The Delta independent., 1920-06-18
A WILD ROSE.
BY ALVAH J. GARTH.

"A lady TO see you. sir. spoke susan
| Dodge, the old housekeeper; two Of
! them in fact-Inother and daughter, ]
| think
Professor Albion Dacre lifted his
ewes from his book with surprise. al
most concern In his timid eye.
III it is subscription or some
thing of that sort. you might attend
10 it. Susan" suggested her employer.
Il don't think it is anything of that
kind, sir explained Susan 1.-The
elder lady said something about wish
ing to talk to you about the young
lady"
Very well show them in." directed
he professor. although he rather re-
sented any Intrusion upon his dearly
.oved solitude.
Il am Mrs. Eunice Ward" spoke
trained, even voice. and matroniy
appearing lady with "a refined cast of
feature introduced herself. This Is
ny niece. Miss Gloria Tresham."
Professor Dacre courteously ac-
tnowiedged the greeting of The elder
lady. As he fixed his eyes upon her
companion, it seemed as though the
latter had brought into the staid, well
governed house the very essence of
youth. beauty, breath OF the forest
or the sea, free, unrestrained. an In
detinable spiritual something that
caused the professor to feel as II this
lovely creature was quite of another
world.
Mrs. Ward was brief concise and
practical. I'VE have just moved into
the house diagonally back of yours"
she said
''Ahi then We are neighborsf" OBJ
served the Professor.
My niece. Gloria" proceeded Mrs.
Ward. has been brought up for eight
cen years IN the remote wilderness
When her mother died my brother
went into. seclusion. taking his only
child to share it. Gloria has been
brought up among natures solitudes.
She has had music, reading. the de-
voted love of her father In her hermit
like seclusion. comfort, even iuxuries,
hat no outside companionship- When
my brother died l FASTENED to assume
her charge. Gloria is \ loving. In
uocent child. who knows nothing OF
the great world. She can read. she Ii
"A wonderful panist and singer, but she
has not been taught to write u line.
She knows nothing OF the science OF
study. Professor Dacre. would you
consent to take Gloria as special
home pupil, with the idea of familiar
,zing her with the system and methods
Of acquiring learningi And later on she
tVk
seminary"
1t was an extraordinary concession
to ask of man as occupied and as
well paid as Professor Dacre. The
sweet eyes of Gloria Tresham fixed up
on him. he was Influenced to say:
MADAM, have two hours daily In
the afternoon uDoccupied and usually
devoted to rest. or reading in my libra
ry, or the garden. 1t will be a duty
and q pleasure to have your niece for
a casual pupil. but please do not speak
of compensation" and u sentiment Of
pity for the orphan girl and a natural
desire 10 be helpful to others so clear
iy spoke In the grave. earnest eyes.
that Gloria's own bestowed a glowing
glance upon him Of gratitude and con-
fidence.
Within a month Albion Dacre was
lifted into . new phase Of existence.
To him Gloria WAS an unframed wild
rose. sweet and beautiful, who shamed
his practical worldly-wise nature In
contrast with freshness purity and In
uOcence Of u soul that had known and
loved nature with the ardor Of child.
Many q time the professor nurtured as
9 dream embracing all that was worth
while In life. an ardent longing to
seek a new existence amid the giories
of nature in It's primeval wildness.
away from the drudgery and inhar-
moniOusness Of his present sphere.
communing with the flowers, the birds,
the stars. and learning from the lips
Of his fair young pupil lessons of the
real Ioveliness and peace of happy
existence. forgetting the world aud
by the world forgotW
"Oh, think Of 81" exclaimed Gloria
rapturorsIy one day. II can write
whole line. See and the rugged
heart OF her tutor beat tumultu0us-
- as she placed before him a sheet
tearing the words. ~ love AuDty
EunIce and dear Professor Dacre more
than anybody else In the whole world"
Then after that there seemed to
creep into her nature certain shy
ness that puzzled Albion Dacre Even
her aunt observed the change. Con-
tact with the world was teaching the
artless girl that she should repress
the naive free impulses that her life
in the wilderness had encouraged.
One afternoon the professor came TO
the tree-shaded table where Gloria
took her lessons to lind her sunny head