The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-03-19
As spotless as she's bonnie, OF
The opening gowan, wet wi dew,
Mac purer ia than Mamie Or

The opening gowan, wet wi dew,
Nae purer is than Mamie, or
"She was singing her sun bonnet In
her hand, and the sun was playing
with her golden hair. Her neck was
bare, its whiteness contrasting with
her bonnie, sunburnt face.
when she saw me she stopped and
blushed. Then she threw on her sun
bonnet and walked on hurriedly.
"She was girl from the neighboring
farm. fell in love with her. and we
met in the wood, unknown to any one.
Then my father heard. He forbade me
him he would turn me from the house.
81 met Flora the same night, and per-
suaded her, on that glorious moonlight
night, to be my wife. We came south
together, and married her. was sue
cessful in obtaining a clerkship, and
after my work at the Office was done,
my wife would sit in the little chair by
my side, while sat writing at my desk
For 1 had the gift of writing bits of
stories, and often when the night had
drawn on, and work was put away,
Flora and 1 would sit talking of the
future, of the day when l should be
famous author, and the drudgery of the
Office should be thing 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 my fears, L felt sure she
was going to be Ill.
Sprl, ;rb fror
the office, found her Ill in bed. In
despair I sat down to write story,
which, if accepted, would enable me to
get her away into the country, or to the
seaside. I worked at 1t all night, and
finished it. Then a week later / re-
ceiyed a letter at the Office from the
editor telling me that my story had
been accepted, inelosing a check and
asking for more stories.
"Flora had been growing worse each
day, but now, thought, she should
soon be better. cashed the check and
bought some luxuries for her, and,
passing flower shop, went in and OBJ
tanned a spray of lilies. They were her
favorite flowers.
'sThen hurried away home. I could
hardly walk fast enough, but at last
reached my little house, and entered.
I ran upstairs and threw open her bed
room door.
"'F1ora,' 1 cried. Success at last,
my darling. You shall go away for
few days now
"She did not answer me. She must
be asleep thought, and noiselessly
walked across the room.
81 stood over the bed, looking at my
sweetheart's lovely face. 1t was so
calm, so beautiful, SO pure. There was
a sweet smile on her lips, and her hair
was hanging down, framing her face
in gold. My thoughts wandered back
to that day in June, and the words Of
tha song came back to me.
81 knelt at the side of the bed, and,
placing the spray of lilies in my Flora's
little hand, waited in silence, watching
and praying-praying that she would
soon be restored to health again.
"She awoke with little start.
"T am so glad you have come, Robin
such a glorious dream. l was dream
ing that you mad written DOCK, ana
that the world was ringing with your
name
81 interrupted her.
Perhaps the day is not far off, love.
See, my story has been accepted, and
the editor begs that I will send him
some others
"She did not speak, but the proud
look in her eyes told me wnat her
thoughts were. Then she saw the lilies
and she kissed me for them"
Robin covered his face with his
hands, and a 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. but it was not to be. She