Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-03-17

him, anu ne passed his nandS over his
eyes. OF course it was Hannah Dale's
work. In her tactless. good hearted
way she had hoped to please the
stricken man by reviving a neglected
custom.
He reached out his hand to toss the
flowers into the waste paper basket
and out Of his sight when there came
Hannah's knock at the door.
"Come in" he said in a strange voice.
Hannah Dale's round face looked dis
turbed. Did you hear any strange
noises around the house last night, Mr..
Fleming?" she asked abruptly.
mo. Hannah" he replied. What
has happened?"
Il don't know. sir, only ] did hear
queer sounds, as If somebody might be
trying to enter the house. Just at day
light 1t was, sir. and was going TO
ask you If you noticed anything wrong
in this ROOM. I've examined all the
other windows and doors in the house"
She was staring with unmistakable Gu
riosity at the flowers on his desk
"Then you haven't been in here this
morning, Hannah?' he asked.
How could come in when the door
is always locked and you carry the key
In your pocket. sir?" asked Hannah,
with surprise. IL haven't been near
the room since came in the other day
to ask you about joe"
stVnru Hannah ho1
ten. No, ! didn't hear any sounds last
night. Very likely it was a cat on the
piazza roof" He was impatient for
her to be gone.
III have to think 1t was that, sir"
And Hannah went away apparently
dissatisfied with the lack of explana-
ton Of what to her had been a matter
for excitement and investigation.
John Fleming stood there staring at
the white flowers on his desk.
How had they come there? He
asked himself the question again, for
Hannah was innocent of placing them
there, he was positive. Such delicate
sentiment was not in Hannah's line
anyway.
There was only one person who
could have done it. and that was the
person who was least likely to do it
in the face of all things-Anne. the
unforgiving.
Suppose he entertained that wild
supposition. that Anne had plucked the
flowers and placed them there. how
could she enter the locked room? The
answer was before him as his glance
included the glass doors that led to
the garden porch. The bronze door
key lay on the carpet, but the door
was locked. had doubtless been locked
from the outside by one who had
pushed his key in and opened the door
with duplicate.
Who had such duplicate key:
What person would use it for the in
nocent purpose of placing that white
flower. symbolic of resurrection, upon
his desk?
Who. but Anne?
He must go to her long closed room
and look for the duplicate key she had
owned. If it was not there it meant
that hope and happiness were not
dead after all. Only forgiving Anne
could have placed the white flowers
on his desk.
He went upstairs to her room ant
unlocked the door and entered. The
curtains were drawn. and the air wa,
close and smelled of dried rose leaves
John knew that there were seveTa
jars of fragrant rose petals about the
room. Anne loved them.
He lifted a curtain and looked fol
the key in places where she nigh
have kept it, but it was nowhere to be
found. Overcome by the task o
touching her belongings, stung to the
quick by bitter recOlections, he lunl
himself into an armchair and CLOSED
his tired eyes. Outside the world was
golden with the sunshine of an Easte
morn. Within his closed heart LITTLE
flower of hope was springing to re
newed life
He did not hear Hannahs voice lift
ed in surprise and as suddenly huShed
He did not hear hestating steps com
ing up the stairs. The knob turned
gently, and slender, pale faced won
an came in. At first she did not SCI
him. She was looking at the familiar
room with tear blind eyes. Her sud
den sob of grief aroused him, and hus
band and wife faced each other in the
dim light of the long closed room.
"Anne!" he said hoarsely, and theI
stared at her
John" she said brokenly. IL have
come back to ask your forgiveness
More ! cannot expect. Nay. listen.
thought | was doing right to stand by
my father and brother Alec swort
that it was you who had diverted thu
funds of the firm to your own uses
and you stood back and only smiled
You denied nothing
early this morning / came and en-
tered the library with the use Of my
duplicate key. placed some flowers
there because love you. John, and IL
spite of my belief in your wrongdoint
my love was the same-undying-anC
| wanted you to know it.
This morning letter has reached
me from Alec. You know he went t.
Australia after the business was WOUND