Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-02-28
Felicity and the
Rose Tree
b JEAN coURrENAY
lcopyright, 1925, by Joseph B. BOwles.l

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Bwer to the call girl rose from tn
naffodils with which she was filling tn
basket and sped quickly towards tn
house.
Coming, darling!" she cried.
AS she reached the wide porch sh'
almost ran into the arms Of a mai
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," he replied, stepping aside.
She flushed family, as if reading an
implied reproach In his quiet words
and said, almost defiantly:
But fail as wife. Is that what
you meant, Mordaunt?"
your perfect fulfillment 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?''
II admire her daughter" he said
with shade of bitterness, but 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
huchoud with q cyo0fhorod ciUh mont
into the garden.
God grant it was not hopeless
mistake!" he murmured, as he stood
eying with dissatisfaction small rose
bush near the porch. II 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 Felicity's exist
ence. And l tempted her with the
luxuries and alterations 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 a
devoted nurse as well as daughter to
her mother (who is fading away not
withstanding all her care, and in spite
of her sacrifice) and neglects not one
siota of her duties, save that trouble
some and superfluous being-her hus-
band"
He laughed half scornfully as he
carefullyremoved some green fly from
the sickly rose bush and examined its
leafless branches Getting up from
his close inspection of the plant, he
brought a can of water and gave it to
the almost Understanding 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.
"It's not dead yet, dear" Then after
q moments pause: do you know
WHAT rose IL IL
mot in the least. Tell me?"
II planted it soon after we were
engaged" he said, slowly. II hoped it
would have taken root here and -four
ished. pictured it wealth of fra
grant flowers showering their sweet
ness upon me in answer to my love
and care. Look at it! Leafiess, flower
less; just alive and nothing more-re-
fusing to be reconciled to it's lot"
'You are quite poetical over it,"
laughed his wife, 1T 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
its 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 'Felicite Perpetuelle.' "
She started, and her face grew hot;
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 surely not been
present in his dark hair a year ago.
And wave Of pity surged up within
her for this man with his unfailine
kindness, his unceasing devotion
towards her-who gave him nothing.
The feeling seemed to stife 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
wtIlI nearer to hers and whispered:
''Tell me, Felicity"
Il was only going to say--that--it
doesn't look hopeful, I'm afraid"
"But appearances are deceitfuI-
sometimesl" cried her husband. eager. |
II. Look here!" And impeIIed by