Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-07-14
ASHES OF ROSES
BY KITTY PARSONS

a LII her life long Joy han ..
been SO still before. She ra,
her couch with closed eyes. r. "a
think. Joy was not used 10 rs-,..7 .
but the doctor had inslled n-..- --'.. 8
her ultimate recovery would he . -
ton of long, tedious months - . i-ss'
on her back. '5'As
There was a knock at the 54..
Malcolm came in. Joy had been g.l-.
ing for him all day, literally .ara. 4-,.
the minutes till he came.
I've just heard of your accidaa+ Tai
It's a crime. WIN you be here -
For months, the doctor saws
How dreadful! What shan i.
without you after all these ws4Es ~.
playing around together? 10 r,.a
dancing or dining or walking with r,r
this spring-it makes me sicg,o
JOY thought of the last three WON.
derrul months and a chill struck han
heart. How happy they had bssa
dancing, laughing, joking They Ma
always been merry and gave,
serious for moment. Malcolm bs,aI
to be serious when he could be amused
Life had been one glad song 10 tbsm
both.
But 1t isn't over" she almosr nIa.s
ed. You'll come to see me and f.lk
to me often, won't your"
"Of course" he assured her. sRr,
1t won't be the same" JOY Thought Ne
looked Ill at ease in sick-room mar
at all like himself. Somehow Malcolm
seemed 20 belong to life and health
and happiness; trouble and SUFFERING
had little place in his life. But Of
course he was genius.
DO you remember, week ago ia.
night, how we rode down town on Ton
of the bus, with the snow falling An
over us? And how we explored the
queer little streets and alleys? What
fun we hadw
"And the hot dogs!'
"0h, yes, the hot dogs! And the cot
fee"
"And the dance hall-don't forge.
that. How they almost put US out be,
cause held you too close"
"Yes, yes, l remember" JOY caught
her breath sharply. She knew nothing
could make her forget that nlght-or
any other night when she had been
with him. She longed to tell him 50
but she couldn't.
A few minutes later Malcolm plead
ed business engagement and hurried
away. That was Wednesday He prom.
Used to return on Friday. After he had
gone JOY thought of all the things lie
had not said
Thursday about the same time there
was another knock on the door and
Joy was thrilled with expectancv lie
could not wait But 1t was David and
not Malcolm who opened the door
David dropped on his knees besids
her couch and took her hand in bis.
Poor little joy" his voice caressed
her How hard it must be fer you TO
lie here so quietly day after day when
you are always so full of life and glad.
ness. l can't bear to think Of It.
David's only thought was for her
but Joy hardly heard him, She vas
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 to do tits net too
late if you need me-"
Joy wanted the comfort Of his pTn
tecting arms, but she knew She could
not rest there. The laughing face 81
Malcolm stood between them. So she
sent David away.
Friday her heart sang with t'n9t
ness as she waited for Malcolm she
arranged her hair in a most becoming
fashion and wore her most heWl-tatns
negligee. And she burned incense I'D
the tall vase on the mantel. Her l-'
ness and enforced idleness no longer
mattered-nothlng in the wor.a ma,
tered except that 1t was spring 'A'
Malcolm would soon be there ufei
and over her heart sang the same l-4'
Gus song.
At 8 the maid brought her 'aE-'
box Of roses, with a line scrlh3.ed ~
the card: 80 sorry-unexpecte5.5 1e
layed. VIII phone. NJ S" 0p;s.sf 4
window a robin sang and sang 71l
sang. and Joy wondered he" a7' =
could be so cheerful she hso Q-
forgotten that It was spring
Saturday she thrilled anew at 1
thought of his coming. David S .s-
ness was long since forgoJte1---.'
wasn't a poet, so, Of course, ne
different. All day long she "a'.s
ear attuned, sensitive &c every E
the bell. Once a delivery boy 'a1e
again the letter carrier, but taeE7 @
no word from Malcolm.
When Joy had almost given Y rs
the maid brought her his te.es +.-
some moments she held it In .eF -2-
fear clutching at her heart iie
be Ill, perhaps dying. Certa-H.s
thing terrible had happened :. . .,
last she gathered strength A'
open. There were only a s."
staring sharpay at her 10 me
clear type Of the telegraph 1'4
ar -t~ 4,aov for three 7