The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-18
A Tragedy OF ROSES.


ms morning paper from the porch he
Iound something attached 10 the door
handle that gave him quite a surprise.
isothing more nor less than a splendid
bouquet of June roses. HE looked for .
card or note which would explain the gift
thd announce tbs name OF the glyer- But
Let a scrap OF writing was n evidence.
ailnough half sheet OF note paper was
wrapped about the stems. which were tied
tightly, shaping the blossoms into q floral
bali Of the prettiest design. AR. Win
SLOW called TO his wife.
Louisel Where did those flowers como
from? Who has been sending you roses
/ -Oh, some Of my admirers. suppose.
retorted Mrs. Winsiow, coming down
( stairs, radiant and piquant in her summer
+ morning toilet, Wit Ia fine quality of sc0rn
4 in her voice.
Well. he prefers TO remain anonymous
( ~ ashamed Of his romantic Offering" said
/ her husband, handing her the bunch OF
( white roses.
My admirers are all women, with one
, exception and Mrs. WinsIow held the
cool. fragrant blossoms against her pretty
face.
oh" and Mr. Nirslow giared: '.ther.
IS an exception, thent''
Yes, eoosie, yourself. Did you really
find this at the door. or is it a genial
, HCrning greeting from YOU Horace2T
on her husband like a red rag. She knew
il. but had grown so tired Of mis- jealous
tyranny that she FASTENED the battle or
rather than wait for a slow marshaling
OF the forces. He was jealous Of all her
friends, male and female; Jealous of the
passing postman if she happened TO no
tee him. He loved his young wife with
such devotion that he made her miserable
/ His temperament was green with jeal-
ousy, He did not recognize the selfish
ness and cruelty he inflicted on one who
lad never given him a cause for the
shadow of a suspicion. He never OBJ
served the paradox that the jealous man
is his own tormentor. while the man who
never felt a pang Of Jealousy is the lamb
Of sacrifice He never thought of defend
ing his wife against himself.
An anonymous gift is ike an anony-
nous letter. legitimate fod for specula-
ticn. The roses were consigned to a vase
ny Mrs. WinslOw, who wondered where
they came from, and wFo sent them. as
much as her husband did. but in a differ
ent frame of mind. Some girl friend had
probably left them who did not care 10
rouse them so early. Meanwhile the flow
ors occupied a prominent position on the
parlor table and their anonymity was dis
cUssed with callers, and their peculiar
beauty praised. For these white roses
did not fade They expanded every night
and when full blown all their moisture
exuded and left them transparent and
beautiful as If they had been subjected
Ia some patent process of preservation.
Ever since their coming Mr.. WinslUw
had sulked. and, as he afterward admit
tea, watched the boutonieres of his male
friends for a flower of that kind. While
he was doing this his wife had made
discovery. He went home one evening
feeling that he had been dissgreeable, to
say the least. and willing to overlook the
incident and make things pleasant.
His wife was not on the porch. nor IN
the parlOr, and he did not see her until
dinner was on the table. Then ice would
have been a warm commodity compared
to her. After several Intellectual attempts
to converse on general topics. Mr.. Win
slow became silent and grumpy. Then his
wife said in sweet, cold tones:
You viii be glad to hear that l have
found out who sent the roses.
'-D-n the roses, CALCULATED Mr. Win
slow. choking down a section of meat pie
L beg your don. Louise, but haven't we
bad enough of those roses? At least ]
have"
1t is my turn now. Louise trifed with
her food and gave a little hysterical
laugh You should have had insight
enough to know from whom the flowers
came. They were intended for you, not
for me-"
Horace WinslOw stared at his wife with |
such an innocent interrogative look that
ne would have laughed had she not been
too hurt and angry.
4 cannot guess who would send me
roses-how did you find out they were for !
me? Some joke. expect and he sat al
attention and waited for the answer
There is just one family in the place |
that has that white rose Mrs. Winslow
looked her husband steadily in the face.
The Marsdens have one large bush, and !
doubtless Florence Marsden remembered !
your taste and sent them for aud lang |
syne"
Now, there is not that man living who |
can hear an old sweetheart's name men |
toned in the first year Of his marriage |
With another girl and not blush or look !
discofnposed What was Florence 10 him |
or he to Florence? Nothing, and never |
ANYTHING more than boy and girl lovers. |
but he grew furiously red and looked as |
guilty as If he had forever wrecked hei |
peace. Then. in spite Of himself, q glo" |
of conceited pleasure stole through HIM. |
II was so different. his getting an Offering |
of roses instead OF his wife. The poison |
Of asps was now transferred 10 her
Horace had not once offered to harm |
the innocent flowers but that evening |
Louise took them roughly from the vase.
carried them out 10 the rear OF the lot'
dnd threw them violently on the ash Lt'F-
Then they had "a rousing quarrel over
Florence. whom they had neither Of them
seen in two years. and Horace. being in
formed OF the fate of the roses. went al
ter them in a foolish TT of anger over
bis wlfe's action. lie came in white to
the lips.
See what I have found, ha' ha' And
he held out a bit OF folded paper that had
been secured in the heart OF the ban Of
roses. and which the violence done TO
them had brought 10 light.
Is il for me?' Louise asked tearfully
Yes. periured woman. Il is for you
have not read it. for it was not intend
I'd for me 70 read. as il IS understood as
near as I can make ont. to YOU
His voice tremblcd with emotion. and NJ
handed her the note with an affective atf
n rnslodrarna. Before she had read haif
81 the brief episfle she was laughing ana
irving. Horace could not resist looking
over her shoulder. ard they finished Il to-
2ether, with their arms about each other
For this was what they read
deer mis- wlnSlO-
desc roses ar FOR VI g.viN nlE htei
sister H-Dt diDe AS Winter stem nice
arte fI.oXgrs ne nat ddEr got dsfn ~ ms
n ArSdEa WIRE hF.r washes ynfe thu
.Rrend. thda4 meg arc
Nature His Hired Man.
CF-rom the Chicago News
II was ia the far south
How s .incss asked the tourist
Pretty rnfr.anir. stranger. responded