The Tomahawk., 1918-06-27

flowers for Esmond were set in the
great window at the end Of the corri.
dor. But Ione's single rose so strucE
the nurse with it's beauty and modesty
that she placed it ih slender white
vase on low shelf near Esmond's
bed. Tie great surgeon in attendance
turned t0 order it away, but when Its
strange beauty smiled on him he ex-
amined 1t carefully. H.
''The most exquisite thing I ever
saw" he said to the nurse. I'm fact, !
never saw one like it before A brown
rosa golden brown rose! How Won
derful - And he let it stay. }
| Hours later Carlton opened his eyes.
His head was tightly bandaged and
one of his legs was in cast. He
glanced toward the nurse, who was
engrossed in magazine. -
| ''What time is it?' he asked feebly.
and the nurse arose hastily to take his
| temperature. .s>... -- -:
| After a few moments of silehce his
pain-dulled glance frightened asst tell
on the velvet rose. .-". s.. e..
"Bring It Closer" he ordered tie
nurse. -.@.. ~- g..
"You mustn't talk" she said &C.
| verely. ...:r r.. 1zs
II won't If you'll bring me the rose" y
he promised. ;, .eL. =
'How lovely" he murmured. "Just
the color Of the eyes of a little girl
played with once a long time ago.
And with sigh Of exhaustion he slip
ped into sleep. III -: -:...:
That night he awoke again. -
"I've got it," the nurse heard him
chuckle family from his bed "Ona.
that's it! Ona-she must be grown
up by now!" And the nurse, being
only q nurse, took his temperature
again, and entered the word "deliri-
ous' on her chart. But she did take
care of the rose! She must have
credit for that! She kept the water
fresh and extended its life whole
day by scalding and clipping it's stem.
Also she brought it to him to look at
whenever he wished, and besides FOR
long hours he lay and watched it from
his bed. Once he had touched Its
golden velvet brown with his unbound
hand and smiled. "Just like her eyes"
! he said gently. The next morning the
nurse gave little exclamation OF re-
gret when she found shower Of pet
ais around the base of the vase.
"What is it," he asked quickly. sit.
! ting up in bed. q ....-.
"The rose,"' she said, thoughtlessly'
"it's dead!" e. N>/ 50 49,.
"Ah-h!" he sighed, and crumpled
back into unconsciousness again.
Three months later all society turn
ed out en- masse to attend the flower
! show. Carlton Esmond was mem
ber of'a gay party that strolled by the
chrysanthemums into the rose exhibit.
He was noticeable because of the
patch of short gray hair on one side OF
his head, and the cane he still carried
to protect his injured leg.
"Look." gestured a tall, handsome
eyed, supple-bodied girl with strong
brown hand ''look, Carl, at that Won
derful golden brown rose!"
He bent over the rail excitedly.
tits my rose! The one I told you
OFF, he exclaimed, eagerly, hastily
making note Of the name and address
of the exhibitor. -
,"It's called" said the girl. examin'
ing the tag, "it's called the lone Won
derly.'" And for the rest Of the eve-
ming she was puzzled at Edmond's
seeming preoccupatiOn.
The next morning, lone was arrang'
ing some long-stemmed lilies in tall
vase. when Carlton EsmOnd entered.
She heard the door shut, and turned to
find his glance full upon her. For an
instant she inspected him doubtfully
out of her golden brown eyes, then she
smiled and extended her hand shyly.
"They say" he said holding her
hand caressingly, "that my interest In
certain golden brown rose pulled me
through. And-and last night I saw
another at the flower show Do-do
YOU remember certain day-a-a
long time ago, Omar -
She nodded with downcast eyes.
{ I'm with uplifted face she said sim
ply: II prayed for you to get we'll
and-and now-you are we'll - Then
like q flash-"there is another rose out
this morning-would you like to see
it," - ,a .a..-. :
And he followed her airy, lightstep
ping figure, that seemed so part OF
the fragrance of the atmosphere, back
to where half-blown bud of golden
brown bloomed on Its slender stem.
And together there they looked on its
velvet beauty. till suddenly he turned
to her:
'Its just like you, Ona, my own
dear, brown-eyed fairy. IL want my
rose."
Then he gently drew her toward
him. and when he sought her lips With
his she did not turn away.
haunted lslanda. 4
Chirikof island, lonely bit Of land
with inhospitable shores which lies
R~~ to- %HSnI