The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-07-01

talking about Estelle Bromley once
more; she and Estelle had been school
mates and dear friends but loyalty to
the brother she loved had prompted
Ellen to blame Estelle for the broken
engagement.
Il met Frank Lakon that day and
he had been buying pink rosebush-
said he was buying it for girl he
knew. That same night Estelle showed
me the bush in her yard and told me
to guess who gave it to her. named
Frank-you know he had been atten-
tive to her-and she laughingly de-
MED it, but insisted. / said things
that were unforgiveable at that time
and Estelle ended everything between
us. Pride on both sides did the rest.
OF course it's too late now-she has
forgotten me-"
| He looked away with such regret
in his eyes that Ellen. frightened at
| the memories she had disinterred.
slipped away and went into the house
where she told her mother the story
of the spink rosebush. and what disas-
/ ter 1t had wrought in Neds life.
Mrs. Northrop was q small. wiry
! woman, with snow-white hair and del
icate features that belied the strong
will that lay behind her apparent gen.
tleness. She had bitterly blamed Es-
telle Bromley for her part In Ned's
unhappiness, and now that the other
side of the story had reached her she
was quite as eager to exonerate the
girl. To Ellen she said little. Her
lips pressed firmly together and her
needles flying in and out Of the shawl
she was knitting she fell into an UNI
accustomed silence. Mother love was
planning and plotting.
The week went slowly by. Every
morning, at daybreak, Mrs.. Northrop
tiptoed across the wet grass to the
J hedge and peered through to see II
; the pink rose bush in Bromley's gar
den was abloom. There were five
buds on the bush. and each day they
, swelled and grew larger until the day
; before Memorial Day they showed
/ ready to burst into bloom.
: Estelle had arrived the night before
| They had seen the station stage stor
} at the door and Mrs. Northrop and
] her daughters had watched Estelle'l
+ tall graceful figure alight and run VI
! the path to meet her father and moth
/ er. Ned was reading in the sitting
3 room and did not know of the arrival
The full moon was rising over thu
eastern hills when Mrs. Northrol
+ called her son into the garden.
e "Ned." she said in rather trembl,
t voice, will you do me favor. dear?'
y Anything mother-you know that!
d he was quick to- say.
"Then will you go over to Bromley
and ask Estelle for one OF the pinl
d roses from the bush l gave her?
s want it for your fathers grave. Yo1
e know we women folks have been un
K kind to all the Bromleys." She lai'
o her hand on his arm and looked u
It at his face which was white in tn
,, moons light.
q For long time he stood thus. YER
s silent, battling with his pride. H
e looked down and saw slow tears fall
q ing down his mothers cheeks. H
6 thought they were falling for his fail
is er's memory-he did not know tina
now she was thinking only of the SON.
k happiness.
It "Pll go, mother" he said gently
laying a hand on her shoulder.
y Suddenly he bent and kissed he
n cheek and was gone.
9. Straight across the grass to tn
le old broken place in the hedge wher
At he had been wont to pass through !
" other days Once on the other sid
lie he came upon Estelle bending abov
to the rosebush. She saw him and shran
back with little frightened gestuI
lp of both hands.
Re "Ohl" she cried softly.
Il have come to ask you for Q rol
Mt from this bush," he said gravely. IN
mother wishes one to place on father
y grave. VIII you give me one. e
ys teller"
Tomorrow you may have them all
ps she said gently.
NJ Would you give me one a. tok(
81 of forgiveness for the unhappiness
have caused-for my utter idiocy. E
% telle?
She plucked half-opened bud n
2. gave It to him. For an instant be he
y the rose and the hand that clasped
~ "This I'll place on the grave Of n
n folly" he said bitterly.
n Estelle looked in his face and rel
= the truth. Then she placed her 9th
- -. hand in his. Keep 1t in memory
~. -, our reconciliation" she whispered.