Phillips County herald., 1923-07-19
ASHES OF ROSES
BY KITTY PARSONS
90, 1923. by Mcclure Newspaper syndieate)

her couch with closed eyes, trying to
think. Joy was not used to reclining,
but the doctor had insited upon it
her ultimate recovery would be ques
tion of long, tedious months of lying
on her back
There was Il knock at the door and
Malcolm came in. Joy had been wait
ing for him all day, literally counting
the minutes till he came.
I've just heard Of your accident, Joy.
It's crime. VIII you be here lcng2"
"For months, the doctor says"
"How dreadful What shall / do
without you after all these weeks of
playing around together? No more
dancing or dining or walking with you
this spring-it makes me sick !"
JOY thought Of the last three Won
derful months and chill struck her
heart. How happy they had been,
dancing, laughing, joking! They had
always been merry and gay-never
serious for moment. Malcolm hated
to be serious when he could be amused.
Life had been one glad song to them
both.
But 1t isn't over" she almost plead
ed. you'll come to see me and talk
to me often, won't you?'
"Of COURSE" he assured her. "But
1t won't be the same" Joy thought he
looked III at ease in n sick-room, not
at all like himself. Somehow Malcolm
seemed to belong to life and health
and happiness; trouble and suffering
had little place in his life. But of
course he was n genius.
DO you remember, week ago to-
night, how we rode down town on top
of the bus, with the snow falling all
over us? And how we explored the
queer little streets and alleys? What
fun we had.'
"And the hot dogsr"
"Oh, yes, the hot dogs And the cof.
reel"
"And the dance hall-don't forget
that. How they almost put us out be
cause held you too close"
"Yes, yes, remember" Joy caught
her breath sharply. She knew nothing
could make her forget that night-or
any other night when she had been
with him. She lOnged to tell him so
but she couldn't.
A few minutes later Malcolm plead
ed n business engagement and hurried
away. That was Wednesday. He prom
ised to return on Friday. After he had
gone Joy thought OF all the things he
had not said.
Thursday about the same time there
was another knock on the door md
Joy was thrilled with expectancy. He
could not walt But It was David and
not Malcolm who opened the door.
David dropped on his knees beside
her couch and took her hand In his.
"Poor little Jcy," his voice caressed
her. "How hard II must be for You to
lie here 80 quietly day nfter day. when
you are always so fun OF life and glad.
ness. ! cant bear to think of H."
Davld's only thought was for her.
hut JOY hardly heard him. She was
longing for Friday TO come. David
hurried on:
Marry me now and I'll take care of
you always. I'll cancel my passage
Saturday for China and get work here
If you want me 10 do Tits not too
late II you need me-"
Joy wanted the comfort Of his pro-
tecilng arms, but she knew she could
not rest there. The laughing face OF
Malcolm stood between them. So she
sent David away.
Friday her henrt sang with happl.
ness ms she waited for Malcolm. She
arranged her hair In most becoming
fashion and wore her most bewitchlng
negllree. And she burned incense In
ness and enforced ldleness no longer
mattered-nothlng In the world mat.
tered except that II was spring and
Malcolm would soon be there Over
and over her henrt sang the Same JOY.
ous song.
At the maid brought her n large
box of roses. with line scrubbed on
the card: $50 sorry-unexpeciedly de.
lnyed. WIN phone. NJ. g." Outside the
window robin snng nnd sung md
sang. and Jcy wondered how anyone
could be 80 cheerful She had quite
forgotten that II was spring.
Saturday she thrilled anew NJ the
thought of his coming. nnyid's tender.
ness was long since forgotten-Dnvld
wasn't u poet, so. Of course, he wis
different All duy long she waited, her
ear ntiuned. sensitive to every ring ~
the bell. once n delivery boy came and
ngnln the letter carrier, hut there was
ne word from Malcolm
when Joy had almost given M hope,
the mnld brought her his telegram For
some moments she held II IN her hand,
feHr eluiehng nt her heart. lie must
he III. perhaps dying. Certainly some
thing terrible hnd happened ia him, AZ
Inst she gathered strength io tear II
open. There were only few wnrdh,
staring shnr1ay nj her In the cold,
clear type NJ the telegraph company
stI auNinu YnAuN fnf thrpY Van -