Show 15 dicky amber had often read ct cases like his own with this important difference the stories usually ended happily whereas he knew that for it would be madness to hope or anything save disappointment he was in love desperately madly la love with nella renshaw a clever and popular actress the admired 0 all admirers he enshrined her in his heart he very first time he saw her which was the day on which he commenced his engagement as violinist in the or chestra of the london theater at which she was a leading part he made no effort to check this hopeless love wl ich grew and grew as he watched her night after night he could only see her when the ac lion ot the piece brought her well tor ward upon the stage but he soon learned to know when these places came and was always ready for her eo as not to lose a single second 0 the time that she was in his view once her eyes met his upturned gaze that night he walked to his poor lodgings with his bead among the stars after that he found her look turned toward him on several oc cassons on these nights he lay awake tor hours asking himself whether the mile in those beautiful ees could possibly hate been for him but by morning he had called himself a fool tor imagining for one instant that what was obviously an ac aident in her acting could have any significance for him et for all his wise reason those glances made him absurdly happy then came a blow that hurt him cruelly nella was to tour in amer lea even the pleasure 0 looking at her was now to be denied him he bould jot see her tor a long time perhaps never again A farewell performance was an pounced and sick at heart dicky took his accustomed place before then he had always felt a thrill of pleasure and pride when came the of applause in ac knowledg ment of nellas superb art but on this night it filled his heart with sad and a great lump came to his throat this was the lat time he would see the triumph of the woman he floied the last time then as the curtain fell he did a thing that he had never dared before to do he quickly made his way to the stage loor and waited there to watch her departure As she based litra the fragrance of her dainty silks and laces seemed to hold his whole soul in bondage and when her rus aling skirt brushed him he nearly swooned f ahe carried a magnificent bouquet that had been presented to her and when she was halt way to her cd t lage a rose dropped from it to the pavement dicky darted forward and picked it up murmuring something he knew not what be stepped to the aide ot the carriage and 1 it to her As bhae took it she 1001 ed straight into da eyes then quickly drawing another blossom from among its love ly fellows she smilingly thrust it with the other back into his hands keep them and and athani you she said As the carriage drove off dicky was staring in wonder at the exquisite flowers because of this he did not see that which would have filled his heart with an even greater joy her eyes had ailed with tears every now and again during the year that followed audacious chever and popular thoughts that filled dicky s mind as ba gazed on his most cherished pos sessions two aithel roes soon after however he i dually read in gome newspaper one of the numerous oc counts of nella s trans atlantic sue fess then his splendid plen did hopes col lapses dismally let they were al ways there and though he did not ickow it grew stronger and stronger until thes became part of bis life at last nella came bad she was to opert e ant imn sason at her old theater and n ore D could sw her every night he played first instead of second violin now and his position had been altered to one from which he had a far better view of the stage it was not that thought however which set his heart pounding with ex cit ement as he went toward the thea ter that day the day on which he was to behold her again after a year in his heart there was a great hope that she would recognize him in some way or another surely she must then be would wait at the stage door and perhaps she would speak to him again bitter and terrible was his digap you he sa d huskily j not even a glance came his way the next day he was not at his place in the orchestra instead he sat at home in his room before a table covered with manuscript songs they were those which he had written out of his great love slowly almost mechanically he took them up and scanned every note then having seen that all were as perfect as he could make them he gathered them together in a heap he was going away where he did not know or care during the last year he had so lived on the almost un coDS dous hope born in him by the gift of roses that the realization that it had been founded on nothing had dazed his every faculty it was as though he had fallen from the clouds at first when the wish to leave the place of sorrow had come to he had determined to burn his songs but they were his children the only chil dren of his love and he could not then came a wild desire that she should know of his hearts longing and after elamin ng them all to make sure that they at least were worthy of her attentions he gathered them together to send them to her he took the withered roses from his breast she should have them too pressing them passionately to his lips be laid them tenderly on the top of the pile then the cupor that had dulled his understanding went and in its place an awful dispain seized him he laid his head on bis arms and sobbed abbed as only can the man from whom Is taken the only hold on life for a long while he lay then there came a tap at the door he did not hear it the door opened gently and a woman entered it was 11 quietly she stepped to the table her eyes rested on the roses she read her name on the dedication of the song on which they rested and a great sob halt of sorrow halt of joy rose in her throat very tenderly she touched the bowed head dicky started up and stared at her without comprehension then a light came into his eyes youa he said busl ily ft yes I 1 she answered smilingly butt but ii I i tell me she said stopping him why ou kept those flowers 7 her voice was aitho it emo alor did saw something in 1 er face that sent the blood leap ng in his veins he rose and drew her 0 him because I 1 love you he Us oice almost fierce joy it was nella who wept now dicky she sobbed when I 1 dian didn t we you in the orchestra I 1 fancied all so ts of dreadful so I 1 asked lour address from the doorkeeper and came here to find out what had happened to i ou chy d t you write to me was away dickye I 1 thought you would understand when I 1 gave you the flowers oh dicky dicky I 1 hae loved you bever since I 1 1001 ed do in into that night I 1 thought that o 0 I 1 ent away and you did not write then I 1 was alse but it loess t matter nowa nothing matters now said dicky and he kissed her on the bips chi cago american ir gratitude is the fairest blossom velch cpr from the soul and the heart of man none more frag rant A |