The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-04-13

Edwards, that none OF you was ever
penned up In a military prison for
months and then at the end OF a cold.
desolate winter shut away in the still
deeper prison OF the hospital So de-
spair OF making you realize how very
beautiful a few fresh, old fashioned
flowers can be. ! should be in yet
deeper despair II had the task of
making you feel how grateful the heart
OF that particular sick soldier was 70
her whose gracious sympathy had PEN
etrated this prison within prison on
that Easter day.
"when the flowers were faded, l
begged the privilege Of keeping them,
and when nobody was near to note my
weakness l shed many hot tears upon
their withered leaves.
"From that Easter day gained vic
tory after victory over the disease. In
deed. from the time those flowers were
placed within my sight and reach
seemed to be wholly wen The worlu
was bright. The hospital, the prison,
the fever, all were touched by the bril-
liant hues and grateful fragrance OF
those Easter flowers
when l was convalescent l was ex-
changed aud Immediately discharged
from the service. went at once TO
the florist who, though he did not
know who the lady was, remembered
her well as one who seemed 90 have
some great grief at heart. He delight
ed me by telling how she had wept
while writing the little message on the
card TO accompany the flowers"
Mr. Edwards stopped a moment.
"well," he finally went on. II may
as we'll end the story here. OF course
you have guessed that II was Flora
Eldredge who sent the flowers, and
since you already know that she is my
wife l have only TO add that we were
married within two months after my
liberation"
"But surely that Is not all you are
going to tell us7" questioned the young
magnzinist.
what is lackingT" asked the novel
lst, smiling.
Everything essential 20 our under
standing of the story-hrst, why were
you pleased at the lady's sorrow? Next,
how did you fnd her when you did not
know even her name2 Next. how did
she come 70 marry you when she was,
/ take II, still mourning for Elimelech
l suppose, however. this last would be
clear IL we knew what message you
bore to her from her dying lover"
"No," said Mr.. Edwards. 81 bore no
message TO her from her dying lover.
The message which I received from
the stricken soldier was 10 bis mother.
No; Flora's lover bore his own mes
sage, for must tell you that | was the
only lover she ever had. You never
knew that Il. Jerome Edwards had q
full first name. have concealed II
from the world because II is Ellmelech
After Flora left me In the little Mis-
souri town / enlisted In the Confeder-
ate army because all my companions
did. At the Fort Donelson engagement
one OF my chums made pillow OF his
coat for a fallen comrade. In a few
minutes he himself fell, and put my
| coat on MIN Dtchhht uG was NgAA
Those were my precious letters which
the correspondent found in that coai
pocket
"Since | did not know where Flora
was and she supposed ! was dead. 4
remained for those Easter flowers 4
bring us together. for l thought ! rec
ognized the writing on the card. Th'
florists description Of her eiinchet
this. and her sorrow assured me sh'
was true TO the old love. found he
by the simple means OF a city directo
ry."
"Well." said one OF the party, ''it ism
30 very strange after all"
Il think II is," said Mr.. Edwards
ITO me II Is perfectly lncomprehensl
BILE how an angelic woman can Low
any mortal man better tnan her owl
sweet self"
Stumpff a Co. have opened gre
Gerry. meat market and feed store q
corner Of Oklahoma aud Broad. Ne'
3 ock and good service. Phone a..