River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-07-19
JUNE ROSES.


toyed with the stray ringlets of sweet
faced girl who stood with downcast eyes
and tremulous lips.
"And what does she say, Blossom2"
uueried tall young man of three or
four and twenty looking down upon the
fair maiden beside him. an expression
Of anxiety blending with the look of
love that shone in his dark eyes.
'.She says that ! must wait; that she
cannot conscientiously give her conse mt,
and the girl turned her blue eyes,
misty with uushed tears, toward the
handsome face of her lover, who bit his
lip with vexation.
How long are we to waltz" he asked,
after moments silence, as Rose Matt
lands eyes once more dropped beneath
their long lashes.
II don't really know, Will, ;" returned
the girl. "You know when poor MANI
ma died five wears ago. when | was Ia
/ promised her to do as auntie said for
10 years and so auntie was made
my guardian till l should be "a, unless l
married before that time with her con-
sent"
''And ifvou marry without her con-
sent, what then?" Will Vernon pressed
the little hand he held, and looked be-
seechingly down into the sweet face,
but its owner shook her head.
81 cannot listen to that" she said
solemnly. II love you, VIII, but | cam
not break my promise to my dying
mother. But, oh dear, Aunt Margaret
is so hearted, and / am afraid she
will not consent, and five years seems
almost lifetime"
She plu ;ked rose, and tore its Grim
son petals asunder with trembling i'm
gers, scattering the beautiful leaves upon
the ground at her feet, the afternoon
sunshine glinting through the trees and
falling here and there in light patches.
''Of course, this is final," said viii
moodily, land we can do nothing but
wait and pray that the years may glide
by as rapidly as possible. But bark,
some one is coming down the walk It's
your Aunt Margaret, and, az l live, a
gentleman with her"
The look of vexed moodiness lifted
for moment from Will Vernon's face,
and gave place to an amused expression.
Sure enough, down the, rose-lined
pathway came Miss Margaret Maitland,
a presumably confirmed spinster of 40, a
sister of the deceased father of Rose and
guardian of the latter, and by her side
in close proximity walked well-dressed
man of middle age, with square face,
and dropping black moustache as yet
untouched by the frosts Of time.
"Oh, yes, that is auntie's admirer,"
answered Rose indifferently, as the ma
ture couple sauntered slowly toward the
young lovers. Gle sings in the choir of
her church and they really seem fond OF
each other. | wish they would marry;
perhaps auntie would grow more leni-
ent towards US. | have never met him
as yet"
Will Vernon regarded the approach
ing pair with some curiosity. Miss Mar
earet Maitland, whom he had always
considered as a species of man-hater,
was not of the typical class of old maids,
Instead of being lean and scraggy, she
was well-preserved and plump, though
the short curls beside her round ace
showed stray threads of silver.
"My niece, Miss Maitland, Mr.. Rogers
Mr.. Vernon" said the elder Miss Matt
land as thew came face to face.
Mr.. Rogers lifted his hat from his in
tensely black locks.
Extremely happy to make your &C
quaintance," he said, with sort oil
dready-made" smile, as Rose thought,
beneath his heavy moustache, and then
he grasped Willis hand with vice-like
grip. ~, ~
most charming roses ever saw" said
Mr.. Rogers, looking from side to side
over the f1owery expanse.
Eyes, indeed, we are extremely fond
Of flowers, roses especially" returned
the happy spinster with an appealing
look at her niece, for to the exquisite
taste of tue latter the place owed It's
floral charms
"A love Of flowers eyinces the truest,
sweetest WON lnhood, said Mr. Rogers,
his Jet moustache again showing symp-
toms of smile, while Miss Margaret
simpered and made a futile attempt al
blushing.
Mr. Rogers picked soft blush rose
and held it playful!y up to the cheek OF
the lady in whose good graces he appar-
emily stood so Ligh. "Alow me to fas
ten this at your throat" he said, anc
Rose shrank bIushingly back at the
bold strangers familiarity with her here
tofore prudisl aunt, the latter submit
ting to the adornment with pleased smile
though she WINGED as a thorn concealed
in the spray of green leaves pierced hel
skin as he fumbled awkwardly at bel
neck. But she bore infection with he
roc forIitude, amply repaid by the bland
smile of the donor.
Don't YOU think Mr.. Rogers a very
agreeable man?V questioned Miss Mar
garet Of her niece the next day, Mon
day, as they sat upon the piazza, the
former full of serene happiness, the lat
ter somewhat downcast.
Yes, | suppose so, auntle," was the
reluctant admission.
"Humphl YOU think there is no one II
the world but Will Vernon" retorteC
Miss Margaret, not at all pleased. Now
Mr.. Rogers is man of some stability
he is a member of the church and PHI
lar of society"
'Why are you so set against win Yer
non? You have known him a number
of years. and Mr.. Rogers is almost a
stranger"
1t was Miss Nargarets turn to become
Indignant There are some natures
that do not require lifetime to analyze
Mr.. Rogers is one Of that kind. Every
look and action shows it. | would trust
my life III his keeping"
For moment the lost art of blushina
.eturned to her at her madvertent re-
mark while Rose regarded her curiously
Are you engaged to Mr.. Rogers" she
lueried, as the momentary flush died
out of her aunfs face.
II am" returned the latter with dig
nifty, not unmixed with certain pride,
land Mr.. Rogers urged me to name an
early day, but ] would not consent to no
earlier date than Christmas"
And viii and l must wait FIVE years"
pouted Rose, little pleased with her
aunts competency.
"ihe case is different with u.s." re-
torted Miss Margaret. Although we are
not old, by any means, we have arrived
at those years when caution as to each
others antecedents Is not az necessary
as in early youth. But one thing, Rosa
lind" (she always called her Rosalind
when she wished to impress something
forcibly upon her mind), 81 want you to
be extremely careful and not let Mr..
Rogers know OF my former aversion-or
Indifference rathcr-to flowers. He wor-
ships them, and, really, am much more
partial to them than formerly. 1t must
have been my early training she add
ed apologeticaIly; 81 cannot account for
it in any other way. And, by the way,
that rose must be pressed, thorn and all,
that Mr.. Rogers fastened atmy neck yes
terdav."
A year with its changing seasons bad
come and gone, and again the roses
bIoomed around about the Maitland cot
tage. Upon the piazza sat Aunt Marga
ret-Miss Maitland stil--witb a strange
ly worn look upon her lace. One year
had done the work Of dozen ordinary
ones. The little riaglets at her temples
were almost white, and her faded eyes
looked hollow and wan. Her cheeks,
which twelvemonth before rivaled those
e p1sa IN IN F,,i