The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-04-29
THE CRUMPLED ROSE LEAF
BY ELEANOR BYERS.

The well-known bay at Algiers was
most delightfully."- still. The sun CLINT
ed down on the white sails of yacht
living mile or two out, making the
brasswork glitter and the pretty little
breakfast-table, set under the awning,
look most cool and inviting. 1t was
charmingly arranged 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; 1T
seemed almost as though spell lay
over it all, and the ship were about
to sail into an 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, so
thought the man and woman who were
leaning against the rail watching
tiny boat which was slowly making
its way out to them. The woman held
a big scarlet sunshade over her, to shell
ter her fair curly head and sweet mo-
ole lace from Inc sun.
Fancy, Harry" she was laughing,
@just month to-day since we were
married! What 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:
again. well begin at once, as soon
as he comes" she went on. II think
a festoon of big yellow flowers would
look splendid over the saloon door,"
''Oh, no." answered her husband,
laughing; 1--WE won't begin at once,
we'll have breakfast first, and a look at
the papers; in fact, don't you think it
will be. too hot for us to do anything,
little woman? Imeant to let Williams
do it all, and we could sit in our deck
chairs and direct him, you know!"
1'You lazy old thing!" she cried. 81
do believe you get worse and worse
every day, and the idea of wanting to
look at papers when you're on your
honeymoon! 1 never heard of such
thing"
1Well, I'm sure you were as eager as
I was for the letters this morning." he
laughed; cit would serve you right if
there were none, keeping me waiting
all this time for my breakfast, too"
and he cast longing and smiling look
towards the little table under the avn
ing.
Don't go yet. Harry" she said; hes
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 mass of
brilliant blossoms, and on the seat be-
side the tall swarthy African lay a
precious little packet of letters and
newspapers.
"Oh," gasped Molly, who was an art
ist in 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 his
letters, walked over to the table and
sat down in a low deck-chair.
NOW, oWCCOnCdIC uC you IL
give me cup of tea, won't you? Here
are two letters for you, do come and sit
down."
But Molly was kneeling beside the
flowers, burying her face first in one
basket, then in another; and had to be
coaxed away and comfortably installed
in her Chinois wicker chair by Harry
himself before she would settle down
to breakfast and her letters. Such q
pretty picture as she made! her white
dress and scarlet parasol standing out
against the deep blue of the sea, and be-
hind her the large baskets of flowers
and fruits.
They were both engrossed in their
posts; she, reading her first letters
from home since her trip, he, looking
over the latest town news and reading
eagerly all that had happened in his
beloved London during the three weeks
he had been away. Sometimes he
looked up with smile, and read her out
q bit of news, and asked how her moth
-er was, and the boys, and at last, finish
ing off his tea with sigh of satisfac-
ton, he handed her his cup to refill.