Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-12


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 opposite curb. She was blushing.
IL was dense fog; moreover, 1t was rain
ing Through the mire and drizzle Jack
Fabert trudged along.
ANY stephanotis today, Nelliep he
asked, suddenly halting. 1t was only the
morning before that he had learned her
name.
YES" she answered. peering into her
basket. tt.t
He watched her hand grope among the
flowers II was small but red. He pitied 1t.
He dropped the penny among the flowers
and went on his way to dot up figures.
The rain continued, and the mire thick
ened. Umbrellas and mackintoshes
streamed by in monotonous succession
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 Gus
toner. II was the clerk.
where's the stephanotisf" she asked.
"Got crushed; withered up somehow"
"Wul this dor" holding up rosebud.
"Yes. Never mind about a pin; I'll carry
it."
He fingered. why don't you 60 homei"
81 can't"
"why"
Business been bad"
She shivered and laughed. you'll be wet
through II you stand here any longer" she
continued.
"Roses are scarce" he remarked, drop
ping n coin into the basket.
She watched his umbrella until 1t got too
mixed with others to be recognizable; then
she looked for the penny. 1t glittered
brightly among the moss and fern-very
brightly.
"A shiilingp' she murmured. The girl
glanced excitedly round for his umbrella
II was quite lost to sight. Hes made a
mistake. He
The shilling lay in the palm Of her hand,
her fingers closed convulsively over it. For
the first time that day her lips quivered
and her eyes filled with tears. In few mo-
menus sho "as eruosih& pdck 10 her Btrret
at Stspney.
She wasn't there
Weeks passed They in the Office anxious
ly regarded the bent head which never
looked up from the desk.
The snow was falling and turning into
slush on the ground. The clerk raised his
eyes instinctively. He had reached Char
ing Cross corner.
'Nelliel" he cried.
The flower girl was standing in the old
place, bunch of red berries in her hand.
She smiled at him-a little wan smile.
'You have been illi" he questioned. In
the gaslight her face was startlingly white,
and her eyes shone brilliantly.
YES" she answered. The snowfiakes
clung to her hair and to the fiimsy shawl
on her shoulders. ~ spent the shilling"
she said slowly.
His heart thumped unevenly. He looked
down at the berries.
''Thsnk you, Nellie"
She fumbled in the pocket of her apron.
I've earned it back today. Will you count
'emi"
He gazed stupidity at the heap Of coppers
held Quito him. "T-the rosebud was worth
the money!" he cried.
ut wasn't. You were good to me. Pm
very grateful"
He moved away from her few steps.
She followed.
II don't want the shilling back, Nellie.
Can't you understandi"
"But'-
A passing policeman laid his hand upon
her arm.
Nov, then Worrying the gents againp
She started aside. Her foot slipped off
the curb. A hanson drew up sharply as
the girl fell under the horses hoofs.
The clerk was standing beside bed In a
ward at Guys.
"They say you'll soon be out, Nellie.
Aren't you gladp"
"Im so tired" she murmured "I don't
want to go outside again"
~ want to tell you something, Nell," he
whispered.
For few moments he bent over her.
When he raised his head, she was softly
crying. He stroked the thin little hand
almost white now-and smiled.
A warm flush had crept into her face. He
looked along the double row Of beds and
back again to her.
kiss me, Nellie"
They were orphans, but perfectly happy
There was nobody in the world to taunt
the flower girl
There was nobody in the world to tell him
that he was a fool-Tit-Bits