The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-01-30
! and as she came along she sang In .
voice as sweet and pure as was the

Inc opening gowan, wet wi dew,
Nae purer is than Mamie, or
She was singing her sun-bonnet in
her hand, and thesun was playing with
her golden hair. Her neck was bare,
its wilderness contrasting with her bon-
ME, sunburnt face.
When she saw me she stopped and
blushed. Then she threw on her bon.
net, and walked on hurriedly.
She was a girl from the neighboring
farm. l fell in love with her, and we
met in the wood, unknown to anyone.
Then my father heard. He forbade me
TO see her, and told me if l disobeyed
MIN he would turn me from the house.
Il met Flora the same night, and
persuaded her, on that glorious moon
light night. to be my wife. We came
south together. and l married her. /
was successful in obtaining a clerkship.
and after my work at the Office was
done, my wife would sit in the little
chair by my side, whilst 1 sat writing
at my desk. For 1 had the gift of writ
ing bits of stories, and often when the
night had drawn on, and work was put
away. Flora and l would sit talking of
the future, of the day when l should be
Z famous author, and the drudgery of
the office should b~e-athing of the past.
But our happiness was too great TO
last. The roses on my darling's face
began to fade, and, though she tried to
smile away NY fears, l feltsuEe she was
going to be III.
Then one night when 1 came from.
the Office 1 fouhdFher i'll in bed In,
despair l sat down to write a story,
which. if accepted. would enable me
to get her away into the country, or,to
the seaside. l worked at it all night,
and finished it. Then a week later l
received a letter at the Office from the;
editor telling me that my story had
been accepted, ~inclosing a check, and
asking for more stories.
Flora had been growing worse each
day, but nov, l thought, she should
soon be better. l cashed the check and
bought some luNzies for her, and,
passing a flower-shop. l went in and
obtained Il spray Of lilies. They were
her favorite flowers.
Then I hurried away home. Icould
hardly walk fast enough, but at last 1
reached my little house, and entered.
l ran upstairs, and threw open her bed
room door.
".Flora.' I cried. Success at last, my
darling. You shall go away for a few
days now
she did not answer me. She must
be asleep 1 thought. and no~iselessly
| walked across the oom.
Il stood over the bed, looking at my
sweetheart's lovely face. 1t was 50
calm. so beautiful, so pure. There was
4 sweet smile on her lips, and her hair
was hanging down, framing her face in
gold. My thoughts wandered back tn
that day in June, and the words of that
song came back to me-
Il kneIt at the side OF the bed, and.
placing the spray of lilies in my Flora's
little hand, waited in silence, watch
irg and participating that she
would soon be restored to health again.
"She awoke with a little start.
81 am 50 glad you have come. Rob-
in she said. as 1 kissed her. Ihave had
such a glorious dreaEl. was dreaming
that you had written q book, and that
the world was ringing with your name
Il interrupted her.
"'Perhaps that day is not far Of. love.
See, my story has been accepted, and
the editor begs that Twill send him
some others.
"She did not speak, but the proud
look in her eyes told me what her
thoughts were. Then she saw the lilies
and she kissed me for them"
Robin covered his face with his hands.
and 4 sob Shook his frame. He rose
from his chair and walked round the
room. Then he stopped. and. with his
face averted, he finished his story:
in less than a week she was dead.
She died in my arms. l thought she
was better. hut it was rot TO be. She
was too good to live. We were to0
happy for this world. Heaven would
have had no meaning could We hare
together longer. And when her
last breath was gone I laid her back
gently or the bed. and covered her face
from my sight. Invent on my knees and
cursed-cursed my fate and everything
else.
Now, perhaps, you understand my
fall. Why work. 1 thought, when l
have nobody to work for?' My literary
work was neglected. 1 lost my situa-
ton at the office, 1 have sunk deeper
and deeper. until now" he paused fo-
now l an Rambling Robin"
Then he came across and stood by
the fire.
But the innocent prattle of that lit
tie child of yours has brought me to
my senses. As there is a God above, I
will yet make the world ring with my
name. Even if 1 cannot work for my
lead Flora, l can work for her men,
rrys sake. And so 1 VIII. l start to-
on the second part of my life. In
.wo years l will let you know the re-
suit. l will come and see you. Good
1y."
I pressed him to stop the night, but
lie would not. I persuaded. him, how
'ver. to take the loan OF a few pounds,
md as he walked to the door slipped
l note into mis- hands.
And last Christmas Eve he kept his
1rnmiSe He cnma IN 600 mo carrrioo