Year: 1879

"Whcn | was alone in my room
once more, [ took the bouqet from
my dressing table, wrapped it in
soft tissue paper, and Put it in q
box.


"Then with tears and sadness
pnt It away, as We bury our dead.


ole would come no more.


81 knew that the silent parting
was final one, though / could not
guess its meaning.


''Yet ] did not doubt him even
then, believing some good reason
existed for his silence, and waiting
till time should reveal the truth to
me.


81 heard of his departure for
Italy, and two years later [ heard
Of his marriage.


"On that day I opened my box
for the first time, to throw away
the flowers | had no longer a right
to cherish.


''They were withered away, and
saw for the first time what the
flowers and leaves had hidden with
such fatal security


Tied in the very heart of the
bouquet was letter and a diamond
ring.


Gle had written to me asking
my love, and telling me his own,
and he begged me if [ could be his
wife, to wear the ring when | met
him in the evening.


"But the sting. Ethel, the
punishment in that letter were the
words telling me he dared not
speak to me face to face, because
my reputation was that of CO.
quette, who laughed at her suitors
when they offered their love.


ct he wrote that he thought
me wronged, and begged me to
prove to him [ was not the heart
less firt society called me.


''And when he came to me,
Ethel, I smiled in his face, and of
fered him my hand with no ring he
had given upon it.


"Do you wonder he left me be-
lieving all he had heard of my false
heart and cruel coquetry2 Do you
wonder the sight and perfume Of a
tea rose has made nay heart faint
since that day when discovered
how it had hidden from me the
happiness ofmy life?


81 never saw George Holmes
again. He is happy in Italy, with
his wife and children, and | am an
old maid for love of him, weeping
over a bouquet of roses that re-
minds me of the past"


Tear it apart" Ethel said in a
low voice. "See if my fate is there


No, darling, there is no ring
here, no letter; but yet I tell you
my story as a warning. There are
fortune-hunters, | know, who will
WOO any rich girl, but they need
not gain the triumph of debasine
your heart by lea ling YOU through
the mazes of a filtration.


"Quiet dignity will soon teach
them their hopes are in vain.


"Yet, if a true heart is in youl
grasp, do not play with it. Gently
discourage it, if the plea is a vain
one if not, as you value your hap
piness, do not trihe with love you
! return"


but auntie, you were not t,
blame if you did not know the let
( ter was hidden among the flowers


"Not for that, but for the conduct
that prevented George from speak
ing to me, for fear Of heartless
tlitiing."


There was a very grave-faced
lady returned to the croque,
ground, and Harold Goldy wonder
ed what had happened while he
was knocking the balls round will
more energy than good-temper.


1t disquieted him to see the bright
face clouded, and he watched AZ
opportunity to suggest a shor
ranble into the woods, hoping tC
secure an explanation of the cause


What was said exactly history
does not record, but Ethel whisper
ed to her aunt, as she kissed hel
goodnight :


''The new ring is IIarold's auntie
[ did not let him bury his heart il
d withered bouquet"