Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-02-17

which, if accepted, would enable. me
to get her away into the country, or
70 the seaside. I worked at it all
night and finished it. Then week
later received letter at the Office
from the editor, telling me that my
story had been accepted, enclosing a
check, and askii & FOR more stories.
"F.ora had been growing worse
each day, but now, I thought, she
should soon be better. I cashed the
check and BOUGHT some luxurles for
her, and, passing flower shop, 1 went
in and obtained spray of lilies. They
were her favorite flowers.
"rhen | hurried away home. ]
could hardly walk fast enough, but at
last reached my little house and en-
tered. I ran upstairs, andthrew open
her bedroom door.
.Florar' CT ed. Success at lnst,
my darling. You shall go away for a
few days now
.She did not answer me, She must
be asleep, thought, aud noiselessiy ]
walked across Inc room.
"I stood over the bed. looking at
my sweetbeart's lovely face. 1twas SO
calm, SO beautiful, so pure. There
was sweet smile on her lips, and
her hair was hanging down, framing
her face in gold. My thoughts wan.
dered back to that day in June, and
the words e,f that 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 prsying-praying that
she should soon be restored to heath
again.
"She awoke with little start.
"I am SO glad you have come,
Robin, she said, as [ kissed her. 4
have had such a glorious dream. i
was dreaming tbst you hal written a
book, and shat the world was ringing
with your name.
81 interrup ed her.
".Perhaps that day IS not far off,
love. See, my story has been accepted,
and the editor begs that l 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 ia
lilies, and she kissed me for them"
Robin covered his face with his
bands, and q 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 q week she was dead.
She died in my arms. I thought she
was better, but 1T was not to bs. Shc
was too gooi to live. We wAre fec
happy Tor this wnr'' ~Aysa .oult
have had no Il as hasa
lived together eoser zal t ts
last breath had ee. @ ,tsr
gently on tn. e. as.i a
face from my sig y.
knees, and ours dc s-I iats
and everything elsa.
snow, perhaps, ,a
fall. why work, t. Ia :
have nobody to wo- ~ liver
ary work was neg lost my
situation at the ollice. I have sunk
deeper and deeper, until now" hs
paused awhile. "now 1 am Rambling
Robin. >"
Then he came across and stood by
the fire. II.
"But the innocent prattle of thai
little child of yours has brought me
TO my senses. As there is Goa above
1 will make the world ring with my
name. Even if cannot work for my
dead Flora, can work for her mem
ory's sake. Aud SO I will. l start to,
night ON the second part of my life.
In two years will let you know The
result. In TWO years tonight I will
come and see YOU. Goodby."
1 pressed him to stor the night, but
he would not. persuaded, him, how.
ever to take the loan os few pounds,
and as he walked to the door / slipped
note into bis hands.
And last Christmas I've he kept his
promise. he came to me, carr, ing q
small parcel under his arm. 1t was a
book-the book of the year. He mad
written it under nom de plume. His
name is known throughout the Eng.
glish-speaking world, aud the book
which made MS name is dedicated:
Hro NV anuai wife and tn MaheI ~