The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-04

luctant admission. "It is a fine old
place. But its character is distinctly
melancholy. 1t is not a Beethoven
sonata OF a Mendelssohn 'lied'--it is
one of Chopin's most mournful noe
turnes. "
Rose Allingham gave him a quick
glance of perfect apprehension, but said
nothing in reply. Moving In her light,
bird-like way across the terrace, she
gathered n of the roses that hung
near the statue in the niche and, rave
II to him. He had scarcely taken 1t
from her before its leaves fell In a
white, fragrant shower at his feet. She
smiled a little forcibly.
II was afraid of that" she said.
They are all on the very point of fall
ing. | viii not give you another from
that tree. This a~fternoon-or tomor-
row. Will get you one from the ros-
cry: they are in better condition there.
Now ! must not detain you from your
work any longer; you want all the day
light possible. Have you got this old
stone saint in any of your sketches
yet?'
Not yet" he answered. abstracted-
ly, looking first at her and then at the
petals of the fallen rose.
oh, | hope you will put him in
somewhere" she exclaimed, almost
playfully. HE is such a dear old
thing You seem quite melancholy over
that va sted rose
II am" he admitted. IT hate to see
any beautiful thing. perish"
But then so many beautiful things
do PERISH she said. with a musing
regret in her eyes. "One must get ac-
customed to that. You recollect your
picture of the great pine-tree on the
Gutsch. split through by lightning?
That suggested to me the ruin of a
noble life. Well, all these little white
roses that fall so easily at a touch, they
are to Inc the emblems of just such a
number of little lives. quite little lives.
YOU know, of no 3ctual use to any
body; only just pretty and fragrant
and harmless. that at a rough touch
or hasty MISUNDERSTANDING drop to
pieces and sink into the ground un-
noticed and unmissed. I believe each
little rose has its own little secret sad
ness
She smiled and waved her hand to
him. as she moved away slowly and
reentered the house.
When she was quite out Of sight,
Fame, moved by some odd sentiment
which he could not himself -analyze,
picked UP every one of the fallen rose
petals and put them in his pocketbook.
Then he set about sketching the an
Gent sculptured, saint, while, the sun
was still bright on its weather-beaten
features and piously folded hands.
The next day was the LIST of No
vember, the Feast of All Saints. The
| XpnnfhaF xr.a~ lAa,,flI. 49, -
warm, and Fame went out early,
without even seeing his host and
patron as usual. in order to profit
by the clearness of the atmosphere and
get II long days steady work. When he
returned in time Sbr the late dinner,
he heard that Mrs. Allingham had been
seized with a succession of fainting
fits, and that the doctor had been sent
for. Greatly disconnected by this news.
he entered the dining-room full of
eager and sympathetic inquiries, but
found his host SO bland and calm. and
so perfectly satisfied that there was no
cause whatever for anxiety as to his
young wife's condition, that he felt it
would be deemed odd and out of place
il he, as a visitor n paid. artist
had exhibited n unduly great con-
Germ.
1T is mere weakness and nervous
p~rostration.' said Mr.. A%llingham.
drinking his champagne with relish US
he spoke, land n these cases fainting-
fits are a relief rather han q danger.
l am sorry Rose has allowed herself 20
run down in this way. I an afraid it
will necessitate my going with her TO
the seaside for a short time. 1t would
be particularly announcement to me just
~now-but. if il must be done, it must"
Fame could not speak. He gulped his
food and wine down hastily with such
Il sense of impotent rage as almost
clicked him. He could scarcely bear to
look at the composed, sleek, self-satis-
fled man beside him. attired as was his
usual evening custom in irreproach-
able dress-suit, starchy shirt and white
tie-he would o liked to knocked
him down and trample on him. As
soon as dinner wa ended. he left the
room with q muttered hasty excuse
about having letters to write" and
went out in the soft night air to smoke
by himself and cool down. rs he In
wardly expressed it, for his feelings
were in a perfect tumult. Pity and
anxiety for Mrs. Allingham. and con
tempt for her husband, struggled for
the mastery in his mind; and he walked
on and on through the ground under
the light of a full moon, not needing
where he was going to in the heat Of
his wrath and excitement.