The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-08-25

! CHE aUthor0 0et1er rose % 9eF 1eeS
! a. . email funahoae drev o. ae Che
oats.
.Sou ~nl ~oadsr o. ny sslIsns sou
IA thiA" Gle Gaia "but 4 have taken
you into nay esnfdeace Aeeeme Q wish
to osk O favor. To oblige theD vhim-
oical daetoss O hass 0riteea Q letter %
' the 1eung Acvsigh pssson and telsiag
her Of aT sens 0eslsus condition. sug-
gested that sta send ssms simple nee.
! sage which nay serve p eeveai the
true state Of bio feelings. II that mes
sage aszsvS during my aSsence. Mrs
Gse,. ? am soanS to ass ssa q andy
| hold it until M return"
! The old lady WatsheA O. sed car
until It disappeared dow the roadway.
then she topped ooftly upon Q Fsench
window which opened op the veranda
Come in" crSed q mass voice. a
deep voice through WhicA ran an IN
mistakable note Of WEAKNESS. Then.
as the man on the couch saw che old
lady advancing, his eyes ID up with Q
CLEAN OF pleasure,
els It the lietle Grandmother Grey"
be exclaimed, come TO see IL . am
being neglected! Let me assure you
that | have everything a reasonable
man could desire, much more than any
man deserves and-ncthinG whatever
that pleases."
The last sentence was added with a
smile which failed to conceal IFS serS.
BUSINESS.
The old lady laid her hand upoa bis
rumpled hair.
Il wish | knew what might please
you. man. DEAR" she said. IF you were
little boy, now. should make yea a
gingerbread doll.'
The mao smiled again
I'VE never had women Of that sort
In our family" he answered regret
fully-"the honey kind, you know,
| who can bake things and comfort a
fellow when he's sick. Really l have
missed a great deal
| The old lady's eyes twinkled.
well. you need not miss it much
longer" she said. There are plenty Of
nice girls in the world, Mr.. Atwood,
and you would not have to search far"
But the man shook his head.
II have outgrown gingerbread dolls
alas!" he replied.
Later. when postal addressed to
| her hand trembled as she adjusted her
! spectacles to innocently examine the
gay picture with its accompanying
message. This was the card which she
| must retain. She wrinkled her brows
In perpiexity as she slowly repeated
the brief written sentence.
my hyacinth blooms again." she
read. and my hyacinth blooms again"
There was also d printed verse be-
meath the picture. which told in pretty
rime that winters frigid blast nor
earth's cold dark bed had power to
destroy this ever living bulb. which
burst into bloom at the breath Of
spring" Andsacross the printed words,
as though hastily scrawled. ran the
name of "Mollie''
The old lady slipped the card into
her fchu
Dear mev' she Indignantly exclafm-
ed. ''The mother was right-not much
depth there. A pretty message that to
send sick and hopeless man Vastly
interested he will be in the fact that
her hyacinth blooms again." She
was quite sure now that her own sur
mise of the jilting had been correct
And as she came out into the garden
at twilight and stood looking through
the glass door into the room where
the invalid still lay, his bright, sleep
less eyes gazing ever into vacancy. she
hoped that the mans mother would not
deliver 90 foolish and heartless a mes
sage. ~ --.- .t
Across the lavn shadows grew longer
and deeper. With a rhythmic sound the
old lady's rpckef swayed to and fro;
then along the border of the hedge
there crept ghostly little figure. Here
and there it showed for moment, like
some will-o-the- Wisp, when girl came
gliding swiftly, noiselessly forward and
stood Wita hand pressed against her
heart, peering through the window.
Grandmother Grey leaned forward.
" AAI 40 AZ ShC "AlSpClCu- w uOLj
do you wish to see?"
The girl looked up startled, then mo-
toned toward the lighted room
IL had to see him." she answered
bDathlessly. II could not wait for per-
mission when / heard that be was ILL.,
Grandmother came softly down the
stairs. Sith new understanding. Her
eyes sought those Of the girl.
You are Mollie,"" she said. -.
The dusky bead nodded. $50
Yes" the girl replied, 81 am Mollie.
Has he told you about me. then. that
you know my namew
NO." the old lady answered honestly.
lit was his mother who told me your
story"
Xhe girl turned about sharply. Sd.
"Then you will think I am breaking
my promise to her by being here" she
said. but that Is not so. Now that
have seen him will go away" With
sudden free movement she threw
back her head ''Yet IL he knew |
were near1 she said exultinoIv ahe