The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-02-23


of dead Walter Osborne.
Half an hour later Marvin Farr en-
tered gorgeous mansion, aglare with
electric light crowded with gay com
pany. close friend its owner, Ar
thur Bond, greeted him effusively.
"She is here and has been fearing
you would not come" spoke the lat
ter.
Your sister, Mrs. Willis?"
Yes. Marvin, we're old chums, and
there Is no man l would more willingly
welcome as the mate Of my sister than
you. | can tell you something you
have already guessed-Eudosa loves
you"
Marvin Redeemed at the audaciOus
statement. He paled at the thought
desert, to forget; of the heart he was
about to crush, already PROSTATE un-
der fresh grief.
"Eudosia is going to the beach re-
sort for week, tomorrow" proceeded
Bond. Myself and my wife will in
vite you there as our guest at the cot
tage. You will Gomez"
And your sister,"
"She is ready TO be won. Make nay
while the sun shines, old fellow! You
have no rivals"
And in the company Of the beautiful
widow, reputed to have million in
her own right, Marvin Farr basked
through the midnight hours. The
glare, the company, the responsive
eyes of EudoSia Willis enthraIled him
for the time being. When he left her
it was with promise made TO spend
Il week at the home of her brother at
the beach resort.
Outside, homeward bound, the fresh
evening air cleared his besotted brain.
He Shrank within himself as he ana
lyAed the treachery lie was about to
commit. In q business way he had an
income sufficient to cover all reason
able expenditures Of modest house
hold. The roSe-guardcd home Of Els
telle was her own. With love regnant,
it would become Il paradise of delight.
But Eudosia Willis, her butterfly life,
allured him. He would never have to
toll. The sensuouS beauty of the
stately woman would fill his life. On
the one hand, simple love; on the
other, lavishness, luxury, the ready
requisition of change, eXcitement-all
the alluring enchantment of Opulence.
Il will write few brief lines to Es-
telle. | will confess to her that | am
unworthy of such love as hers. Poor
girl. Wrctched, selfish craven / But
the die is cast"
When he reached his own room his
hand came in contact with the rose in
his pocket. He flung 1t carelessly on
the bureau, went to bed, tossed I'M
easily for time, and finally went 10
sleep, feeling that he had sold his soul
to the evil one.
His dreams were not pleasant ones.
He awoke in the morning unrefreshed
and irritable The weight of remorse
was on his mind.
IN get through with it at one
DASH" he muttered land send the note
to Estelle. I'll leave the city, so my
determination cannot be weakened.
Wealth, luxury, society," would be
fool to barter all this for love-"
How the sweetness of past hours at
the rose-hung garden came back to
him! Passing the bureau, he reached
out and casually lifted the rejected
rose.
Within it the soul of tears fingered.
Their moisture had kept the flower
fresh as when it was plucked. The
strong, vital scent of the rose made
the man reminiscent. Farther back
than Estelle ran the swift grouping
thoughts of Marvin Farr. They used
to have such roses, all purity and
beauty, at the old homestead where
mother
He choked up as the poignant mem.
DRY of that mothers loving care and
advice came back to him.
always be man." she had said,
and he was about to become a pol
trOon, a traitor, a ruthless desecrator
of the holy pledges of love. He wa
vered, dimness came into his eyes.
He fell to his knees by his bedside and
burst into tears.
When he arose his face was calm,
his eyes wore new expression Of re-
solve, mingled with contrition. With
a steady hand he indited note to Ar
thur Bond, to inform him that circum-
stances prevented his accepting the in
vitation TO the beach resort.
The dewdrop sank deeper into the
heart of the rose, to become part of
it-of the rose which was to become
cherished secret memento to Marvin
Farr through all the years to come.
And after, when gentle. loving Es-
telle was by his side, there seemed to
be with them spirit that blessed
them. Ehe dewdrop had performed its
mission and the soul of Walter Os-
borne was at rest.