The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-01-28

singer:
Her face 10 fair. her heart 10 true.
A. epotleoo - she's bonnie, Ol
The opening gowan. wet WI dew.
Nae pursr y than Mamie. or
"She wss slinging her sun-bonnet In
her hand, and the sun was playing with
'her golden hair. Her neck was bare,
its whiteness 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 girl from the neighboring
farm. 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 IL l disobeyed
him he would turn me from the house.
II met Flora the same night, and
persuaded her, on that glorioua moon
light night, to be my wife. We came
south together, and married her. /
was successful in obtaining 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 had the gift of writ
ing bits Of stories, and often when the
night had drawn on, and work was put
away, Flora and would sit talking Of
the future. Of the day when I 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. felt sure she was
going to be i'll.
"Then one night when I came from
the office 1 found her i'll in bed. In
despair 1 sat down to write a story,
which, If accepted, would enable me
to get her away into the country, or to
the seaside. I worked at it all night,
and finished It. Then q week later
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 now. 1 thought, she should
soon be better. cashed the check and
bought some luxuries for her. and,
passing a hower-shop, l went In and
obtained spray of lilies. They were
her favorite flowers.
"Then hurried away home. Icould
hardly walk fast enough, but at last I
reached my little house, and entered.
ran upstairs, and threw open her bed
room door. 81.
"'Flora,' cried. Success at last. my
darling. You shsll 20 awey for few
days now
:'She did not answer mo. She must
be asleep thought. and noiselessly
walked across the room.
1T stood over the bed, looking at my
sweetheart's lovely face. It was 10
calm, 30 beautiful, 80 pure. There was
q sweet smile on her lips, and her hair
was hanging down, framing her face In
eold. MY thoughts wandered back to
that day in June, and the words OF that
song came back to me.
II knelt at the side Of the bed. and,
placing the spray Of lilies in my Flora's
little hand, waited in silence, watch
ing and praying-praying that she
would soon he restored to health again.
"She awoke with little start.
"T am so glad you have come. Rob-
in,' she said, as kissed her. I have had
such q glorious dream. was dreaming
that you had written a book, and that
the world was ringing with your name
II interrupted her.
"'Perhaps that day is not far of, love.
See, my story has been accepted, and
the editor begs that will 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 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 week she was dead.
She died in my arms. I thought she
was better. hut IL. was not to be. She
was too good to live. We were too
happy for this world. Heaven would
have had no meaning could we have
lived together longer. And when her
laSt Dreatn was gone Ialo neT Dack
gently on 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. I thought, when I
have nobody to work for? My literary
work was neglected. lost my situa-
tion at the office, I have sunk deeper
and deeper, until now," he paused for
awhile, now am 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 q God above. I
will yet make the world ring with my
name. Even if 1 cannot work for my
dead Flora. l can work for her mem
l.. r