Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-09-15
NELLIE OF
THE ROSE
tcopyrignt. BY Joseph B. Bowles.J
By JOSEPH BAucHsR

Copyright. BY Joseph b. Bowiesj
do you want flower, sir?"
She was poorly clad, child Of the
| people. but with a face that a princess
might envy.
NARROW took no notice Of the voice,
I as he hurried through the street-it
was a highway Of the slums-but the
patter Of the childs bare feet kept
pace with his own tread.
They say they are made out Of
dead people, she persisted. offering
4 him tube-rose.
Thanks" he said, as he paused to
take a 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 Nellie's coffin. She was
buried from our court this morning"
ALI And what is your name, lit
tie one?"
my names Nellie, too"
'Nellie-Nellie Of the Rosei
shall accept your flower, and l shall
keep it always"
Laughing, the child blushed, and
/ ran.
NARROW wondered at the young
/ girls beauty and grace, but not at
/ the floral gift, for he had always at
/ tracted children.
II was twilight when NARROW 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 a child, but a grown woman-lay
! dead
| Without understanding, a 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 MARROW.
and he educated her; and, although
he learned that she was the daugh-
ter of Gypsy mother and spoiled
home-loying son Of a 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 year.
Yet, the spirit of unrest-the spirit
OF Nellie's Gypsy mother-possessed
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 NARROW toiled on, and awaited his
wife's return. Dim of eye and hollow
4 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 free ward of the city hospital
MARROW knelt by the bedside of his
! wife.
A spirit of her home-loving 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.
q have forgotten all save that one
year of happiness you gave me-" he
! whispered
But the world-your world, Tom
what win it say"
You are my world, dear love" he
said tenderly smoothing her hair.
Perhaps" she sighed But only
| for short time, only for a little
while. Oh, Tom, take me home,
Home! Our home! Won't you, TONI"
yes, little one" he answered. as
she fondied and kissed his hand.
CHICKS GREW FUR oVERcoATs.