The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-05-18

't4-- 4'.AA'Aa4+NN'.
them o. she turned on the electric
light, which revealed to Ruth the VIC
lets i'll the shadow OF the orchids vase.
where did these come from. ANN"
she asked
oh, Mis- Ruth. they came while
you were ut dinner. not long after the
orchids. ! hope You'll excuse me. l
quite forgot them after putting them
in water"
"Wherc is the card that came with
them:" the girl asked more imperious-
ly than she had ever before spoken.
why, there was Il note. Oh. here it
Is Oh the floor
At sight Of the writing Ruth's face
grew radiant She dismissed the maid,
and, with lips trembling slightly and
fingers not quite steady, she broke the
seal and read:
Ruth, you know all 1 would say to you
if l dared, The words Il love you and
Will you marry me?' so poorly express
all feel, but perhaps your own heart can
put the witChcry upon them. Tonight
will be in the old place in the gallery and
look for my answer. If you wear these
little flowers it will tell me that l have
not been mad. rash dreamer and that
you love me. If you do not-well, God
bless YOU. anyway-but God help me.
ROBERT"
Ruth gave little SILVER of delight as
she raised the note to her lips.
He dared Go it. The Darlington,
the darling" she whispered as she
caught the violets to her heart
viii l marry him? All, will l not?
And now, my dear aunt, trot out all the
eiigibles you wish. III sean them with
comfortable composure. Bob loves me
loves me-loves me-
Her fingers trembled as she pinned
the flowers securely upon her breast,
and the orchids looked at them with a
furious sheer, scarcely believing their
eyes.
It's rank socialism, putting you out
of your place like that" they said
spitefully.
You'd like my place, l dare say"
crowed a violet from its vantage point.
what could one expect from a mere
eX-art STUDENT" they retorted. shes
not like US classy people. What does
she mean to do with US, wonder?''
AS if in answer Ruth called in the
maid.
Tell William to take these orchids
to my little sick girl on East Seven
teenth street, near the river; he knows
the place. Say I'll be in to see her to-
morrow They will cheer her tonight
in that awful tenement.
The clock struck s, and a few min
utes later Mr. Armstrong was an
nounced
"Goodbyw cooed the violets as Ruth
was leaving the room. $50 sorry you're
going to miss the opera. You'll be gone
before we get back or we'd tell you all
about it,"
"All about WHAT" snapped the or
chids.
''Why, the music, of course"
''That shows what country things you
are. No one listens to the music. It's
bad form. Besides
But the violets lost the rest of the
sheer as they went down on Ruth's
white bosom to witness the discom-
future of the man of millions with the
bibulous flush.
The orchids, left alone, learned the
lesson of humility hard
WED rather be dead than lose
caster they groaned. 81 tenement
house! HorrOrsr'
Had they been able they would have
given a human shrek when the foot
man, after tossing one to Ann, flung
the rest into a box.
In the morning as they looked at the
sick child, felt her hot fingers, saw the
eXpanse of factory roofs and clothes
lines beyond the windows, they grew
very blue. AS the days went by they
grew bluer and bluer.
But the little girl laughed as the
stems were clipped every morning and
they were put In fresh water
"Aint they changed pretty color
mothe2?" she said. "They look almost
like violets now"