El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-28
The Wreath of FZowers
A short story.
r ADGE COLEMAN was not very

- and imposing appearance Her
life under southern skies had favored
her with a warm, olive complexion, and
her jet black eyes set deep under her
eyebrows, sparkled as she cast a casual
glance at some unsuspecting stranger
Of the opposite sex.
AIadge's eyes were the utterances of
her inner self-she was a born nirt.
She knew she was beautiful, and real
lied that every new admlrer was en-
cOuraged and drawn closer by her
winning smiles and clever CONVERSE
ton. Finally her overlooking anima-
ton would lead a friendly stranger
into a fascination which Re usually
Two young men had already ruined
themselves for her sake, yet there was
not cowboy on any farm for miles
around who did not adore Madge.
Frank Logan, cowboy on COleman's
big home ranch, tried every possible
means to win the love of his boss
daughter.
He was a very handsome young fell
Low, splendid hOrseman and a noble
character, and exceedingly popular
with all the boys It was considered
almost certain that Frank would carry
off the prize, for he was a great IA
VCTite with old Coleman himself and
apparently with his daughter, too. She
did not flirt with anyone else when
ne was near and her voice was never
more gentle and SWeetly girIish than
when she spoke to him The other
cowboys soon withdrew, when they saw
how she invariably preferred Franks
company. After a while he was the only
sutton left.
One day they rode along the banks
or the Canadian river and dismOunted.
They str0lled into a sycamore grove to
pick Wild flowers and TO give their
horses a rest Having picked all the
flowers they wanted they sat down on
the bank Of the river and Madge ar
r--l~4 I
Isn't il beautiful, Frank she cried
and held ii up before his eyes.
Indeed II is. and small wonder, for
anything you make with your dear
hands is bound to be beautiful, Madge.
That at least is what I think.
'Oh / have heard such words over
and over again from all the boys Frank
Every time a man opens his mouth to
love, and, after all, there is not a sin
gle one Of you, who means what he
saws"
You know very well, Madge, that
y hat you say is not true I mean what
I say and if you viii only promise to
be mine I will be the happiest man in
the world Don't You believe me,
NaGge2"
''Oh, yes. I do believe you. Frank.
but 1t is too early in life TO think of
such things yet am only 10 and you
are 20 or p, so we can both afford to
wait a while 1 want TO have a good
time before I marry. for when a girl
IS married. she need not expect any
more fun"
You are mistaken. AIadge. A real mar
rage is the foundation of a womau's
happiness. When married to a man who
loves you better than his life, you will
be happier than YOU ever imagined you
could be- You don't know, Madge, how
I love you There is nothing could not
Go for your sake. Let me take this
wreath Of flowers and crown you my
u lister, what is +bs+9s
A sound like the roar Of distant
thunder was heard further Up the river,
and the sky was covered with black
clouds Nearer and nearer came
sound until a vast sheet of water shot
PAST them into the river below
a clOudburst up the river" cried
Frank What a beautirll sight See
how the river breaks the big tree ,
trunks, as If they were matches"
The young people were fascinated, ]
staring at the madly rushing river, and (
around her slender waist as if to pro-
tect her from danger, which did not
exist
This looks like my love for YOU.
Madge," he said pointing to a roaring
stream. Tt is wild. irresistible pas
sion which nothing can turn"
a love which is ready to brave any
danger, you said" she replied.
Yes a love that fears nothing and
laughs at death"
She drew away from him, threw her
wreath into the IOamlng river and
cried:
Bring that wreath back and you
may crown me your queen"
Without a moments hesitation he
dived into the seething current.
She turned pale and cried in despair (
that he must come back to her, but the F.
roar Of the water swallowed up her I
voice.
Once she saw his head above the wa
ter swimming rapidly towards the Z
wTeath. then a large tree trunk struck !
him. She say his arms beating the air, I
and he was gone forever.
For many years a young woman has 4
been walking along the bank of the 4
Canadian river. Her long black hair 3
hangs in disorder down her back and 1
her eyes are wild Summer and winter d
she wanders along the bank always 4
scanning the water with her eyes and I
from time to time she cries in a voice
of the utmost anguish: Frank! I
Frank