The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-07-01
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The Pink Rosebush
BY JEAN DlCKERSON
(copyrishs. 10II. By Associated Literary prsss)

The Bromleys and the Northrops
had been close friends for many years, |
but the tall hedge that new separated
the two houses was no higher or wild
er than the estrangement that grew
up between the two families when
Estelle Bromley broke her engage
ments to Ned Northrop.
Estelle had given no reason nor had
Ned offered any explanation of the
affair to his puzzled relatives He
simply went away from Merivale and
opened an Office in the city where he
had all the success that might re-
ward the efforts Of young country
lawyer whose mind was more occupied
with his own heart affairs than with
the chickering's of the clients that
came to him.
Estelle Bromley, weary of the whis-
perings of wondering village and the
reproachful glances of Ned's mother,
who blamed Estelle. decided that as
her future was now in her own hands
she must provide for it as best she
might, so she went to another city
and became after the customary ap-
premiership, trained nurse.
In Merivale they soon ceased to
there were always such interesting
things to gossip over. Finally after
a few years there remained only the
bitterness between the Northrops and
the Bromleys. Sometimes the two es-
tranged ones came home, but 1t had
so happened that their visits had new
er occurred at the same time.
Now It was May and the Merivale
orchards were pink with apple bios
SONS. The faint green of the new
leaves formed a background for the
glowing plumage of the orioles and
the .bluebirds; the scent of blossoms,
bearing in it's odor the memories of
happy boyhood, assailed the nostrils
of Ned Northrop as he wandered I'M
der the boughs.
Ned always came home for Memoir
al Day; SO many of the Northrops
had fought In the Civil war, so many
of them. men, women and children
had gone to. the cemetery on the hill
side, that the keeping of this especial
day was a very sacred matter In the
Northrop family. 1t was an accepted
fact that Ned should leave whatever
business he might have on hand and
come home to help his mother and
sisters to decorate the graves in the
family plot
It lacked a week of the appointed
time, but Ned had run down to Meri
vale because the restlessness Of ths
spring season was in his blood, and Il
was five years since he had given way
to the feeIing-"weakness" he called
it grimly.
His sister, Ellen Northrop, watched
him from the garden where she has
been examining the SNOWFALL bushes
and rejoicing that the lilacs would b
Just right on the thirtieth. If the pinl
rose bush would only do its duty 81
that her mother might have at leas
one bud to place on her fathers grave
Ellen thought her last fear would b.
dismissed. But the pink rose wa
Sinking its duty; the few buds wer'
small and unpromising. Ellen let tn
, branch fly back with little whipping
sound and tramped through the gras
. to her brothers side.
II guess mother won't have pin
. rose this year." she said gloomily. u
l looks as il the bush were dying"
81 might get some roses in the cit
-" Ned was beginning when Ellie
interrupted with an impatient gesture
You know it isn't just roses sh
wants-it's roses from that bush tha
she and father planted the day the
| came to live in this house. It's tn
sentiment of the thing-and hate
| tell her. she'll feel so disappointed"
Il thought Aunt Celista had a sli
| from the bush--wouldn't that be tn
| same thing?" asked Ned.
IL "Of course that would do only Aur
Celista's bush died three years ago."
/ Didn't mother give a slip to an,
body else? l know she wes alway
| exchanging flowers with folks"
IL "She never gave away but two sill
| of the pink rose. One went to Aul
Celista and the other" Ellen hes
tated and paused in some confusion.
"And the other one?" Ned asks
carelessly.
"She gave 1t to Estelle Bromley
% declared Ellen bluntly. she gave
= to Estelle the day-the day your e
70 gagement was broken on" 81
~ stopped in sudden terror at what 81
had done. Never before had she me
:, toned the fact OF her brothers bro
"A en- engagement, and she was afra
a Of what he might say. He stood st
"A and listened with bent head and Wit
~ she had finished he turned iowa
~ her such a white face that involunts