The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-03-09
It Was Only a Rose.
BY WILLIAM SAGE.

THE countess was in her garden.
Outside its walls was a big city,
With great, noisy streets, boulevards
and narrow, winding alleys; and dirt
and confusion and people. Here in the
garden there were also winding alleys,
but they were bordeTed with sweet
smelling hedges. There were fruit
trees and rose trees; and fountains that
FLASHED merriy day and night.
1t was beautiful garden, and the
countess should have been very happy
here. And so she would have been but
for the dragon. This dragon did not
breath forth fire and smoke, nor did she
Lave terrible claws and teeth; but, on
the contrary, was very polite and stiff,
and formal. In color she was generally
black. though on occasions she would
become green or yellow, or various
coors. She watched over the countess
from early morning until bedtime, and
sometimes followed her into dreamland.
This the countess thought hardly fair,
for Greenland was her own exclusive
territory. She discovered, however,
that the dragon generally followed her
there on the nights she had eaten two
pieces of cake for supper.
There was another bar to the count
ess' happiness. 1t was being kept a pris-
oner in :he garden. True, she did go
cut into the city occasionally, but al
ways in big carriage, in company with
the dragon; and on very rare instances
with the marquis, her father, very Sc
date and splendid gentleman, whom she
admired greatly, but of whom she stood
somewhat in awe.
Then the sides Of the carriage were so
high that she could see very little, save
the upper stories of houses, as she
drove by
So, after all, she preferred TO stay in
the garden with Tou-Tou, her dog, and
Fanehette, her doll, where they could all
three be together, with no one else to
disturb them-when the dragon was
asleep in the house.
BY standing on big stone, which she
had rolled under the wall on the terrace,
the countess could look over into the
street below. Across the way was the
high wall of another garden, and down
at the end of the street was a large
boulevard, where one could see horses
and carriages and many passers-by.
The countess had climbed on to
The stone, and was leaning over the wall.
with her neck craned to get glimpse of
the boulevard, when she noticed boy
standing on the other side of her street
looking at her intently. He had on
neither shoes nor hat, and his clothing
was very much the worse for wear. In
fact, in several places it was rent
through and showed his bare brown
legs and arms.
Where did you come from ?" inquired
the countess.
The boy did not reply in words, but
merely gave quick motion of the head
sidewise, in the direction of the boule-
ward
From the great city?"
The boy nodded.
DO you like it there?"
Now the boy knew that this was not
me way to answer the gentry, for he
mad been taught to be respectful to his
superiors. but he was not, by nature, a
very polite boy, so instead of replying
with Difference he merely said: Il have
10 like it," and started to walk away.
Please do not CO." called out the
countess.
"Wby not?"
Because l want to talk to you. 1t is
so lonely here with no one but Tou-Tou
and Fanchette."
What do you do there?" asked the
ooy' becoming interested, and crossing
over the street.
oh, we walk in the garden and have
reaparties and play 6ide-and-seek. Only
fahehette doesn't play much, for she
can run; but Tou-Tou can"
What's Tou-Tou and Fanehette?"
I'll introduce you. They're asking
10 come up" And she placed doll on
,ne top of the wall and helped little
Jog to scramble up beside it.
boy.
lhe dog did not like the boys appear
ance' and began to bark furiously. Run
ning to and fro in his excitement he
knocked Fanchette of the wall. The
countess gave cry Of terror, which
enanged to joy as she saw the boy catch
'ne doll before II could touch the pave
ment.
oh, thank you! thank you, for saving
fanehette's life. Tou-Tou, you wicked
creature, be quiet! Boy, can you reach
fanchette up to meY
Inc boy stood on tiptoe and handed
" me doll feet first. BY leaning for
ward the countess was able 10 get hold
n one foot and restore the unfortunate
wall.
ihank you again. both for her and
.ur me. BE quiet. Tou-Tou, I tell you,"
sne said, turning to the dog, and placing
0as nand over his little black muzzle.
ne has such bad manners, has Tou-
1en' she remarked, spologetically.
!. ! could teach him manners II / had
nm down here. muttered the boy.
me dog stopped barking. but being a
rue aristocrat, sat scowling down at
nc BOY, emitting IN occasional growl.
say" exclaimed the boy, pointing
y Tue roses that grew in profusion over