The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-09-13
ROSA,S CONQUEST
Py o7oT "a pEAtIv

"Ri,A and rare were the gems she
wore,
An. a bright gold ring on her wand
she bore"
And so on. and so on. till the las;
verse was finished. and the SINCE
curtsied and disappeared.
Song" yelled some one from the
back Mother song"
Pinker than her fiounced dress. snil-
ing and hesitating. Rosa again re-
turned. but the audience were not to
be put on with a mere speech. or
curtsy swept with antiauated grace
What could she sing? She had suns
all the songs In her granny's bnrnc
volume She had nothing else-o; the
kind. She would curtsy again and
go.
She took the topmost fiounce Of ner
gown between her fingers and swept
her adorers a farewell.
The ooronet from her hair fell at
her feet. Half mechanically she picked
II up. and. despite the frantic audience.
turned to go. One bud In the wreath
the largest-came loose In her sand
to inspire her at the last moment.
and with half smile she ran to the
pianist and threw hasty whisper
over his shoulder.
He had no notes, but the brilltsncy
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 Part. For the old boy she
had chosen the song of songs. With
ineffable sadness she went on, plugging
and letting fall one by one the pink
petals.
No flower Of her kindred.
No rosebud Is nigh,
To reflect back her blushes.
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 | listened TO the divine Jenny
What shame that such a girl as tina,
should be singing In such place as
this!"
1T is indeed a 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 fl
love with her myself. Charming
Charming"
BIT Patrick had made his pluage.
Il am not speaking lightly" h,
said. eagerly. Il know her. wan
to take her away from the stage ant
marry her"
The old man began to understand.
The blazes you col" said he.
Yes" said Patrick. boldly. She Il
the only woman In the world for me
She is a good girl. grandfather-.ant
a lady"
Il am sure Of that" the old mar
responded. heartily. mo girl could
have sung those songs with such tru,
feeling and marvellous expression q
she had not been pearl among WON
en--a pearl, sir.
Patrick was thunderstruck WI
| you let me introduce you To herr" h,
asked.
His grandfather beamed. "No'hlnf
would give me greater pleasure" sale
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 IN,
left OF the little glittering stage ant
curtsied to the old man.
He bowed with oldfashioned grace
When came here tonight" he said
gravely, 81 little thought TO have beer
dazzled and enchanted by a vision
from my happy youth"
Il am glad you liked my songs" sh,
said. demurely
The old boy lifted her. hand 10 BIZ
lips.
Il have to thank YOU" he said. 70
the happiest and the saddest evenin,
have spent in many years" u,
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 oongenia
soil"
He turned abruptly and wake,
slowly away from them down tn
empty room. Rosa looked up into ne
lovers face. touched and softened
Then, with a sudden impulse she tor,
the La France rose from the lace a
her breast and ran after / he oil,
boy to touch his arm with a tImI,
! little hand.
This is the last rose OF summer.
said she. viii you let me give Il /,
your
Copyright. by Joseph b. BowiexJ
Chinaman WEEDS His Cook.
| Fort WAYNE Ind.-Miss OsEie Mah.s