Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1896-08-29
A BRIDE ROSE.

She lived in a little country town.
Stieh very little town that, after you
wont up the dusty street, on which
there was a line of low, squat buildings
bearing legends on their several
weather-beaten fronts of Family Gro
ceries.r Drug Store Post Office and
s,General Supplies Sold Here"-why,
there remained no more town to see.
The rest of the old place just trailed
of into scattered buildings, some oc-
enpied, but many falling to ruin for
want of the repair of occupancy.
But if you went swiftly along the
quiet country road after awhile you
would come upon fair white cottages,
trim and neat, set in the midst of
broad acres of cultivation; and there
would always be space reserved for the
sweet-smelling blooms of old-fashioned
flowers, such as country folk have time
to thrust into the soft, brown loan.
In one of these white cottages she
lived. A little fair "old maid" as peo-
pie called her. A maidenly soul, TO be
sure, looked out from her sweet eyes,
and perhaps a certain gentle precision
IN her neat attire, and an adherence TO
ways which Miss Floribel Rose had
proved to be good, might have earned
for her the epithet considered so unwel-
come. But to me she looked the very
essence of youth and purity and un-
oonscious innocence.
BE all thacas it may, as | started out
By saying. she lived in the country, and
ID pretty cottage, with bright green
blinds and broad surrounding fields.
and the prettiest flower garden in the
whole village.
Miss Floribel had a perfect passion
t0r '.growing things" and Il was popu-
..sriy, believed that should she elect TO
hid the town pump return to its orig
inal Wildwood condition there would
at once appear those little nibs and nobs
Of green which show the beginning of
growth!
Miss Floribel wrought no miracles,
however, save those needing great pa
fience and constant care. But il was a
fact that, under her gentle care, flowers
seemed to become sentient things and
appeared TO develop consciences of their
own. which obligated them 10 q certain
amount OF bud and bloom, in return
for her ministrations.
We viii peep at her as she walks
leisurely through the small gate which
divides the flower from the kitchen gar
Ten on a balmy May morning. She is a
w woman-small head, small hands,
III feet and delicate features, with
sr-like ripples and lines along her
fairness. Her hair is soft and
u, and waves away from a sweet
] forehead in smart, crisp little
es, which necessitate frequent APP
.,cations of Miss Floribels small pink
palm in a series of subjugatory pats and
pfessures. Her eyes are Of a deep and
Hhadowy blue, and they look straight
put into this workaday world with ar
Expression of pleased surprise at find
Ing il so "good." Her figure is all soft
warm curves; and she has many
limples which come and go in all man.
,ier of unexpected places. For instance
VINO would ever expect 10 see little
answering dimple set up for itself high
on the delicate bloom of an ''old maids
check? Very high up, so that when
Sic smiled at you, which she very fire.
1uently did, there it was, a provoking
piece of prettiness, near to the sweep
" the curling lashes, and in a nest OF
oft rose-color, which was the flush on
Miss Floribers sweet cheek.
On one side of the long, deep gallery
or veranda, that ran all across the front
81 the white cottage grew a tall rose
bush. with long, delicately-huted foil
IKE and buds of pure. suow-whiteness
4|taming in the midst of all the pale
4feenness of the bush. This rose held Q
slinnge place in Miss Floribers life.
Twenty years ago there had gone
from the village gay. rollicking lad
With reckless record back of him anC
Al sorts of possibilities fronting him
FIS was beautiful, TO begin with, with
~ beauty of slim, graceful lines, high
aIfited and elear-cut features and deeI
1d Rich coloring. He was gifted
.6fninR all that the Grabbed old scholar
.ho taught the village school could
6eh him, in the time in which the
6lher lads had just begun TO compre
BEND. and assimilating all Of outsid'
Information that came his way. He Wal
Iatorite with all who knew him, al
tth for hia lonely, solitary existenc'
for his charm of person and man
Nnoui his mother had clustered th
|'|ato Romance An nndutiflii dangh
4 InnaWay mArfipke and the ia
.I| tann.I. Ihs r.fnrn 10 the state