Daily Republican., 1885-08-22
SWEET vIOLETs.
BY BERTHA BKRToN.
Fragrant sweet violets.


perfume filed the room.
Some were white, some were blue, but
all were lovely, and perfect as natures
work is apt to be.
Grace Algerhad been out on that sunnyI
May morning, engaged in shopping; when
she returned the flowers were awaiting
for her.
She raised them carefully and enhaled
their exquisite fragrance, and laid the
da inty b osAoms caress ngly against her
fair cheek.
Alvau had sent them, no doubt, for she
was going to a paitytha5 night;she would |
surely wear them, aid then she placed
them IN a crystal vase to preserve their |
freshness.
As she passed through the hall she
encountered Nell, the new maid.
An did yo find the vi'lets on yerl
table, Miss Alger. They're iegant, an
twas au ilegint gintleinan that fetched
| 'em, too," Nell exclaimed, all in a.
breath.
Yes, Nellie, | found them; but did
you see the person who brought thcm?"
the young lady ked interestedly.
| " Indade did, mum, for twas mesel'
that answered the door-bell, as well as
| TUX the flowers"
| " Was it tall gentleman, with blue
Ieyes and brown hair" Grace questioned,
in tone that told as well az words could
have done, that for her there was but one
tall gentleman with blue eyes and brown
hair in all the wide world.
"That he was; tall, and straight, an
with sech an Elegant air His eyts were as
blue as the summer sky, an his hair
W brown as a ripe chestnut. He had
sech swate smile 1t vent right to me
heat; an sez l 70 meselr, his aiquil can't
be found, sure; an it's a lucky girl Miss
Grace is to have sich foine beau"
| " That will do, Nellie" Grace said i,
blushing at the loquacious girls words.
" 1t was Mr.. Douglass, OF COURSE"
" We'll, in coorse; he niver towld his
name, but jist said, Please give these to
Miss A ger, my good GIRL an he Hit a
quarter in me hand, an thin he wint
laway."
And having drawn largely on her
imagination for what she had told, the
maid went kitchenward and Grace Algei
went back to her room; and took up the
, crystal vase and turned 1t around to see
If there were not some little message
l twined among the flowers.
Nothing but the mute language o
violets, nothing but their exquisite
lpcrfume; but 1t was enough, and all tina
day Grace Alger was made happier by th
] little clust OF country sweetness becaus
she iondly believed that 1t was sent b,
lAlvan Douglass.
At the party that night, the sole orna
ment that she wore with soft, cream
tinted suit of nuns yelling, was tn
violets; and that they were vastly becom
ing to her, critical glance in the miro
o told full well.
III That they would be pleasing to
u certain tail gentleman with blue eye
and brown hair, she felt sure, for had h
not sent them? and it was with thril
of pleasure that she saw Alvan Douglas
enter Mrs. Holmes parlorsthat evening
u OF course 1t was foolish Of Grace t
give him more than passing thought
but during the past winter they had bee
much thrown together in society. an
he had evinced a marked prefcrenc
O for her company, or so she had fanciet
y while fashionable goseips had predicted
match. He had really shown muc
admiration Tor the young lady, but go ha
iothers.
A young lawyer, as well as a fast.risin
= man in his Jroietsion, Alvan Dougla
was thought to be an extremely eligib
! match by the managing mammas
. marriaCeable daughters, and hee W
flattered and noticed in correspondiI
III ratio.
But those volotsl The same mornil
that Grace Alger received them, Alvs
Douglass was takinga late breakfast
h, an uptown restaurant, end while
no slipped his coffee, he also regaied himse
~. with the morning news. Half hidden |
o his Journal, no particular notice SCENT
20 taken of him by two young men wi
% came in later, and took seats at anoth'
-, table not SO far OIL but that their conye
40 sation could be plainly heard by Alyal
o. though at first it made no impressC
n upon him, till at last he heard mentont
.. the name of Grace Alger. Then
80 lovers interest was awakened, and
~ ~ rccogniz' the voice us that of youn
- man who was considered rather fast
90 society. AS d rich mans son, howeye
-, his faults were set down to YOUTH
~ exuherance of spirits.
T,s Charlie Hoyt was his name; and as
II partook OF sumptuous breakfast, u
~ wine in which he was freely indulgiI
~ rendered him loquacious.
~ "By Joveu' he ex claimed as he refill
"a his glass. Gracs Alger is beaut
~ III introduce you to night, old fellow
.oss . he said to his friend, and he continue
20 +" on are not to interfere with my plar
Nv though you may admire the prize; but
"a shall marry her, aud, by the way, ha
"a just sent h-r bouquet of spring violet
'na happen to know ner tastes, you undt
'''u1 stand, and depend upon it she W
~ wear ny 40 oAers to night.
w., :" am going TO cut out q certain fello
." know, WHO is dreadiully III love wi
- the fair Grace; but his governor car
hand out the cash quite equal to mine
and then the half inebrated young hi
INDUCED in maudin laugh at his ov
supposed wit.
L. Sitting there, Alvan Douglass hea
lth4 name of the sweet girl he lov
spoken in d careless manner, he heard t
IT. arrogant boast, and knew well enou
oi that the sncering reference was to bimse
At. Nor could he deny the assertion; but
W. ~ did not believe that Grace cared for Il
IL. dissipated young man, neither did he
.otr.. or:. leve that she would wear the fowe
r consco GENTLY when he went forward
ara greet her at the party that night, a
v ,1, saw nesting in the tilmy lace at
hed throat cluster OF fragrant, delica
Eee tinted vioets, he was reminded IN,
liz. unpleasantly of Charlie Hoyt's boast
IA assertion that morning in the restaura
yrc His heart felt like lead in his boso
and after few commonplace remar
" he turned away, while Grace Alg
= unable to understand the sudden chan
in Alvan's manner, could have cried W
v-xation.
She had dressed tor his eve, she i
worn the violets for his special gratfi
ton, snd his Indifference was who
unaccountable; afterward, when Cnal
Iloyt came and begged tor a waltz,
tod N fnr La