The suburban citizen., 1901-06-22
A White CarnatiOn.
BY Miss Kitty Cox.

p TfsJfis
r r E was only a newsboy, and
Nj dirty and ragged one at that,
but under his torn Jacket
there glowed a spark oe
chivalry.
One night, when Miss Alice Rea, as
she was hurrying for her train,
dropped n bundle of papers from her
muff he sprang at once to her assist
ance. With a quick I'm pick 'em up,
MISS he gathered them together
brushed off the dust and handed them
to her with a queer little grab at his
dilapldated cap.
Thank you, little fellow" she said.
won't you have one of my Aowers|
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 at the flower with a
look Of amazement, which soon
changed into broad smile of delight.
I'll take it home to Maggie" he said.
Maggie was his sister, VINO shared
with him the two tiny rooms in n
wretched tenement which Bobby
called home. So he buttoned it under
his jacket and took it to Maggie.
The next night Bobby was on the
lookout, and his vigilance was not in
vain, for when Miss Rea passed him
she smiled pleasantly. A young man
in a brown ulster was with her, and
he, too, gave Bobby a careless little
nod.
Bobby's eyes were bright as he went
homeward, and Maggie met him at the
door with a face as happy as his own.
"Oh, Bobby" she cried eagerly, Il
showed Mrs O'Brien my flower this
afternoon, and she said if kept it in
water maybe it would grow roots be.
cause it's got such long stem and so
many leaves to it,"
Sure enough, after a few days Of
careful watching and tending, tiny
white roots appeared. Then Maggie
filed an old can with earth, and the
little plant was gently placed in it.
1t grew and fourished, and with it
the friendship between Bobby, the
flower lady-as he called her-and the
young man in the brown ulster in
creased Every morning Bobby was
watching for them, and every evening
he stood where they would pass him
on their way 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 a troubled
look on his face, and he passed Bobby
without even a glance.
A vague Gear rose in the boys heart
and nothing was able to dlspel it. His
other customers missed the CHEEKY sal
utation with which he usually greeted
them, and more tran one looked curl
Ously at the childish face, with its pre-
occupied 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 impa
tiently, but his face changed as he
recognized the boy.
"What Is itT" he asked quickly, bu
not unklndly.
1.-THE lady, slr?' Bobby said, family
"Isn't she coming any more"
Il hope So said the young mar
gravely, "but not just now. She Il
sick, you see, and the doctors say /
will be a long time at least before sh,
can come again"
Bobby turned away. The dread il
his heart had been put into words, an,
the direct knowledge, although he ha,
longed for it, was almost more thai
he could bear.
At last, just a week from the morn
ing when he had first heard the sa'
news, as Bobby stood at his post Il
saw the young man coming across tn
street with a face so white and sc
and stamped with terrible sorrow tina
for moment Bobby's heart stood still
Then, as the young man came clos
to him, he stepped forward inyolur
tarlly and laid his hand on the brow
sleeve.
The boy spoke no word, but the othe
read the question in the eager anxiou
eyes and said In a low, choked voice
"She died this morning. l am goin
back in an hour"
Bobby's hand dropped from tn
young mans arm. For a moment II
stood still, dazed by the words he la