distressed her, spoke oil
something else.
"YOu must have studied hard indeed, Jeanle
81 did, because wanted you TO be pleased"
al am pleased" said l; and Jeanne coored
again.
We went out together to Mrs. Loveash's and
talked OF old times I'LL the small houTs-that Is,
we dd-Jeanie was shy and silent.
- Dufing the days preceding that one chosen for
her debut saw much Of her, finding her eXte.
TiOr graces but the index OF hermind But
tIembled for herr she was fair as a flower, but
rs fragile.
The eventful night came. Much interest was
being taken 10 lie production Gf the tragedy,
and the Royalty was crammed fsom floor to- cell
Ing; the best actors and actresses OF the day
formed the company, and tue setting was
worthy the Lyceum In these times.
had place IN the stalls aud thence saw
Juliet enter blpshng like rose. She was
naturally nervous, but her graceful tmldlty
suited the pant, aud by degrees she gained con.
aalF acaff.. n.fo