The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-10-13
ROSA,S CONQUEST
BY coRorhEA DEAkiH

"Riea and rare were the gems she
wore,
An, bright gold ring on her wane
she BORE"
And so on, and so on, till the ias'
verse was finished, nd the sinee'
curtsied and disappea<sd.
Song" yelled some one from the
brck. Mother song"
Pinker than her fiounced dress, smh-
ing and hesitating. Rosa again re-
turned, but the audience were not to
be put of with q mere speech, or
curtsy swept with antiquated grace
What could she sing? She had Sung
all the songs in her granny's bound
volume. She had nothing else-of the
kind. She would curtsy again and
go.
She took the topmost hounce OF ner
gown between her fingers and swept
her adorers farewell.
The coronet from her hair fell at
her feet. Half mechanically she picked
1t up, and, despite the frantic audience.
turned to go. One bud in the wreath
the largest-came loose in her band
| to inspire her at the last moment,
and with a half smile she ran to the
pianist and threw q hasty whisper
over his shoulder.
He had no notes, but the brilliancy
of his vamping was equal to this or
any demand. A few crashing. effect
i've chords, and then: THE Last Rose
of Summer"
Little witch! Well indeed was she
playing her rart. For the old boy she
had chosen the song Of songs. With
ineffable sadness she went on, plucking
and letting fall one by one the pink
petals.
mo flower of her kindred.
No rosebud is nigh,
To reflect back her bushes.
To give sigh for sigh"
Patrick glanced at his grandfather.
He was blowing his nose with silent
emotion, and the young man wondered
whether he could see the little rose
colored figure on the stage at all. so
thick was the mist of tears In his
eyes.
| Triumphant indeed was her success.
When she finished, the old boy stamped
with his stick on the floor, and shout
ed till Patrick grew almost ashamed
of the attention he was attracting.
Poor little girl! Poor little Rose!
haven't heard anything like that
since I listened to the divine Jenny.
What a shame that such girl as that
should be singing in such place as
this!"
"It is indeed q shame" Patrick
trembled. He felt that this was the
moment for him to tell his secret
Grandfather" sa:i he. Il love that
girl"
The old boy did not grasp his mean
ing.
II don't wonder" he said. I'm In
love with her myself. Charming!
Charming."
But Patrick had made his plunge.
II am not speaking lightly" he
said. eagerly. Il know her. l want
to take her away from the stage and
marry her."
The old man began to understand.
| THE blazes you col" said he.
"Yes," said Patrick, boldly. 'She d
the only woman in the world for me.
She is good girl. grandfather-anc
lady"
81 am. sure Of that" the old man
responded. heartily. mo girl could
have sung those songs with such true
feeling and marvellous expression II
she had not been a pearl among WON
en-a pearl, SIR
Patrick was thunderstruck. "Will
you let me introduce you to herr" he
asked.
| His grandfather beamed. ''Nothine
would give me greater pleasure" said
he.
The young man vanished.
/ Five minutes later, Rosa, to the out.
ward eyes all shyness and pretty re-
spect, ran down the three steps to the
left of the little glittering stage and
curtsied to the old man.
He bowed with old-fashioned grace
when came here tonight" he said
gravely. Il little thought to have been
dazzled and enchanted by a vision
from my happy youth"
II am glad you liked my sonss," shs
, said, demurely.
The old boy lifted her hand to hi,
lips.
II have to thank you" he said, FOL
the happiest and the saddest evening
l have spent in many years." H,
looked at Patrick and hesitated, bu
only for moment.
Il hope" he said, courteously, "tha
the last rose of summer will soon b,
, transplanted to more congenia
SOIL"
i He turned abruptly and wake,
slowly away from them down tn
empty room. Rosa looked up into he
I, lovers face, touched and softened