The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-06-19

tor her So a. not Go lose single second O
be time that she wa, in hi. view.
Once her eye, met his uptumcd gaz,
That night he walked 10 hir poor lodging
With boo, head among the stars After tha
lc found her look turned towards him on
e,cal occasions On those nights he lay
wake for hour, asking himself whether
he smile 100 those beautiful eyes could pos
bly, have been for him; but by morning
e had called himself a fool for imagining
: or one instant that what wa, obviously
an accident 90 her acting. could have .gnif-
tance Tor him. Vet. Tor 40 his wise reason
ns-. those glance made him ah,urdly
appy
Then came a blow that hurt him cruelty.
\cIla Was 90 tour iu America Even the
pleasure of looking az her was now TO be
enicd him. He would not zee her for a
oug time pcrhdp, never again.
\ farewell performance was announced
nd. sad at heart, Dicky took bis accustomed
'lace. Before then be had always felt a
brill Of pleasure and pride when came the
thuuders q applause in acknowledgement Of
\ella : superb art. but on this night IL filled
Dis heart with sadness and a great lump
anne TO his throat. This was the last time
hat he would see the triumph Of the woman
ie loved the last time
] Then, as the curtain fell. he did a thing
hat he had never dared before to do. He
quickly made hi, way 90 the stage door and
waited there 10 watch her departure As
.he passed him the fragrance OF her dainty
ak and laces seemed to hold hIs whole
soul ~ bondage, and when her rustling
knit brushed him he nearly ,wooncd
She carried a magnificent bouquet that
ad been presented 90 her. and when she
vas half way 90 her carriage a rose dropped
rom 70 on the pavement Dicky darted
Onward and picked 10 up. Murmuring some
thing, knew not what, he stepped 10 the
ide Of the carriage, and handed 1t to her.
As she took 10 she looked straight into his
yes Then, quickly drawing another bios
ON from among ~ lovely fellows. she
mllingly thrust il with the other back into
ais hands
Keep them. and and thank YOU" she
aid
Every now and again. during the year that
ollowed audacious thoughts filled Dicky's
mind a. he gazed on hi. most cherished pos
essions-two wthered roses Soon after, !
owever, he usually read in some newspaper
me of the numerous accounts Of Nellas |
rams Atlantic successes. Then his splendid |
ropes collapsed dismallv Yet they were |
lway, there, and though he did not know
.. grew stronger and stronger until they |
became part Of hi. life
At last Nea came back She was 10 open
he autumn season AT her old theater and 1
nee more Dicky could see her every night.
ie PLAYED first instead Of second violin now
nh his position had been altered 10 one
rom which be had far better view Of the
tage.
II was not that thought. however. which
ct his heart pounding with excitement as
ie went towards the thcater thahday-the
lay on which he va, to behold her again
tier year. In 10, heart there was 4 great
ope that she would rcccR1ize him in some
'ay or another Surely -he must Then he
rould wait at the stage door. and perhaps
he would speak to him again.
Bitter and terrible was hi- di,appoint.
nent. Not even glance came his way.
The next day he was not at his place in
he orchestra. Instead he sat at home in his
Dom before a table covered with manuscript 2
Dngs. They were those which he had writ. d
an ont Of his great love. ,
lie was going awav-whcre he did not ,
now or care. During the last year he had
o lived on tho slmo,t unconscious hone
orn in him hy The gift Of roses. that the
that II had been founded on moth.
ne had dazed his every faculty. II was as v
hough he had fallen from the clouds q
AZ first, when the wish 10 leave the place Z
( his sorrow had come to him. he had dc. b
armined TO burn his songs: but they were
rs chlldren-the only children of his love r,
and he could not. Then came a wild desire :,
hat she should know Of his hearts longing y
nd after examining them all to make sure u
nat they, at least. were worthy Of her at. u
.ntion, he gathered them together 10 send
rem TO her. r.
lie took the withered roses from his "a
-east. She should have them too. Press. h;
& them passionately to his lips he laid them IN
nderly on the top Of the pile .,
Then the stupor that had dulled his m.
'rstanding went. and IN its place an awful
,spaIr seized him. He laid hi head on his ~
ms and sohbed-sobbed a, only can the m
an from whom Is taken his only hold on ar
For long while he lay. Then there came Of
tap on the door. lie did not hMr il. The fo
or opened gently, and a woman entered
was Nella Quietly she steppcd 10 the
bic. Her eyes rested on the roses She
nd her name on the dedication Of the song wv
which they rested and great sob. half ih'
sorrow, half OF joy rose in her throat. vi
ny tenderly she touched the bowed head
Dicky started up and stared at her with.
comprehension. Then a light came into
ewes. You: he said. huskily. u"
Yes. IT, she answered. smiling. IN
But butt" 200
Tell me- she said. stopping him; why to
d kept those flowers" mo
Though her voice was without emofiop ~
,ky saw something in her face that sent H.,
blood leaping in his veins. He rose. and q,
w her to him. S'V'
Because ] love YOU" he whispered hi, kel
ce almost fierce with JOY. els
Dcky,' she sohbed. when didn't see
] IN the orchestra, ! fancied all sorts nj .
adiul things, 80 ] asked your address
m the door keeper knew vour name ~
VI the very hrst-and came here 10 find 10
what had happened TO Won. Why didn't for
write 10 me while wa, away Dickvs 500
hought You would understand when ] boo
e YOU the flowers On Dicky. Dicky.
ave loved YOU ever since I looked down
your ewes that night thought that il
loved me until went away and YOU did ain
write. Then ! was miserable. Dicky. Gre
1t doesn't matter now" or
Nothing matters now" said Dicky. and nor,
Kissed her on the lips.-Short Stories. -.
'--
Iucle Allen.