The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-06-19

but under his torn jacket
there glowed a spark OF
thivalry.
!: One night, when Miss Alice Rea. as
Ihe was hurrying for her train,
dropped a bundle of papers from her
mum he sprang at once to her assist
snce. With quick "I'll pick 'em up,
MISS" he gathered them together.
brushed off the dust and handed them
10 her with a queer little grab at his
dilapidated cap.
''Thank you, little fellow" she said.
EWon't you have one Of my flowers"
and selecting one from large bunch
bf white carnations which she carried
she put it into his hand and then passed
quickly on.
ErBobby gazed at the flower with q
look Of amazement, which soon
changed into broad smile Of delight.
FRI take It home to Maggie" he said.
Maggie was his sister, who shared
with him the two tiny rooms in q
Rretched tenement which Bobby
Ealled home. So he buttoned 1t under
his Jacket and took 1t to Maggie.
1.-THE next night Bobby was on the
lookout. and his vigilance was not in
Pain, for when Miss Rea passed him
She smiled pleasantly. A young man
In a brown ulster was with her, and
he, too, gave Bobby q 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 I kept 1t 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.
It grew and fourished, and with 1t
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
katching for them, and every evening
he stood where they would pass him
Sn their way to the train. There was
always some pleasant greeting ready,
which frightened Bobby's day and
Aent 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 glance.
A vague fear rose in the boys heart,
and nothing was able to dispel 1t. His
Sther customers missed the CHEEKY sal
utation with which he usually greeted
Hhem, and more than one looked curl
ously at the childish face, with its pre-
occupied expression.
q; 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 it?" he asked quickly, but
not unkindly.
"The lady, sir?" Bobby said, family.
"Isn't she coming any more"
81 hope so," said the young man
xrayely. "but not just now. She is
sick, you see, and the doctors say 1t
will be 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
longed for 1t, was almost more than
he could bear.
At last, Just q week from the morn
ing when he had first heard the sad
news, as. Bobby stood at his post he
saw the young man coming across the
street, with a face so white and set
and stamped with terrible sorrow that
for a moment Bobby's heart stood still
Then, as the young man came close
to him, he stepped forward involun'
tarily and laid his hand on the brown
sleeve.
The boy spoke no word. but the Other
read the question in the eager, anxious
eyes and said in low. choked voice
"She died this morning. 1 am going
back in an hour"
Bobby's hand dropped from tht
young mans arm. For a moment hs
stood still. dazed by the words he ha(
Just heard. Then, regardless Of hi:
unsold papers, he turned and wen
slowly back to the old tenement ht
had left but half an hour before.
Maggie started with surprise as hs
came in, but one glance at his grief
stricken face told her the whole story.
"The lady, Bobby" she gasped, 81:
She"
"Shes dead" said Bobby, dropping
into the nearest chair and laying hi:
head on the old table, "the young maj
told me. I'll never see her again, ant
I can't do anything for her" And th'
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