The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-03-12
ROSES FROM ASHES

upon him as he gave way TO II. he
had the body cremated. and the ashes
placed in an urn. One of the rooms in
chamber, decorated it's walls with pic
lures of his lost wife at different ages
from babyhood to womanhood, loaded
its tables with things she used to have
about her, and on the mantel, which
resembled an altar, deposited the NOR
tuary urn.
Mrs. Jane Pitman, an aunt of Mil
lard, hearing Of his sad condition,
made him visit with the intention of
bringing him back to healthy mental
state. She took with her Rose Thorn
ton, veritable child of nature. There
was in Rose neither reverence nor fear.
She was pretty and piIuant and with
al absolutely innocent On the after
noon of her arrival Millard, on return
ing from business, entered the cham
Der of death, as was his custom, and
found there little Rose examining its
contents as if she were doing a mu-
scum. d. -
''you are Mr. Prescott, aren't your
forgive me for entering your manso-
lcum. It's just too lovely for anything.
Your devotion is so beautiful How
many portraits! One, two. three. four"
She counted eleven. Zone more would
make it an even dozen. And the urn!
Did you ever see such a delicate, Slen-
der shape? | suppose it's for flowers"
Willard looked at the girl in wonder
Was this an intentional proclamation?
She met his gaze with a pair Of blue
eyes so guileless that he was sure she
did not realize how inappropriate was
her chatter Furthermore, in that up
turned face there was look of heart
felt sympathy.
In cases where the mind is infiicting
its own torture the load is often lifted
instantaneously. 1t was as if Millard
had been living in dungeon and
some one had suddenly struck a light
Unbending, he led the girl about the
room. telling her something of each OF
his treasures, then went with her to
the library. where before an inviting
fire he enjoyed a restful talk
The next afternoon when Millard
returned to his home and entered g
mausoleum his mind. instead of being
occupied with his grief, reverted to the
bewitching girl whom he had found
there the day before. Cutting short his
stay, he went into the library and, not
finding her. sent a servant up stairs to
ask if she would like to play a game
Of pingpong before dinner Rose came
down two steps at time.
"Why. Mr.. Prescottv' she exclaimed.
81 supposed you always spent this
hour in the chamber of grief. I've been
in there great deal today. 1t is so
peaceful"
With this lively bit of humanity be-
fore him it suddenly occurred to Mil
lard that the room was very gloomy.
"Shall we have game?" he asked
"Pingpong? Certainly. ] love ping
pong" -
Half an hour later Mrs. Pitman came
in and heard the ping pong Of the little
ball beating on the dining table and
against the racquets, accompanied by
bursts of laughter. When her nephew
saw her, it suddenly occurred to him
that he had changed.
For several days little was seen of
the widower by the other members of
the family. Ashamed of having been
led away from his grief by a chit of
girl, he had resumed his former hab-
its, but his attempt to concentrate his
mind on the past was interfered with
by the bright face that continuously
thrust itself before him. He heard
snatches of song without and now and
again when Rose had a visitor the
ping pong of the ball in the dining
room.
One day when he returned from his
office and went into the apartment
which some knocking spirit now put it
horrors he saw something that filed
him with establishment The top of
the mortuary urn had been removed,
and from the urn itself stood out on
long stems three American Beauty
roses He was standing wonder strick-
en-, gaping at the transposition. when
he heard movement behind him, and,
turning, there was Rose Thornton peep
ing through a crack in the door.
"It's only l." she said. whats the
good Of making people happy If you
don't see their happinessT
"Did you put the roses there" he
asked.
Indeed did"
"Wha-what did you do with-the-
the contentsp'
II didn't know there were any con-
tents till l spilled them on the floor.
Then l swept them into a dust pan and
throw them mt tho window %