El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-23
Was 1t a Memory?


sion in his mind. and he felt that he was
particularly fortunate in having them, as
they were country bred roses, grown
properly in the open air. and the last OF
the season.
He had heard the young woman be-
moan the fact that she never saw any
roses except those raised in hothouses;
that she did. not consider art superior to
nature and Should never forget the dear
roses that grew in the country, in the
garden of their old home. They were
filled with tender associations.
Therefore Lawrence Hunter was full
of n happy Importance as he presented
her with the roses he had plucked him
self from the bushes in a friends garden
that same day.
You will find them delightfully."- fra
grant" he said as she took the great
bunch of bloom in her fine, slim hands
and looked at them with such loving ap-
probation that the young mans pulse
went up to fever heat.
She was dressed as became a rose
queen-in snowy white-and her golden
hair was bound with fllet of blue.
which color enhanced the fairness of her
complexion. as she probably meant it
should, in the artleSsneSs of art. And
as she held her lovely face, with its deli
cate rose color, above the roses the young
man strengthened his resolve to propose
that
But there is an old adage about man
proposing. The Queenly Alma knew that
she could not continue to hold the roses
without WEAKNESS. Even flowers become
burdensome under certain conditions, and
she placed them tenderly in a china vase,
and when they were arranged to suit
her fastidious taste fingered to drink in
their subtle beauty.
..They bring up the sweetest associa-
a. ch4
ticalIy. Petals of pink and hearts OF
gold, how 1 love you! 1 revel in your
adorable sweetness
And she buried her face in the mass Of
roses, the better to inhale their odor, and
then Lawrence, who felt the insanity OF
jealousy stealing over him, noticed that
her slender form was shaken with sobs,
and he sprang to her assistance. But she
gave wild shrek and escaped from the
room leaving the astonished lover gazing
into space. >
He heard cries and ordinations, the
hurry of flying feet, doors slamming and
silence. He waited, but no one came.
and he went home with a profound con-
viction that he had just escaped making
fool of himself; that Alma Bentley was
woman with a past; that he would
call on her or cultivate her society no lon
ger. And he lay awake all night thank
ing his stars that he was not her accept
ed husband.
The next day he watched anxiously for
some word-a note, any explanation-but
none came. He wandered that way in
the evening and finding the house dark
and closed was piqued and furious
that he rang the bell and inquired if the
young woman was at home
YES" the domestic said, ''but not able
to see any one-quite thunder the doc
tors care"
man to himself as he turned away, more
in love than ever and determined to
probe the mystery to its depths. Suppose
she had Il past. So had he. and he laugh
ed grimly as he thought of some pages
of his life that he would have been glad
to tear out and burn. Poor little grill
Some foolish romance of her early teens
that had roses in it-and lover! What
then? How many love affairs of his own
had left memories and associations? Only
he was a man and could forget. Well.
he would teach her to forget il she would
give him her confidence-and love:
He waited meekly but expectantly
week, two weeks, and when third had
nearly passed met Alma face to face.
Both were riding, but she threw him a
sweet smile and bow as they passed.
and he thought he had never seen her
looking so well, not excepting that fatal
evening OF the roses.
After decorous time he called and
was as nervous as a woman as he waited
to hear the rustic of her silken skirts and
learn from her lips the mystery of the In
cident of the roses
There WAS no hint of illness or pallor.
but just slight shade of anxiety on her
face as she cordially welcomed the young
man.
You mus: have thought me out OF my
Senses she said soon they were
seated. when l rushed out of the room
that night. cut L could not help it. l lest
all my self control and cried like chill.
Mamma said | was very silly.
Were you so much overcomeT" asked
Lawrence kindly
..Overcomc? l was blind, frantic with
pain
Il have heard said the young man.
''of people II whom the odor of certain
flowers was painful on account of mem
cries. If l Rad only known that my I'M
fortunate roses had the power to rouse
slumbering recollections of happier days,
rather than revive such memories L
would have eft them to wither on their
stems
Memories ?' repeated Alma vaguely.
"What had they to do with me? l don't
understand you, Mr.. Hunter
WAS it not an overpowering rush Of
associations connected with roses that
brought on your attack of illness?''
Alma stared moment, then laughed
merrily.
No, indeed. 1t was the overpowering
rush of a bee concealed in one of the
roses, and it stung my poor lip so that
was fright for weeks and suffered from
the poison too
And it wasn't a memory?' Lawrence's
''No, but it is now, and very disagree
able one. am pledged hereafter to arti-