The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-23
GUERDON OF THE ROSE
BY BALDWIN SEARS.

Helena noticed him because he was so diff
terent from most Germans, who we're all
thickset and blends. This man was rather
slender and very dark and had an air of dis
tinction
The guardsman, too, had noticed the lovely
face at the coach window, and he had dared
once or twice to glance up at it as he walked
to and fro.
He was evidently not going by that train,
for as the guard blew his warning whistle
and looked at him he smiled and shrugged
his shoulders.
At that moment the door Of the waiting
room was flung open, and stout peasant
woman, staggering under a huge basket Of
vegetables and baby. rushed out toward the
train.
Just at the edge of the platform she Stun
bled and, catching at the baby with both
hands. lost hold of the basket. In mo-
ment cabbages, turnips, apples and smoked
fish were everywhere.
The poor creature was too stunned to move
at first. She looked from her scattered vege-
tables to the train. In a moment it would
start. Wait, watt she cried, motioning to
the guard. 81 must go"
Suddenly Helena gasped. The tall guards
man had rushed to the rescue. The girl
scarcely breathed as she watched him. his
long arms swooping down upon the fat red
cabbages and shiny apples. the scabbard Of
his sword dragging upon the ground as he
reached after the much scattered dried fish.
1t was so surprising that before the observ-
ers had time to realize what was happening
everything was back i'm the basket, the CRATE
full peasant woman had been hurried into the
train, the guard had clown his whistle, and
they were starting.
Helena looked at the guardsman. He stood
there on the platform disheveled breathless,
scarlet-faced, realizing for the first time how
ridiculous he had appeared. and then, turn
ing, he met the soft black eyes upon him
and blushed redder than ever.
Their owner glanced at her aunt That
lady was fast asleep with a newspaper over
her face.
A red rose was fastened in Helena's dress.
Still gazing at the soldier, she unfastened the
flower and then leaning little from the
window. she smiled and tossed the rose to
him.
AS it fell with soft thud the man dropped
on one knee, caught it up and, barring his
head pressed the rose to his lips.
The next moment the train had carried her
from him. Helena sank back, shaken with
strange WEAKNESS. For the first time she had
felt something that she had always believed
in, but until then had never known.
And she did not know who he was. She
would never see him again.
That was why Count Hugo did not interest
| her, why red roses seemed an imperhnence
| from one to whom they meant nothing, while
| to her they meant SO much, and or course she
could not explain.
| For a month she had kept uD the farce OF
being interested. Now she was going home,
where she need not pretend any longer.
| But even when they had telegraphed to
| Albert that they would sail from Bremen on
the 18th the girl seemed dissatisfied.
Aunt Caroline would have thought that she
was disappointed at not meeting Count Hugo
had she not taken such pains to avoid him.
| They got down to the pier half an hour be-
fore the steamer sailed, and as they stood on
| deck looking over the rail Albert exclaimed
suddenly: There's Count Hugo now. I for
| got to tell you that he was going over on the
| same steamer.
! Before Helena could stop him her cousin
| had rushed down stairs and out upon the pier.
It was too late then. of course, to do any,
| thing but accept the inevitable, but she turned
her back and was talking to Aunt Caroline
| when she heard Alberts step and his voice
saying, Helena, may / present Count
i Hugo?" s=5&
"Oh!" gasped Helena as she turned All
her stately comoosure was gone and in its
| place had come & strange trembling and be-
wilderment.
| The tall guardsman smiled happily as he
| stood before her, his cap in his hand. Eyes,
! he said. "And you at last ] thought You
never meant to let me thank you for that
sweet rose
'If had only KNOWN said Helena softly.