The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-18
ONLY A ROSE
BY DOROTHY RLAcKMoRE.

You do like my gown them Nancy
questioned. She reached out and ex-
tracted solitary pink rose that had
lent it's beauty to his writing table. Il
think need this in my hair" she said
and tucked the flower among the riot
of golden curls. After his smile of ap-
proval she skipped off. 1t was quite
time for the first guest to arrive for
her coming-out party.
Kennard watched her 60 and sighed
trifle YEARLY. He was old beyond
his thirty-five years in that he had, at
the age Of twenty-one, gone through
frightful train wreck which left him
mentally aged and physically lame.
At twenty-five, his closest friend.
older by many years than Kennard,
had died, leaving slim, delicate girl
orphaned and oddly alone in the world
Kennard had adopted Nancy Vale be-
cause Vale had left her to him.
The doorbell rang many times and
men and women flocked into the great
Kennard drawing-room where Nancy,
looking not more than fifteen in her
simple gray frock, welcomed her
guests. Often her big eyes glanced
swiftly at the stairs leading from the
library, but each time they returned
to smiles and laughter with a hint of
usefulness growing in their clear
depths. "Nunky' was so absorbed in
his story as to forget that he had
promised to come in and join her par
ty.
1t was not until silence reigned
again in the great house and small
pink rose dropped YEARLY in Nancy's
curls that she tiptoed softly to the IL
brary door. The quiet of that room
told her that the story was finished
and that 'Nunky'' was smoking the
restful cigarette that always followed
the completion of good days work.
May / come in?" she questioned,
already over the Threshold
Kennard opened wide his eyes.
Il just wanted to say good night"
she said softly, and stroked back the
lock Of snowwhite hair that lay across
Remarks broad forehead.
you grow more like your father ev-
cry day." he said in quick appreciation
Of her instructive understanding. "He
was the most unselfish and consider
ate man that ever walked the earth.
I'm sorry, kiddie, that your old uncle
forgot the coming-out party. l could
only have limped about trying vainly
to Danish my hero and his woes from
my mind. I will get you another string
Of those beads
Beads! How dare you call my
touched the exquisite present from
him that clasped her slender neck.
She looked anxiously at him. You
won't sit up any longer will you-it's
late now?"
"Only till the cigarette puffs out"
he told her and watched her skip or
and up to her room.
Kennard sat for a few moments
YEARLY looking at the door through
which his ward had gone. Gradually
his eyes focused themselves on q
faded pink flower that lay just within
the library door. 1t was the rose Nam
cy had worn in her hair.
Kennard rose and picked it up and
returned to his desk with it. He sat
gazing softly, tend orly, at it and. a
second later, his lips caressed it ten.
derby.
No sooner had he touched the with.
; cred flower than he drew back swiftly.
The meaning of his action went over
him like flame of fire.
Cod" he cried in terror at his own
emotion. Not that! Surely not that
; she's only child" He sat stunned
A few minutes later his head went for.
; ward on his arms and the rose was
again against his lips.
Nancy, creeping softly down the
stairs, tried to stiffe the beating of her
heart when she glanced swiftly at the
floor tust within the library door
There was no rose lying there. She
stood for moment, her great eyes
devouring Kennard's bent shoulders
and bowed head. The very softest
sigh escaped her and Kennard raised
his eyes slowly, believing splendid
: vision had appeared to him.
|, Surely the slim little creature in the
doorway was not Nancy. There wa.
, golden hair piled high and bound BY
, the matchless pink pearls and whit,
throat rose like the stem Of a lily from
a low-cut bodice. The arms were barr
| and cleaning white.
This is the new gown aunty bough
, for me-" she explained swiftly, he
words Historically broken. She hat
}. seen the crushed rose under Ken
). nard's hand. Her eyes were like star
a and her body was trembling with ella
ton. 1t was unbelievable. this won
!. derful thing that had happened. Pau
q Kennard loved her!
He brushed his eyes dazedly. H
dared scarcely to look at Nancy s
great was his longing for her. He
suddenly-revealed womanly beauty ha
made him weak.
, The gown is lovely he said feebl,
trying to speak in the old way. Blu
: run up to your bed. kiddie-it's tim
little girls were asleep"
ITS time little girls were grow
!. up Nancy said. And the subtle not
q of womanhood had entered her voic'
She drew close to Kennard and he
!. cleaning arms twined up and abol
:, his neck. III you wont tell me yo
love me-" she said-and there was
!, sob in her voice. don't want I
live"
= Kennard's arms closed about h,
swiftly, hungrily.