The L'Anse sentinel., 1924-02-29
The Bouquet of
Poppies

Its patient forbearance, was almost
doglike. He Quarreled with me, told
me was q pest and a nuisance. yet
his scorn only increased my devotion.
know this doesn't sound like the talk
Of red-blooded man, but It was true,
because-weli-hang Il all. to me Ed
Asad Dane was superman.
He was so far superior to any men
I'd ever known, In refinement and per
ception, that 1t would be hard for me
to believe that the liquor that flowed
through his veins was not the divine
iuld Of the gods.
He hated to admit any return Of
feeling on his part. 4 Seeing my insls-
tent perseverance he favored me with
his apparent contempt. but I knew 1t
wasn't real contempt--it was only q
way Of hiding his feelings. Often I
wondered what was the real man In
him-that secret self that he kept hid
den.
I used to see him every day. II he
were not at the club, would drop In
at his quarters" But one evening
he was not at the club. nor was he at
his rooms.
"He left last night without saying
when he would return" his landlady
informed me.
1t was two days before heard from
Dane. The note was left at the club.
"Come to my rooms as soon as pos
sible." 1t read.
Needless to say. I recognized the
sender and made haste to Danes
rooms.
The dull apartment was frightened
by bouquet of poppies, aristically
arranged on the table. The great
change was In the man himself. The
pale face, from which shone two mar
velously bright eyes, was unusually
composed; no frown or irrtabAity was
on his brow.
Seated as he was beside the hearth,
cigarette between his slender fingers,
he wore the grace and manner Of a
monarch. yet l had an impression Of
suffering, of smothered pain.
"Deuced nice of you to come so soon,
old fellow" Dane said.
NAihb uuSlC "oUiu PAN'NnS
him, so I, too. Lit cigarette, and we
talked for fifteen minutes on common
place subjects, each burning with a
desire to get at the real thing. but
each equally fencing.
Where have you been, DaneT I
asked. rs I tried to speak lightly, but
the huskiness in my tone could not be
mistaken.
That's just why sent for you. Col
llns," Dane was serious. too.
He wheeled around In his chair and
looked me square In the eyes, and
saw the real man in him-lonely, iso-
lated In his own knowledge Of what
had been.
Collins" he said, you're the only
friend I've got now. and I've treated
you like cur. Don't look surprised
l realize II. I was afraid to let you
know me as / was. But you took me
for granted. and now thank you
for 1t.
Long, long ago, loved a woman.
The happiest days of my life were
spent with her. Grace was her name.
We talked and laughed and sang to-
gether. each Of US happiest with the
other, our young hearts oyerfiowing
with Joy and youth and love. We
plighted our vows to each other and
carved our names on the same oak
tree. Then I went abroad to study,
dreaming all the time Of Grace.
"when l returned I was more re-
served, Of course, and more shy than
when In my youth. didn't sec much
Of Grace, but learned one day that
she was to be married. became
morose and sullen, hating everything,
myself most Of all. ! went to the we'd
ding to show that ] didn't care. But
the glance she gave me as she passed
down the aisle sent my pulses thrilling.
because l know that she saw me and
did care.
''Then, after she was married,
passed her one day In her garden II
was garden of peoples, scarlet and
dull red-like the blood that was
squeezed from my hear2. I thought.
She called to me, and reluctantly
obeyed. We talked and laughed to-
gether agal:l, like we did In the old
days.
"'why did you do II, Gracer askeo
her.
"She wept softly over the poppies
and said: II thought you didn't care,
SO I did it-just for Spite" Then we
both laughed through the tears, II was
so ridiculous. But 1t was true. never
theless.
II came to this town shortly after
wards. bitter against my lot. ! could
think Of nothing but Grace, and the
thought hurt so. Your kindness was
lost on me. Collins, because resented
being disturbed In my memories. Then |
I began to dissipate. to drink. In order
to drown all thought But 1t was un-
bearable.
"The other night thought must
get something to stop that ache, thar
dull pain that was ever In my heart
and the burning fever in my head.
rushed out to 6nd an opium den--there