The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1893-05-26
Their Romance.

He dotted up figures at the London
and Surrey bank. She sold flowers at
Charing Cross corner.
Four times Gay he, passed her to
and from his occupation. In wet
weather Or fire he daily expended a
penny upon "buttonhole." In wet
weather or fine she was there to provide
him with the posy.
The man had no vices and only one
extravagance-that daily expenditure
which made a deficit of slxpence in the
weeks salary.
The girl had no vices and only one
misfortune-her poverty.
The clerk lived alone in 3 shabby
combined room off the embankment.
The flower girl shared garret with a
Sister vendor in courtat Stepney.
The day was hot. The streets threw
up clouds of dust The girl saw the
clerk making his way rapidly.
Between the multiplicity of human
shoulders she caught intermittent
glimpses of a scarlet geranium. AS he
passed she noted that some of the petals
were missing, and that the green leaf
curled at the edges.
He nodded to her. She smiled at the
fading posy. He looked back as he
stepped onto the heopposite curb. She was
blushing.
X x
1t was dense fog; morever, it was
raining. Through the mire and driz-
z.e Jack Fabert trudged along
"Any stephanotis to-day Nellie = he
asked, suddenly halting. 1t was only
the morning before that he had learned
her name.
"Yes,' she answered, peerlng into her
basket.
He watched her hand grope among
the flowers 1t was small, but red. He
pi.ied it.
He dropped the penny among the
flowers and went on his way to dot up
figures.
The rain continued, and the mire
thickened. Umbrellas and mackin-
toshes streamed by in monotonous sue
cession. Nobody wanted nosegays.
Everybody wanted to get away from the
weather.
Some one accosted her after midday,
Another flower, Please
She looked up at the unexpected
customer. 1t was the clerk.
"Where's the stephanotis she ask
ed.
'.Got crushed; wlthered up somehow.
'Will this lo?' holding MP a rose
bud
eyes. Never mind about pin; III
carrylt
He fingered. "Why don't you &C
home:?'
IL can't
"Why?'
Cuisines been bad"
She shivered and laughed. you'll
be wet through if you stand here any
longer" she continued.
"Roses are scarce" he remarked
dropping coin into the basket.
She watched his umbrella until it go
too mixed with others to be recogniza
BILE; then she looked for the penny. L
glittered brightly among the moss ant
fern-very brightly.
"a shilling" she murmnred. Thu
girl glanced excitedly round for hi
umbrella. 1t was quite lost to sight
.'He's made mistake. He
TIE shilling lay in the pa!n, of he
hand, her fingers closed convulsivel.
over it. For the first time that day he
lips quivered and her eyes fillei will
teas. In few moments she wa
trudging back to her garret at Stephey
She wasn't there.
Weeks passed. They in the otfic,
anxiously regarded the bent head which
never looked up from the desk.
The snow was falling and turnin!
into slush on the ground. The c!erl
raised his eyes instlnctively. He hat
reached Charlng Cross corner.
"Nellie." he cried.
The flower girl was standing III tn
old place, a bunch Of red berries in he
hand. She smiled at him-a little wal
smile.
"You have been ill., he questioned
In the gas'ight her face was startllngl,
white, and her eyes shone brilliantly.
''Yes,' she answered. The snow
flakes clung TO her hair and to the film
sy shawl on her shoulders. 81 spen