Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1906-09-11
NELLIE OF
THE ROSE
By JOSEPH BAuchsR
Copyright. by Joseph Is, BowlesJ }

DO you want a flower sir?'
She was poorly clad, child of the
people, but with face that a princess
might envy
NARROW took no notice of the voice
as he hurried through the street--it
was highway OF the slums-but the
patter of the child's bare feet kept
pace with his own tread.
They say they are made out OF
dead people," she persisted, Offering
him tube-rose.
Thanks" he said as he paused to
take flower do you grow them?"
he added.
Grow them?" she laughed, with
wondering eyes. why, they are made
out of dead people, tell you"
Indeed? Then, where did you get
this?"
From Nellies coffin She was
buried from our court this morning"
"Ah And what is your name, lit.
tie one?"
My names Nellie, too"
"Nellie-Nellie of the Rose!
shall accept your flower, and | shall
keep 1t always"
Laughing, the child blushed, and
ran.
MARROW wondered at the young
girls beauty and grace, but not at
the floral gift, for he had always at
tracted children
1t was twilight when MARROW ar
rived at his rooms He placed the
flower upon his desk, wrote his edi-
torial dispatched it, and fell asleep.
A street piano was playing to dancing
children on the sidewalk below. The
air grew cold. He arose and closed
the window. Though the stiffness of
the room came family the splash OF
dropping water An odor that sug-
gested death chilled him to the heart.
On turning, he saw in the center OF
the room a coffin, in which Nellie
not child, but a grown woman-lay
dead.
Without understanding, sense OF
desolation appalled, him, and bowling
his head, he kissed the dead woman's
brow, and awoke. The air was heavy
with the perfume Of the flower the
child had given him, and her words
fingered In his thoughts.
Five years passed Nellie OF the
Rose had at first interested NARROW,
and he educated her; and, although
he learned that she was the daugh
ter Of Gypsy mother and spoiled
home-loving son of noble house,
NARROW loved her and made her his
wife.
Society at first laughed, then
sneered, and finally ostracised him.
But he laughed at society and was
happy for a year
Yet, the spirit Of unrest-the spirit
of Nelie's Gypsy mother-possesse
the girl, and without a word, without a
sign, she left him.
Society said Il told you So" and
opened its arms to receive him again,
but MARROW toiled on, and awaited his
wfes return. Dim OF eye and hollow |
of cheek from toiling and waiting,
men said he drank. But his work re.
futed the charge
Two years passed. One day a mes
sage came to him.
Come to me" he read, as the paper
futtered from his grasp
In a free ward of the city hospital,
NARROW knelt by the bedside of his
wife.
A spirit of her honie-loying father
was asserting itself, and longing for
forgiveness and for home, she con
fessed.
Don't! Don't! Oh, Tom, don't
look at me so kindly" she moaned
81 have forgotten all save that one
year of happiness you gave me" he
whispered
But the word-your world, Tom
what will II say?'
You are my world, dear love" he
said, tenderly smoothing her hair.
Perhaps" she sighed. But, only
for a short time, only for a little
while. Oh, Tom. take me home!
Home! Our home! Won't you, Tom ?"
Yes, little one" he answered. as
she fondled and kissed his hand