The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-09-24
THE OPENING
OF A HEART
BY BELLE MANDATES
Copyright, 1903, by Daily Story Pub. CO..

riage before the florists waiting for
the flowers she had ordered to be
brought out.
Her face and form were fair to look
upon. The simple but elegant costume
she wore was one of many that had made
her a model for Clifton femininity to
follow. Grace was in all her movements
and refinement in her features, but a
certain little shade of hauteur in her
manner, a tendency to disdain in the
curves of her mouth kept people at arms
length and she was called unapproach-
able.
Glare doesn't seem to make friends"
her mother had sighed.
We'll she isn't what you'd call a
mixer" laughingly admitted Mr.. Burn
ham.
The fact of her unpopularitv had not
at all disturbed Clare until now. There
had recently come to Clifton one God
frey Frisbie. a man strong. resourceful
and decidedly democratic in his ideas.
He had met Clare Burnham and shown
her much attention. Out of all the men
she had met he was the only one who
had awakened even a passing interest.
1t CHANGED that one day she overheard
discussion of herself and her traits of
character.
She is indeed beautiful, perfectly
perfect" she heard the voice of Godfrey
saying, but, alas am too faulty to live
in such rarefied atmosphere | find i'm
perfection lOveable. Miss Burnham is
the personfication of Dear Lady Dis
dain and not friend to humanity"
This speech had awakened in Clare a
tendency to introspection and she was
now wishing vaguely and listlessly that
she was different"
She was recalled from her lOngings
by the voice of the florist, who had
brought a large box of flowers.
Here is a beauty, Miss Burnham. |
thought maybe you'd like to wear it,"
She thanked him and he returned to
the greenhouse. AS she was fastening
the rose to her coat she heard little
voice say plaintively:
Couldn't you gime me jest one flow
err"
Turning in surprise she beheld on the
other side of her carriage boy of per-
heps ten years old gazing at her with
big, pleading eyes.
Glare was charitable to the extent of
never refusing to bestow when re-
CUested to do so.
Why, yes" she replied "You can
have this one" and she handed him the
beautiful American Beauty rose.
oh. thanks,"
Something in the quick turn of his
eyes, now so bright, stirred the one lit
tie tender spot in her heart. Three
years before she had lost her only
brother, who had been very dear to her.
Had he lived he would have been lust
about the size of this little street urchin
whose eyes had the same trick of quick
Uplifting.
What is your name?" Sc asked.
"Ben-Ben Watts"
Ben! That had been his name, too.
DO you like fowers?"
Yes, ma'am; this ere one is for
mother She's dead and her funeral is
this afternoon-father couldn't buy
none She liked flowers awful we'll"
Where do you live?"
"1123 River street"
Get in and I'll take you home"
She had intended he should occupy the
front seat with the driver, but he con-
fdently scrambled in beside her Then
the florist reappeared to see if she wa
waiting to give a further order. She
was She directed him to deliver i'm
mediately at 1923 River street Yards of
smilax and a profusion of all kinds Of
flowers
Say, them h'aint all fur me-fur
mother" he gasped, as the driver -four
ished his whip and they sped into the
suburbs of the town.
yes, Ben. And will stay and trim
up the house with them-and go to the
funeral, too, if you like"
Gee! You're all right, You're nicer
than anyone | know-except him. He
h'aint sent no flowers. though. Is'posed
he would" he said in an aggrieved tone
HAS your mother been sick long
Benz"
CThe name almost chokad herr
Yes, an awful long time. and the med
lclne and things cost so much and father
had to lay off so much that we didn't hey
money enough to hev a nice funeral. He
got nice coffin though and we're going
to hev two blackstone for father an me
an one fur some of the neighbors."
We'll have all the hacks for all the
neighbors, Ben. and I'll go in this car
riage Shall II"