The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-12-18
ONLY 4 ROSE
Nv DOROTHY sLAckmoRE.l

and tucked the flower amohs III"
=, oo,den curls. After his smile oil AZ
nroyal she skipped OF. II was qu,.
time for the first guest to arrive io'
her coming-out party.
Kennard watched her go and signee
O trif,e YEARLY. He was OLD oeyoHS
his thirty.five years in that he nad,
tho age of twenty one. gone through
fr,pbtful train wreck which lert III"
mentally aged and physically lame.
At twenty-five. his closest rr'ens'
older by many years than hennaiu.
had died. leaving a slim. delicate siri
orphaned and oddly alone In the worio-
Kennard had adopted Nancy Naie w
cause Vale had left her to him.
The doorbell rang many times anu
men and women fiocked into the greas
Kennard drawing-room where Nancy
looking not more than fifteen IN nef
simple gray frock, welcomed NO.
guests. Often her big eyes gianceo
swiftly at the stairs leading from INC
library. but each time they returnee
to smiles and laughter with a hint ~
usefulness growing in their Gle
depths. "Nunky" was so ABSORBED
his story as to forget that ne na
promised to come in and join her pass
ty.
II was not until silence reigned
again In the great house and smait
pink rose dropped YEARLY in Nancys
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. The
gray frock flung his guilt before him.
1t had been Nancy's party night and
he had forgotten IL. She was still q
child in his eyes and he waited for the
outburst of hurt childhood.
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. could
only have limped about trying vainly
to Danish my hero and his woes from
my mind. will get you another string
of those beads"
Beads! How dare you call my
matchless pink pearls beads!" She
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 on
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 o
faded pink flower that lay Just within
the library door. It was the rose Nan
cy had worn in her hair.
Kennard rose and picked 1t up and
returned to his desk with 1t. He sat
gazing softly. tenderly. at 1t and, q
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 fame Of fire.
Cod" he cried in terror at his own
emotion. mot 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 Just within the library door.
There was no rose lying there. She
stood for a moment. her great eyes
devouring Remarks bent shoulders
and bowed head. The vesy softest
sigh escaped her and Kennard raised
his eyes slowly. believing a splendid
vision had appeared to him.
Surely the slim little creature in the
doorway was not Nancy. There was
golden hair piled high and bound by>
the matchless pink pearls and a white
throat rose like the stem of a lily from
q low-cut bodice. The arms were bare
and cleaning white.
This Is the new gown aunty bought
for me" she explained swiftly, her
words Historically broken. She had
seen the crushed rose under Kensf'
nard's hand. Her eyes were like stare
and her body was trembling with ala 81
ton. 1t was unbelievable. this won
derful thing that had happened. Paul
Kennard loved her.
He brushed his eyes dazedly. He
dared scarcely to look al Nancy 40
great was his longing for her. Her
uddenly-revealed womanly beauty had
made him weak.
The gown is lovely" he said feeblv-
trying to speak in the old way. But
run up to your bed. kiddie-it's time
little girls were asleep"
It's >time little girls were grown
up" Nancy said. And the subtle note
OF womanhood had entered her voice.
She drew close to Kennard and her
cleaning arms twined up and aboue
his neck. "If you wont tell me Won
love me-" she said-and there was .
SOD In her voice. don't want To
live"