El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-08
A White Cdrndtion Flower

and ragged one Mt that, but under his
torn jacket there glowed n spark of
chivalry.
One night. when Miss Alice Rea, as she
was hurrying for her train- dropped a
bundle of papers from her muf he sprang
| at once to her assistance With a quick
It'll pick 'em up, miss" he gathered
! them together. brushed off the dust and
handed them to her with 4 queer little
grab at his dilapidated cap.
Thank you, little fellow" she said.
Won't you have one of my fowers!
and. selecting one from a large bunch OF
white carnations which she carried. she
put it into his hand and then passed
quickly on
Bobby gazed Mt the flower with n look
OF amazemeut. which soon changed into
a broad smile OF delight. III take it
home to Maggie" he said. Maggie was
his sister, who shared with him the two
tiny rooms in n wretched tenement which
Bobby called home. So he buttoned IL
under his jacket and took IL to Maggie.
The next night Bobby was on the look
out. and his vigilance was not in vain.
for when Miss Rea passed him she smil-
ed pleasantly A young man in a brown
ulster was with her. and he. too, gave
Bobby n careless little nod.
Bobby's eyes were bright as he went
homcward. and Maggie met him ut the
door with n face as happy as his own.
"Oh. Bobby" she cried eagerly, 81 show
ed Mrs. O'Brien my flower this after
noon. and she said IL l kept IL in water
maybe it would grow roots. because it's
got such n lone stem and sa many leaves
TO it."
Sure enough. after n few days of care
full watching and tending. tiny white
roots appeared. Then Maggie filed an
old can with earth. and the little slip
was gently placed in it 1t grew and
Hourished. and with il the friendship be-
tween Bobby. the flower lady-as he call
ed her-and the young nan in the brown
ulster increased. Every morning Bobby
was watching for them, and every even
ing he stood where they would pass him
on their ray to the train There was
always some pleasant greeting ready.
which frightened Bobby's day and sent
him home at night with a cheerful heart
But one chilly February morning as
Bobby stood in his accustomed place he
saw the young man come across the
street alone. There was n troubled look
on his face. and he passed Bobby without
even n glance.
\ vague fear rose in the boys heart,
and nothing was able to dispel it. His
other customers missed the CHEEKY salu-
tation with which he usually greeted
them. and more Than one looked curiously
az the childish face. with its p~reoccupied
expression.
ON the third day Bobby could endure
it no longer. As the young man crossed
the street some one stepped directly into
the path. He looked down impatiently,
but his face changed as he recognized the
boy
What is t." he asked quickly, but not
unkindly.
The lady. sirE' Bobby said family.
"Isu't she coming any more:"
Il hope so." said the young man grave
~: but not just now. She is sick, you
see. and the doctors say it will be a long
time at least before she can come again
Bobby turned away The dread in his
heart had been put into words. and the
direct knowledge. although he had longcd
for it. was almost more than he could
bear.
At last. just a week from the morning
when he had first heard the sad news, as
Bobby stood ut his post he saw the
young man coming across the street, with
n face 50 white and set and stamped with
terrible sorrow that for Il moment Bob
by's heart stood still Then. as the
young man came close to him.. he stepped
forward involuntarily and laid his hand
on the brown sleeve.
T'he boy spoke no word, but the other
read the question in the eager. anxious
eyes. and said in n low. choked voice:
"Shc died his morning. / am going back
I'm an hour
Bobby's hand dropped from the young
mans arm. For a moment he stood still.
dazed by the words he had just heard.
Then. regardless OF his unsold papers, he
turned and went slowly back to the old
tenemcn he had left but half an hour
before.
Maggie started with surprise as he
came in, but one glance at his grief
stricken face told her the whole story
THE lady. Bobby she gasped- rs
She
shes dead" aid Bobby. dropping
into the nearest chair and laying his
head on the old table. "the young man
told me. I'll never see her again, and l
can't do anything for herr" And the lit
tie figure was shaken by heavy sobs.
Maggie stood silently beside him for
some moments. Then suddenly turning,
she went into the second of the two little
rooms.
When she returned. she carried the old
can in which they had planted the carna-
ton. 1t now held a sturdy plant. and.
bearing itself proudly aloft on its slender
stem. was n beautiful blossom.
See. Bobby" she said, laying her
hand on the bowed head. I've been
keeping it for n surprise for you. but you
shall have it for the lady Perhaps the
young man can take it to her"
Bobby looked up. Motionless he gaZed
at the flower. then sprang quickly to his
feet. He said he'd go back in an hour.
I shall have just time," he exclaimed
Carefully and tenderly the carnation
was cut from its stalk and wrapped in
white paper. Then. only stopping to kiss
Maggie in n way that told the gratitude
he could not speak, Bobby bounded down
the stairs and raced away toward the
station. He was only just in time. for
as he sped around the last corner he saw
the brown coated figure crossing the
street. Breathlessly he rushed after him