Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1903-04-17
THE GIFT OF ROSES.


]
TO hope for anything save disappointment.
He was ia love, desperately, madly in lovo
with Nella Renshaw, a clever and popular
actress, the admired Of all admirers.
He enshrined her in his heart the very
drst time he saw her, which was the day
on which he commenced his engagement
as vioinist in the orchestra of the London
theater at which she was playing a leading
part
He made no effort to check this hopeless
/ oSe which grew and grew as he watched
her night after night
He could only see her when the action Of
the piece brought her well forward upon
the stage; but he soon learnt to know when
these places came, and was always ready
for her so as not to lose single second Of
the time that she was in his view
Once her eyes met his upturned gaze
That night be walked to his poor lodgings
with his head among the stars After that
ae found her look turned towards him on
several occasions. On those nights he lay
awake for hours asking himself whether
The smile in those beautiful eyes could pos
sibly have been for him. but by morning
he had called himself a fool for imagining
Tor one instant that what was obviously
an accident in her acting, could have signih-
canoe for him. Yet, for all his wise reason
/ ings, those glances made him absurdly
happy.
Then cana blow that hurt him cruelty.
/ Nella was iq tour in America. Even the
pleasure Of looking at her was now to be
ienied him. He would not see her for
ong time-perhaps never again.
A farewell performance was announced,
and, sad at heart, Dicky took his accustomed
place Before then he had always felt
,f 4 .t.,, ta
thunders Of applause in acknowledgment Of
Nella's superb art, but on this night it filled
mis- heart with sadness and a great lump
ame to his throat This was the last time
hat he would see the triumph of the woman
lie loved-the last time.
Then, as the curtain fell, he did thing
ihat he had never dared before to do. He
quickly made his way to the stage door and
waited there to watch her departure. As
the passed him the fragrance Of her dainty
lilks and laces seemed to hold his whole
soul in bondage, and when her rustling
skirt brushed him be nearly swooned
She carried magnificent bouquet that
iad been presented to her and when she
vas half way to her carriage a rose dropped
rom it on the pavement Dicky darted
Onward and picked it up. Murmuring some
thing / knew not what he stepped to the
/ lAE QA LnE tdfIidkts anu uhMntQ H. W lNA O.
As she took it she looked straight into his
yes. Then, quickly drawing another bios
om from among its lovely fellows, she
mningly thrust it with the other back into
lis hands.
keep them, -and-thauk YOU she
aid
Every now and again. during the year that
ollowed audacious thoughts filled DiclSy's
mind as he gazed on his most cherished pos
,essions-two withered. roses. Soon after,
lowever, he usually read in some newspaper
)ne of the numerous accounts of Nella 5
rams Atlantic successes. Then his splendid
hopes collapsed dsmally Yet they were
llways there, and though he did not know
t, grew stronger and stronger until they
became part Of his life.
At last Nella came back. She was to open
he autumn season at her old theater and
nee more Dicky could see her every night.
lie played first instead of second violin now
nd his position had been altered to one
rom which he had far better view Of the
tage.
1t was not that thought, however, which
ct his heart pounding with excitement as
ie went towards the theater that day-the
lay on which he was to behold her again
,fter year. In his heart there was great
iope that she would recognize him in some
eay or another. Surely she must. Then he
you'd wait at the stage door, and perhaps
he would speak to him again.
Bitter and terrible was his disappoint-
ment. 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 table covered with manuscript
ongs They were those which he had writ
en- out of his great love.
= He was going anywhere he did not
now or care. During the last year he had
so lived on the almost unconscious hope
born in him by the gift of roses, that the
, realization that it had been founded on moth.
ing had dazed his every faculty. It was as
though he had fallen from the clouds
At first, when the wish to leave the place
Of his sorrow had come to him, he had de
termined to burn his songs; but they were
his ehildren-the only children of his love
and he could not Then came wild desire
that she should know of his hearts longing
and after examining them all to make sure
that they, at least, were worthy of her at
tention, he gathered them together to send
them to her
: He took the withered roses from hi,
3 breast She should have them too Press
ing them passionately to his lips he laid them
, tenderly on the top of the pile.
Then the stupor that had dulled his un
derstanding went, and in its place an awfu
despair seized him. He laid his head on biz
! arms and sobbed-sobbed as only can tbs
man from whom is taken his only hold OF
, life
For long while he lay Then there cam,
tap on the door He did not hear It. The
door opened gently, and a woman entered
Il was Nella. Quietly she stepped to thi
table. Her eyes rested on the roses shi
read her name on the dedication of the SOM
Q on which they rested and a great sob, nal
= Of sorrow, half Of JOY rose in her throat
Very tenderly she touched the bowed head
DiclSy started up and stared at her with
. out comprehension Then light came int,
his eyes. ''Youg' he said, huskily.
eyes, Y ," she answered, smiling
z 'But-but-I-"
"Iell me" she said, stopping him; "wh,
= you kept those howers"
Though her voice was without emotion
Dicky saw something in her face that sen
the blood leaping in bis veins. He rose, an,
drew her to him
because I love you, he whispered, hi
voice almost fierce with Joy.
"Dickg' she sobhed nwhen ! didn't Sc
you in the orchestra, ] iancied all sorts O
dreadful things, SO / asked your addres
from the door-keeper-I knew your nam
from the very frst-and came here to fin
out what had happened TO you why didu'
you write to me while ! was away, Dicky
/ thought you would understand when
gave You the flowers. Oh, Dicky, Dicl1
have loved You ever since I looked dow
into your eyes that night / thought tina
you loved me until ! went away and you al
not write. Then ] was miserable, Dioly
But it doesn't matter nowl"