Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1906-03-06
Felicity and the
Rose Tree
By JEAN coURTENAY
lcopyrisbt, 1905. By Joseph .. Bowlss !

SWer 10 tue call girl rose from Ihe
daffodlls with which she was filing the
basket and sped quickly towards the
house.
Coming, darlingi" she cried
AS she reached the wide porch she
almost ran into the arms of a man
who laughingly barred the way.
please do not detain me, Nor
daunt," she exclaimed impatiently.
Mother is calling me-"
you are an ideal daughter, Felici.
ty," be replied, stepping aside.
She flushed family as if reading an
implied reproach in his quiet words,
and said, almost dehantly:
But fail as wife Is that what
you meant, Mordaunt?"
your perfect fulfllment OF one
duty, dear, need surely cast no blame
upon the other" said her husband
meeting her defiant look with steadfast
tenderness.
yet you are not satisfied with me?"
Il admire her daughter" he said
with shade of bitterness, but l long
for my wife"
"She is my mother!" she interrupt
ed haughtily, then almost in a whis-
per added and you knew made
no pretense"
Again the invalid's voice was heard
Felicity Where are your"
In an instant she was gone, and her
husband, with a smothered sigh, w<nt
into the garden.
God grant it was not a hopeless
mistake!" he murmured, as he stood
eying with dissatisfaction a small rose
bush near the porch Il did it with
full knowledge Of her indifference.
knew, as she said just now She was
perfectly frank, as she always is. Her
mother was her one thought; her com
fort the one object of Felicitys exist
ence. And tempted her with the
Injuries and alleviations my wealth
would procure for that beloved parent
till she consented to marry me. That's
just about how the matter stood a
year ago-and now? We are as much
strangers as we were then. She or.
ders my house and servants plays an
enchanting hostess to my guests, is
devoted nurse as well as daughter to
her mother (who is fading away not
withstanding all her care, and in spite
Of her sacriice) and neglects not one
iota of her duties, save that trouble
some and superfluous being-her hus-
band"
He laughed half scOrnfully as be
carefullyremoved some green fly from
the sickly rose bush and examined its
leafiess branches. Getting up from
his close inspection of the plant, he
brought can of water and gave it 10
the almost lifeless-looking rosebush.
Never say die must be my motto"
he unused.
What do you find so absorbing in
that dead rose tree. Mordaunt?"
His wife's politely frigid tones sud
denly startled him from his soliloquiz-
ing.
Its not dead yet, dear" Then after
moments pause: do you know
what rose it is?"
Not in the least Tell me?"
II planted it soon after we were
engaged" he said, slowly. 81 hoped it
would have taken root here and -four
ished. pictured it a wealth of fra
grant flowers showering their sweet
ness upon me in answer to my love
and care. Look at it! Leahess, flower
less; just alive and nothing more-re-
fusing to be reconciled to its lot"
You are quite poetical over it,"
laughed his wife. ut doesn't look
worth troubling about to me. Why
don't you give it up?"
II shall never do that as long as /
live" replied her husband, almost for
getting in his earnestness the type of
it's prototype. IL shall never lose hope
while one spark Of life remains in it,
that one day it may yet bloom and be
happy"
and its name? You have not yet
enlightened my ignorance on that
point"
Its name is-'Felieite Perpetuelle.'
She started, and her face grew not;
then. as quickly, the blood receded,
leaving It whittier and colder than be-
fore
you are, fear" she hesitated.
well? Won't you finish your sen.
tence?"
Her husband stopped towards her
and for the first time she noticed the
deep sadness of his face; the threads
of silver that had purely not been
present in his dark hair a year ago.
And wave Of pity surged up within
her for this man with his nnfailing
his unceasing devotion
towards her-who gave him nothing.
The feeling seemed to stihe her, and
slow tears gathered In her dark eyes
Her husband saw them, and they gave
him courage TO draw her slim figure
within his arm as he bent his head
afill nearer 10 hers and WhiEnaraa.