Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-06-19
THE CRUl[PLED ROSE LEAF.
BY ELEANOR BYERs.

most delightfully."- still. The sun CLINT
ed down on the white sails of yacht
lying mile or two out, making the
brassworl glitter and the pretty little
breakfast-tablc, set under the awning, |
look most cool and inviting. It was
charmingly arranged q deux, and every
thing, from the delicate eggshell china
to the little rat-tailed spoons, was of the
daintiest description. Everything
around looked SO calm and quiet; it
seemed almost as though spell lay
over it all, and the ship were about
to sail into On enchanted city-the bril-
liant blue Of the Mediterranean and the
cloudless southern sky, with the white
roofs and orange groves Of Algiers in
the distance, making up picture
worthy of fairy-story! At least, 50
thought the man and woman who were
leaning against the rail watching q
tiny boat which was slowly making
its way out to them. The woman held
q big scarlet sunshade over her, to shell
ter her fair curly head and sweet mo-
bile face from the sun.
fancy, Harry" she was laughing,
'''just month to-day since we were
married! What a charming remem-
brance! and what lovely idea Of yours
to have all those flowers brought over
to decorate the ship with for tonight"
The sun beat down on the little white
hands holding the parasol, and made
the brilliant rings upon them glitter
ngain. We'll begin at once, as soon
as he comes" she went on. 81 think
a festoon of big yellow flowers would
look splendid over the saloon door,"
ooh, no." answered her husband,
laughing; 1--WE won't begin at once,
we'll have breakfast first, and look at
the papers; in fact, don't you think it
will be too hot for us to do anything.
little woman? 1meant to let Williams
do it oil, and we could sit in our deck
chairs and direct him, you know!"
"You lazy old thing!" she cried. II
do believe you get worse and worse
every day, and the idea of wanting to
look at papers when you're on your
honeymoon! I never heard of such o
thing"
We'll, I'm sure you were as eager as
I was for the letters this morning." he
laughed; ''it would serve you right If
there We're none, keeping me waiting
oil this time for my breakfast, too"
hnd he cast longing and smiling look
towards the little table under the avn
ing.
Don't go yet, Harry" she said; "he's
just coming now" and even as she
spoke the boat drew up at the yachts
side. 1t was, indeed, a goodly cargo
that she carried, baskets of oranges
bananas and purple grapes, whilst the
| other end of the boat was a mass OF
brilliant blossoms, and on the seat be-
side the tall swarthy African lay 9
precious little packet of letters and
newspapers.
"Oh," gasped Molly, who was on art
list in q small way; "oh, what a glorious
mass of color, what lovely flowers!"
Meanwhile the men carried the bas
kets on board, and Mr.. Ashley, with hi
letters, walked over to the table ane
sat down in a low deck-chnir.
"Now, sweetheart" he said, "you'l
give me cup Of tea, won't you? Her
}
down."
But Molly was kneeling beside til,
flowers, burying her face first in ont
basket, then in another; and had to b.
coaxcd away and comfortably installed
in her Chinois wicker chair by Harr,
himself before she would settle dow
to breakfast and her letters. Such
pretty picture as she made! her whit
dress and scarlet parasol standing GU
against the deep blue of the sea, and be
hind Ler the large baskets of flower
and fruits.
They were both cngrossed in thei
posts; She, reading her first letter
from home since her trip, he, looking
over the latest town news and reading
eagerly all that had happened in hi
beloved London during the three week
he had been away. Sometimes h
looked up with smile, and read her GU
bit of news, and asked how her moth
er was, and the boys, and at last, finish
ing off his tea with sigh of satisfae
ton. he handed her his cup to refill.
"IIow perfectly delightful tits here!
he said, looking round on the beautiful
scene, and then letting his eyes res
lovingly on his wife; land think yo
look charming pouring out tea" Ii
added, with laugh.
"Fancy paying your wife compl
ments after having been married
MONTH" she smiled; you ore not keeI
ing UP your role of old married man."
II can't do that ut the expense c
TRUTH" he answered.; land you kno,
always had to say out what though
But you have tiny frown, sweetheart
what's the matter? no bad news,
hopc?" he said, quickly.
ooh, no." she returned. 'This is
letter from Olga, and she always r,lt
me up the wrong way, somehow. Sh
says: I presume you are having PEI
feet time; now tell me what is IL,
crumpled roseleaf in all this happ
ness?-for one there must be!' And
thought for O moment, if ever on
should come, if it could go on like TIL
always without changing. 1t seem
too good to be true" she added, in To-
tone; "but there is absolutely not eve
a crumpled roseleaf so far"
mo, DEAR" he said, quietly, bendin
down and kissing her hands; there
no serpent in our Eden!"
1t was only afterwards he remen
bcred the bitter irony of fate ths
prompted those words, and they we,
soon absorbed again in their lette,
and themselves. The men We're dow,
stairs in the cabin, and no one notice
: the tiny black adder which had crel
f,.op, ba bocl.ef IF Ao1va1>s op6 now, In